Bears: rattle those pots and pans

CAMPING

Playing for keeps in black bear country Rattle those pots and pans

By Heather Burke

On May 13, 1978, three teenagers were killed by a On May 13, 1978, three teenagers were killed by a black bear in Algonquin Park.

First one boy was killed, then the bear attacked First one boy was killed, then the bear attacked the two friends who were searching for him. The the two friends who were searching for him. The three bodies were found, partly covered with brush, three bodies were found, partly covered with brush, with a male bear standing guard.

Itʼs diffi cult not to think of similar horrifi c stories when youʼre in the wilderness. What can you do to prevent an attack? Weʼre plagued by so much confl icting information. Play dead or fi ght back? Climb a tree or run downhill? Itʼs best to make these decisions before youʼre confronted by a charging bear.

Conventional wisdom seems to be in confl ict because black bears and grizzlies require different

responses. But, advice on dealing with them has been generalized with them has been generalized across both species. The good news across both species. The good news is we only have black bears in this is we only have black bears in this part of the country, and theyʼre generally timid. When threatened, they usually run away or climb a tree. The bad news is, in rare cases, a rogue black bear becomes predatory – and its prey is us.

Avoiding a hiking encounter

“Your best defence in bear country is still your brain,” says Stephen Herrero in his book, Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance. The best way to avoid an attack is to avoid the encounter.

Look for bear signs along the trail, like shredded logs and turned rocks where bears have been hunting for insects. Rubbings and claw marks on trees may show youʼre on a regular route. You can even play forensic scientist and examine bear scat for age. If the vegetation is still green underneath, Teddy has been by recently. If you fi nd yourself on a well-trodden trail, take a hike!

Black bears choose their food according to season. If you know where the food is, you know the places to avoid. In spring, they dine on green shoots – the fresher, the better. In summer, they graduate to berries and mountain ash. In the fall, the hunt is on for nuts and acorns. All year-round they love to feast on ants, larvae, bees and honey.

Bears also feed on carrion. They Bears also feed on carrion. They can be protective of such a bonanza, too, so extra care is required if you come across a large carcass. Look for circling vultures or crows and if the wind is right (or wrong, depending on your perspective) you might even catch a whiff.

Keep dogs on a leash. Rover may help scare off an aggressive bear, but he is just as likely to antagonize it and run back to you for protection. Guess who could tag along?

Make noise while youʼre hiking. If a bear hears you at a comfortable distance, it will usually run away, saving its defensive posturing for someone who stumbles too close. Bear bells arenʼt loud enough—talking, shouting, singing or clapping is better. When you are hiking through dense bush with limited visibility, you need to announce your presence. A rushing stream or high wind can drown out your voice. If the breeze is blowing in or across your face, bears canʼt smell you coming, so make even more noise.

Of course, youʼll also ruin your chances to see much wildlife with that racket youʼre making. Try

turning up the volume at least in the bear hot spots listed above. Travel in large groups. Youʼll be noisier and appear more threatening if you do run across a bear.

Camping

Backcountry camping requires special care. If a campsite has been left a mess by previous campers, move on. It may already be on a bearʼs regular route.

Bears, like humans, are ineffi cient omnivores. We have learned to cook our food to a nice, soft texture to make it easily digestible. Bears that are familiar with humans know that itʼs the most glorious food in all of nature. Remember that the next time you pull into camp late and consider cutting corners by not stowing the grub.

Set up cooking, eating and food storage areas at least 100 metres from your tent, preferably downwind. Change your clothes after cooking and eating. Wash out dishes immediately after use, and dump dishwater at least 100 metres from your tent.

Melon scented hand lotion? Eau de deer musk deodorant? Leave them at home. You donʼt want to go to bed smelling like a buffet.

After dinner everything gets hung up high: food, cooking clothes, toiletries, and garbage. String a rope between two trees, at least six metres apart and fi ve metres above the ground. Throw a second rope over the fi rst one and haul up the packs so they hang in the middle, at least four metres above the ground. A carabineer or a pulley attached to the fi rst rope will make this job easier.

If youʼre car camping, store everything in the trunk. Black bears have been known to peel open car doors like sardine cans to get at food inside. If youʼre in a truck or van or other vehicle without a trunk, cover up all dry groceries and coolers so bears canʼt recognize them by sight.

If you meet a bear

Stay calm. Thousands of injuryfree bear encounters occur every year. Chances are, yours will be too. Predatory attacks by black bears are extremely rare. And defensive attacks can almost always be avoided if you know what to do.

Donʼt run. This may elicit a chase response in a bear that otherwise wouldnʼt have considered you prey. And you wonʼt win the race. Bears can run over 50 km/h for short distances. And yes, bears can run downhill, so ignore all rumours to the contrary.

Donʼt climb a tree. Black bears are excellent climbers; attempting it might encourage them to climb after you.

Face the bear and slowly back away. Give it an escape route. Donʼt put it in the position where it feels the need to attack defensively. Bears often rear up on their hind legs to sniff the air. This isnʼt necessarily an aggressive gesture. Itʼs trying to identify you. Speak fi rmly to the bear so it can identify you as human, not prey.

If it starts to approach, gather in a group and pick up small children. Yell, bang pots, wave your arms and look big. And what if the bear is going for your food, instead of you? “Stand up to it,” says Herrero, “but if this isnʼt working,

Vital statistics

Name: Ursus americanus

Height: 75-90 cm at the shoulder

Weight: 50-180 kg average

Population: Approx. 600,000

There are an estimated 100,000 in Ontario – about 80 of them reside in Gatineau Park .

Bear spray

Parks Canada now recommends carrying pepper spray as a bear deterrent. Made of capsicum – the stuff that makes cayenne peppers hot – it will be painful for the bear but won’t injure it. Previous use on aggressive bears has provided good results. But, black bears often returned to nose around, so prepare to leave the area after an incident.

Pepper spray isn’t meant to eliminate other precautions. Use it only as a last resort on an attacking or aggressive bear. You won’t need it for bears just snooping around your campsite.

Purchase

When shopping for bear spray, don’t buy the smaller can for deterring dogs. It won’t have the range or volume you need. The canister should be at least 225 grams with six seconds of spray time. The spray needs to come out in a cloud, with a range of at least eight metres.

at some point you should try diverting it with your food.” This diverting it with your food.” This can give you time to leave. And can give you time to leave. And keep in mind that once a bear keep in mind that once a bear starts eating, they are diffi cult starts eating, they are difficult to disuade.to disuade.

If the bear is making any vocalizations or swatting any vocalizations or swatting the ground with its forepaws, the ground with its forepaws, itʼs in defensive mode. Keep itʼs in defensive mode. Keep backing away. Be prepared backing away. Be prepared for the bear to “bluff” charge for the bear to “bluff” charge you. Again, this is simply a you. Again, this is simply a defensive gesture. As scary as defensive gesture. As scary as a bluff charge may appear, it is a bluff charge may appear, it is important not to turn and run important not to turn and run screaming into the bush with the screaming into the bush with the bear right behind you. bear right behind you.

If the bear isnʼt making If the bear isnʼt making vocalizations, and is circling you as if looking for an opening, you could be facing a predatory bear. Predatory attacks have been responsible for almost all black bear-related deaths.

The key in a predatory attack is to avoid any resemblance with easy prey. Make all the same threatening gestures you would make for a defensive approaching bear. If youʼre wearing a pack, donʼt drop it. It can provide

Check the expiry date before you purchase. Replace used cans every three years and use the old one for target practice. Don’t practice on a windy day! Goggles and a face mask are a good idea way to avoid repelling yourself.

How to use

Ensure the spray is accessible at all times—a hip holster is recommended. Remove the safety clip and give a brief squirt when the bear is 17 metres away and wait for it to walk through the spray cloud. If it keeps coming, aim at the bear’s face (trying to adjust for crosswind) and squirt again at eight metres. You want to get the bear in the eyes and nose.

How not to use

Bears actually do fi nd pepper spray to be a spicy condiment in lower concentrations. Spraying it on camping equipment as a bear repellent is a big mistake. The bears will put on their sombreros and have a fi esta night all over your stuff.

protection. Try dropping something else if you have it. That could give you a few extra seconds while the bear investigates. In this case, climbing a tree or running to a nearby building or car might be your best chance.

If a predatory bear attacks, FIGHT BACK. Donʼt play dead with these guys. Theyʼll just keep munching away on you. Rocks, sticks, paddles and frying pans can all be used as weapons. Aim for the face. Now is a good time to wish you had pepper spray.

Freaked out yet? Do remember that bear attacks are extremely rare. For every person killed by a bear, 67 have been killed by dogs. And closer to home, National Capital Commission offi cials say there has never been a bear attack in Gatineau Park.

Take the proper precautions, but donʼt let Teddy keep you from enjoying the bush. Heʼs almost always a timid sort who spends his waking hours looking for something to eat. Relax and have fun and maybe even sing a little song.

—Heather Burke is a freelance writer and avid outdoor enthusiast. She sleeps with a paddle nearby when camping in bear country.

Mountain biking in bear country The problem with mountain biking and bears is the riders are quiet and fast. It’s easy to zip around a corner and run into the back end of a bruin before it even hears you coming. • Watch for signs of recent bear activity— riding through a patch of ripe blueberries may be a bad idea • Keep watching well ahead on the trail • Slow down through dense bush, down hills, and around corners • Travel in groups • Make noise – ever considered taking up singing while you cycle?