Bears. Advice needed.

[crypto]

Carpathian mountains? Don't worry about the bears, it's the VAMPIRES you need to worry about my boy....

Bears dont explode when sunlight hits them, I dont care how crazy they are.

[Fletch]

Carpathian mountains? Don't worry about the bears, it's the VAMPIRES you need to worry about my boy....

Bears dont explode when sunlight hits them, I dont care how crazy they are.

.............








Vampire bears?

[KnightoftheRoc]

I'm surprised that no one mentioned being wary of wolves in the Carpathians.

Really, if you keep your wits about you, and TRY to maintain some distance between you and the bears, it won't be much of a problem while moving. Follow the above-given advice, and it shouldn't be a problem when camped, either. I've lived in bear country all my life and seen a grand total of ONE bear in the wild in over 40 years. Why? Wasn't looking for one, didn't want one, and didn't smell attractive to them- see above rules. The one bear I DID see?_ LOL_ I was driving at the time.

Wild animals will, as a general rule, try to keep their distance from you, just as you'd like to keep yours from them. It's only when something like rabies, or when human actions alter those behaviors and instincts that the rules get tossed out.

Oh, one last bit of advice, good anywhere in the world- if a bear comes crashing out of the woods directly towards you, and then keeps running past you- FOLLOW HIM! You don't wanna know what's chasing him.

[Fire]

I like the bear pepper spray idea and the flare gun idea- both will likely be impossible or near to it to ship with you on a n international flight, but might be available there- also, maybe a slingshot/wrist rocket to fire said firecrackers for more effect?

[Meat N' Taters]

Mutated bears?

[Woods Walker]

Most of the information relates to food and for good reason. Bear are opportunistic and could be attracted to your camp if there is the promise of a good meal.

[BigBossMan]

Mutated bears?

ManBearPig!!!

[man in black]

in all reality, your chances of running into a bear are sorta slim but of course an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, the food hanging and the no spilling and etc. that everyone has posted is all wonderful advice. one thing that noone has said yet is that if you are confronted by an aggressive bear, don't run it is much faster than you are. don't climb a tree, it can wait, climb it too or knock it down and then you are just as fucked. Bears are not unstoppable immortal murder-beasts that everyone makes them out to be though, there are several examples of relatively ordinary people taking down bears with very little of anything
A log for instance
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3306263
this 55 year old man killed himself a bear with a small knife
http://neveryetmelted.com/2006/07/23/55 ... ith-knife/

[JoeTosco]

I would also worry about the monster Hogs that became an international problem.

[Meat N' Taters]

I would also worry about the monster Hogs that became an international problem.

While bears scare me, I enjoy tussling with a big nasty boarhog. Matter of fact, I call that a good Saturday evening if I can kill one of them big sombitches.

[KnightoftheRoc]

OK, serious question to add to the mix- I have been TOLD, but I cannot confirm, that this is a viable bear strategy, if your situation allows for it:

"Bears cannot run straight down hill. Trying to do so makes their internal organs 'slide' up and cut off their wind. So, if you have a decent hill handy, run straight down it, and the bear will be slowed down considerably, giving you a head start on him."

I've heard that cows can't run straight downhill either, or they take a tumble, but again, this is (for me) unconfirmed, as I have neither bears nor cows handy to test this with. And, if I HAD to test it, I'd rather test the cow theory, because I don't think I'd get a second chance at the bear theory if it were proven wrong.

Anyone able to verify this one way or another, preferably with links to sources?

[Fletch]

Try this link bud: Clicky!

seems they can


I'm just playing!

[KnightoftheRoc]

doh!

[offcamber]

Most of the stuff I can mention has already been covered, but here are some tips from when I did a lot of camping in bear country in Colorado..

1. Bears like trails as much as we do since they are easier to navigate, wear a bear bell to announce your arrival!
2. Bears move most at dawn and dusk, do your hiking during mid-day, be settled with camp made by dusk.
3. Avoid camping in areas that have a food source that bears like, also avoid making camp where there has been previous signs of bear activity.
4. Bears are very protective of cubs and animal kills, avoid cubs and carcasses like the plague.
5. Bear mace is your friend, make sure its accessible, not buried in your pack.

The hanging food and campfire stuff has been covered, but it is recommended that they be at least 100 yards distant from your tent.

Some back country campers we met on the trail once suggested that camp stoves are less aromatic than cooking on an open fire, but a hot fire should definitely be used to burn materials left over from cooking. Fires/firelight also acts as a deterrent.

Hope this helps.

[Gullars]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0mKv5Hn-D4&feature=related

Go 2:50 into the video! I think he handles it very well!

[MVegas]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0mKv5Hn-D4&feature=related

Go 2:50 into the video! I think he handles it very well!

He certainly did. Kept his cool.

[Gullars]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0mKv5Hn-D4&feature=related

Go 2:50 into the video! I think he handles it very well!

He certainly did. Kept his cool.

I had the pleasure speaking to Lars! I asked him about that incident! The bear in that clip terrorist him and his dogs for 16 hours! He ended up moving camp, while hawking what the bear was up to!

He traveled Alaska from North to South! Crossing Canada just by himself! He only killed one bear in his life. A polar bear that tried to break into the cabin he slept in! Shot a slug with his shotgun trough the wooden door, killing the bear!

[riverjoe47]

I think the movie "The Edge " with Anthony Hopkins , should be viewed before travelling to bear country . Apparently a sharp stick is all you need .

[WY_Not]

Rule 1 - Cardio

When all else fails, make sure you are not the slowest person in your group.

I don't have to outrun the bear. I just have to out run you.

[MVegas]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0mKv5Hn-D4&feature=related

Go 2:50 into the video! I think he handles it very well!

He certainly did. Kept his cool.

I had the pleasure speaking to Lars! I asked him about that incident! The bear in that clip terrorist him and his dogs for 16 hours! He ended up moving camp, while hawking what the bear was up to!

He traveled Alaska from North to South! Crossing Canada just by himself! He only killed one bear in his life. A polar bear that tried to break into the cabin he slept in! Shot a slug with his shotgun trough the wooden door, killing the bear!

Luckily the New England bears I've shared the woods with are quite wary of humans. I still do generally make sure not to go unarmed, but I'd hate to have to kill one because it wasn't scared enough of me to go away when I told it to.

ETA- As it happens I'm currently just starting to shop for a bear-pro handgun as a close friend just closed on a nice big parcel in Maine.

[riverjoe47]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0mKv5Hn-D4&feature=related

Go 2:50 into the video! I think he handles it very well!

He certainly did. Kept his cool.

I had the pleasure speaking to Lars! I asked him about that incident! The bear in that clip terrorist him and his dogs for 16 hours! He ended up moving camp, while hawking what the bear was up to!

He traveled Alaska from North to South! Crossing Canada just by himself! He only killed one bear in his life. A polar bear that tried to break into the cabin he slept in! Shot a slug with his shotgun trough the wooden door, killing the bear!

Lars is a badass . One bath every 31 days tho

[doctor patches]

I think the movie "The Edge " with Anthony Hopkins , should be viewed before travelling to bear country . Apparently a sharp stick is all you need .

either that, or carry an emergency Anthony Hopkins with you. i'm sure there's a backpacking version available somewhere on the internet, might wanna start looking now, in case there is some long delay or back order or something.

[Sogoronin]

If you are ever confronted by a bear, all you have to do is tuck your head down, charge in, making screeching noises, and when the bear stands erect from the noise, just give him a swift kick in the groin.........


This way your friends have a great story to tell their kids.

"You remember Bill? Let me tell you how he died..... He was eaten by a bear.......no..no.. The bear wasn't doing anything until bill ran up like a jackass and kicked it in the taint. Apparently Bill likes to get his info about bears from some internet kooks. Some asshat told him to do it..... Yea, I know. But you should have seen the bears face after he kicked him in the woohoo parts..... Here, let me show you. I got it on video."

[Gullars]

hahaha! The pictures in my head!