This July, a 72-year-old man was choosing huckleberries in Flathead Nationwide Forest by himself when he was attacked by a feminine grizzly bear. He managed to entry his handgun, taking pictures and killing the bear and surviving the encounter with critical accidents.
After a summer time that introduced a number of high-profile grizzly bear assaults – a veteran who was mauled whereas mountaineering in Grand Teton Nationwide Park and a Canadian path runner who says she was saved by her hair clip – some are asking if weapons must be as ubiquitous as mountaineering boots and backpacks relating to recreating in bear nation.
The concept of utilizing a firearm in opposition to bears is one thing bear biologist and Tooth and Claw podcast host Wes Larson tells us he hears rather a lot, however it’s not what he recommends.
“There are folks on the market that may say, ‘oh, I’d belief my gun way more than I’d belief bear spray,’ however the factor a few gun is, you’re taking pictures one projectile. It has one path. And should you miss, you realize you’re in hassle.”
When a grizzly bear is sprinting in the direction of you at 30 miles per hour and also you’re panicking, the probabilities of squeezing off an ideal shot appear unlikely, and even should you get fortunate, the issue of a defensive bear that desires to kill you received’t essentially be solved.
“In the event you hit the bear and also you don’t kill it, you’re in much more hassle than you’ll have been in any other case as a result of now that bear’s in all probability gonna be enraged.”
Avoidance is the perfect deterrent
It’s comprehensible that you’d attempt to use a gun in opposition to a bear should you occur to be carrying one when it fees you, however wildlife specialists are insistent {that a} firearm actually doesn’t have to grow to be one in every of your mountaineering necessities.
“Avoiding conflicts with bears is simpler than coping with conflicts,” mentioned Montana Division of Fish, Wildlife and Parks in a press release following the July incident.
How will you keep away from bears in bear nation? Nicely until you keep out of the backcountry altogether, there’s at all times the potential for an encounter, however wildlife specialists at Parks Canada have some tricks to cut back your probabilities of assembly a bear.
- Keep on designated trails – bears usually tend to keep away from well-trafficked areas.
- Hike in bigger teams when potential.
- Make noise – speak (even to your self), clap your palms or trekking poles collectively, blow your whistle.
- Preserve your canine on a leash as they will provoke defensive conduct in bears.
- Be careful for indicators of bear exercise, reminiscent of scat, and depart the realm instantly should you suppose a bear is close by.
Failing that, select bear spray over bullets
In the event you do all the above and nonetheless end up face-to-face with a charging bear, don’t lament the truth that you don’t have a handgun in your holster – simply be sure you have your bear spray, says Larson.
“Bear spray shoots out an entire cloud of aerosolized pepper spray, so when the bear remains to be coming at you, it passes by way of that cloud.”
Mid-charge, the bear inhales that pepper spray – it will get in its eyes, nostril and throat and it’s a horrible expertise for the bear, in keeping with Larson.
“It’s in contrast to something they’ve ever skilled, and so they simply need to get out of there immediately. It modifications the dynamic, and also you don’t need to be shot with it. So it really works a lot better, and it’s rather a lot much less exact of a instrument.”
It additionally means there’s an opportunity each you and the bear will get out of the encounter alive.
Deploying bear spray doesn’t take the identical coaching as goal follow, however you’ll nonetheless need to learn our article on learn how to use bear spray earlier than you hit the path so you realize precisely how and when to press the set off.
Carrying bear spray is advisable in most locations the place bears are current, nonetheless it’s vital to notice that it’s banned in Yosemite Nationwide Park and on the John Muir Path the place black bears are current. You should buy it on-line, reminiscent of this one on Amazon, however bear in mind you could’t fly with it if you’re touring to the mountains for a mountaineering journey, so see an area clothes shop while you arrive.
This article by Julia Clarke was first printed by Advnture on 18 August 2024. Lead Picture: A bear biologist explains why bear spray is best than a bullet (Picture credit score: Getty).
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