A camping trip or a hike can be a fun and healthy activity to do alone or with friends or family. The last thing you want is a bear attack ruining your good time. Don’t let that happen. Read the following to learn how you can avoid bear trouble.
How to Prevent a Bear Attack
- Be loud: Making a lot of noise while you walk will make your presence known, so you won’t surprise the bear. When a bear sees sudden movement he is more likely to react aggressively. Never sneak up on a bear.
- Avoid trees: You may assume that a bear can’t climb a tree because of his massive size. You would be wrong. Never climb a tree to escape a bear attack; he will follow you right up that tree.
- Do not run: If you run the bear will think you are prey. He will chase you and he will catch you because you probably can’t run faster than a bear no matter what kind of shape your body is in.
- Do not bring pets: Taking your dog for a hike can be a lot of fun, but if you find yourself in an area known to have bears, it might not be so fun. A dog can provoke a bear, putting you both at risk. On a similar note, keep children close by you, and pick them up if you see a bear.
- Be careful where you camp: Before setting up your tent, look around the campsite for discarded food, dead animals, or anything that may attract a bear. Also, keep an eye out for signs that a bear was there recently like tracks, feces, or scratched trees.
- Be scent-free: Use fragrance-free body and hair products, and do not wear any kind of perfume. Bears are attracted to odors and can detect them from over a mile away. In fact, those insect-repelling citronella candles we use to keep the bugs away can actually attract bears. When it comes down to bugs or bears, you should always take the former.
- Isolate your food: Keep all food, even pre-packaged items, in bear-proof containers, and leave them at least 100 yards away from your tent. When you are cooking, do it downwind and 100 yards away. Never keep food in a backpack, portable camping coolers, or in any container near your tent that is not sealed and odorless.
Don’t be stupid. Adhere to a few simple rules and suggestions, and your camp or hike will be bear-free!