Be Aware of Emerging Bears


WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Glacier National Park Superintendent Mick Holm
reminds park visitors that bears are beginning to emerge from hibernation
and visitors therefore need to be alert for bear activity and obey safety
regulations while visiting the park.


Holm said, “Glacier National Park is home to both grizzly and black bears
and visitors must act accordingly when they visit. Take precautions to
avoid a bear encounter. Make your presence known by calling out or clapping
at frequent intervals, especially near streams and at blind spots on the
trails. Additionally, maintain a safe distance from bears and other
wildlife.”


While neither bears nor tracks have yet been reported this spring,
mid-March is when male bears begin to emerge from hibernation. Once they
emerge, bears roam widely in search of food, and will aggressively protect
their food source. Females, which tend to emerge slightly later, will also
fiercely defend their cubs. All visitors should be aware for any evidence
of bear activity.


Holm added, “Park visitors must store food and other odorous items inside
hard-sided vehicles or in food lockers and dispose of garbage in a
bear-resistant trash can or dumpster. Proper food storage is essential to
preventing bears from becoming habituated to human food.”


“Though bear encounters are extremely rare in Glacier, visitors can
consider carrying bear pepper spray to be used in the event that a bear
charges. However, it is imperative that people do not develop a false sense
of security by carrying it; continue to take the precautions to avoid an
encounter. Further, visitors must be familiar with the can’s operation, and
the spray’s limitations,” Holm said.


According to the manufacturers, bear pepper spray should only be used at
short distances (10-30 feet). Wind, cold, rain and product age may alter
its effectiveness. The canisters have a safety feature, and visitors must
understand how to disengage it. The spray must also be immediately
available; do not store the spray inside a pack.


Holm also noted that bear pepper spray is not a repellent. “Do not apply
bear pepper spray to people, tents, packs or other recreational equipment.
It is only designed to be sprayed at charging or attacking bears at close
range.”


Bear pepper spray is clearly labeled for use against bears and must be
registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. Only brands
specifically labeled for use against bears can be transported legally
across the border into Canada. Personal defense sprays not designed for use
on bears may be ineffective.


Visitors should report any bear sightings or signs of bear activity to the
nearest visitor center, ranger station or by calling 406-888-7800 as soon
as possible. This information helps park rangers keep bears away from
unnatural food sources, as well as prevents bears from becoming habituated
to humans.


For further information on Glacier National Park, visit the park’s Web site
at www.nps.gov/glac or call 406-888-7800.

Excellent post Tony, those of us going to Yellowstone or Glacier, or any where in the outdoors this time of year should be alert and vigilant when it come to bear country.

Don

Timely topic, Tony, and that article has good advice, particulary with respect to bear spray.

A good friend, a senior biologist with NPS who spends a great deal of time in the backcountry, once told me "Bear Spray is most effective when the can is taped to the barrel of a 12guage shotgun loaded with rifled slugs."

Because of the limited range and the fact that bears can run at speeds of up to 35mph, you don't have much time to spray a charging bear.

The spray is your only choice in the national parks where firearms are prohibited and I carry a can with me, but the best to avoid unhappy endings is to follow the advice given above, use common sense, and make your personal safety, not photography, the #1 priority when sharing ground with bears, whether Grizzlies or Black Bears. This is a quote from a NPS website concerning a woman who was killed by black bears in the Smokies a few years ago: "The woman who was recently killed by a mother bear and cub was found to have pictures to the offending bears in her camera."

To paraphrase the old song; "He ain't my brother but he sure is heavy":



Regards,

Dick:)

I ran over a backpack of mine once. It had a can of bear mace and my rain gear inside. Every time I am wearing my top I feel a burning sensation where the fabric touches my bare skin. I am to cheap to buy a new one. It has been washed multiple times to no avail. Rustin

Oh Man what a shot of the bear ..............

Yeah! A shot to die for. bsvirginian

Let's see those bear pictures now!
I know there are some good ones out there- and since we have everyones attention now, lets turn this into a bear workshop. I feel like a hunter, I want to bag a bear. I am planning to try the Redwood forest in CA for black bears soon. What type of tips can we put out here- SAFETY FIRST I am sure!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/441161765_0eb5d0c7ba.jpg?v=0

Here's a cinamon color black bear from Yellowstone last year

Don

Here is a young cinammon colored black bear at Mammoth Lakes last summer taking a dip.

I took this in the Yukon on my birthday last year. I was using my van as a blind. He got so close that I could not focus with my 400 5.6. He was just cruising along eating raspberries. I have some good ones with him pushing them into his mouth with his tongue out. I wish that I had my 70-200 2.8 on because of the low light. Rustin