View Full Version : Bear country?
El Toro '94
06-14-2009, 14:49
Has there been an upsurge in bear activity on the AT in recent years? When I thru-hiked, the only precautions taken was in the Smokies, where the shelters fenced out the bears. I only saw 2 during my entire hike (Tom Floyd wayside & Ethan Pond). Has hanging food (outside of the Smokies) or become the norm now? I have no problem using boxes or poles when furnished or available, but do I now need to carry anti-bear gear as well? Or do most of y'all just not worry about it?
Bear populations have risen along with the US population. AT hiking has increased. It's not surprising there are now more hiker/bear encounters, problem hikers and problem bears.
Problem hikers create problem bears. The solution is hunting, educating hikers and hikers applying what they have learned.
Pokey2006
06-14-2009, 18:20
Bear populations have risen along with the US population. AT hiking has increased. It's not surprising there are now more hiker/bear encounters, problem hikers and problem bears.
Problem hikers create problem bears. The solution is hunting, educating hikers and hikers applying what they have learned.
I'd be willing to bet problem car-campers create more problem bears than hikers do. Gotta educate those folks, too.
garlic08
06-14-2009, 18:49
The only anti-bear gear I carried on the AT was a 50' cord, opposable thumbs, and frontal lobes. Be alert, don't be stupid, protect your food supply when you deem appropriate, and enjoy the magnificent animals. Some hikers never see them anyway--the bears in the backcountry are still pretty shy. I'm most alert around car campers and AT shelters.
I'd be willing to bet problem car-campers create more problem bears than hikers do.
Could be. Others no doubt contribute to the problem too. Bears habituated to handouts at shelters probably didn't eat their first Hershey bar on the AT.
take-a-knee
06-14-2009, 21:07
Could be. Others no doubt contribute to the problem too. Bears habituated to handouts at shelters probably didn't eat their first Hershey bar on the AT.
That may be so. GA DNR biologists say that southern black bears move around A LOT. Especially the young ones, getting bumped around by larger bears, looking for their own range. Unlike Garlic however, the average AT hiker may have opposable thumbs, but not much of a frontal lobe, and most still don't have a cord to hang a food bag.
Lone Wolf
06-14-2009, 21:10
Has there been an upsurge in bear activity on the AT in recent years? When I thru-hiked, the only precautions taken was in the Smokies, where the shelters fenced out the bears. I only saw 2 during my entire hike (Tom Floyd wayside & Ethan Pond). Has hanging food (outside of the Smokies) or become the norm now? I have no problem using boxes or poles when furnished or available, but do I now need to carry anti-bear gear as well? Or do most of y'all just not worry about it?
i sleep with my chow. i don't worry about it
El Toro '94
06-14-2009, 23:19
Good to kno LW. Didn't have a problem last time thru, not gonna worry about it this time then. Still not gonna ford the Kennebec though.
Didn't have a problem last time thru, not gonna worry about it this time then.
Don't forget to put a Hershey bar in each pocket before you drift off. Sweet dreams.:)
Nearly Normal
06-15-2009, 00:57
Bears fat rendered, and applied to the barrel of a shotgun makes it impervious to weather.