Graywolf
10-04-2009, 22:30
I have seen it posted/said numerous times here and elsewhere about what to do when we see a bear. And the importance of hanging our food. I have also heard many times here and else where backpackers saying they hope they never see a bear, and sometimes the question brought to us by people who do not venture into the forest, "What if you see a bear?" My answer usually is," I'll take a picture". But honestly, the Ursa is a very cunning animal, some look at Ursa as a fierce killer, others see Ursa as a cut cuddly animal. But over all we should never underestimate the Bear but also enjoy sharing the forest with the bears.
I stumbled across this website and I hope some of you take a look at it as it gives very good information, that could help you keep safe in the forest and also to see and enjoy these beautiful animals.
www.bearinfo.org (http://www.bearinfo.org)
I was prompted to begin a study on bears and bear safty last year when my father and I was coming home from Kansas and I wanted to stop at the Winding Stair Campground in Oklahoma to see the avaibility of water. The campground had been closed due to low water from a drought. On the way though the mountains I was going slow as it was evening and I wanted to watch out for wildlife activity. At one place a bear crossed in front of us and I took my camera and actually got out of the car and followed it taking numerous of pictures. Dangerous, yes, but my adreiniline (sp?) was pumping so much I didn't think twice. Seeing this bear up close was very dramatic. It was so beautiful. When I returned to the car I had to hear it from my father and he complained about my actions the entire of next 2 hours. Last word was, "That bear is the reason people shoudn't venture out in the forest". My reply was, "that is why we do". Later, when one night I was looking at the photographs, I began to ask myself just how much do I really know about bear safety? I have been going into wild areas for most of my life, had encounters with mountain lions, grizzilys, wolves, black bears, but I have never takin thought about how much I really know. The information has been an eye opener as well as inspiring to venture more into the backcountry.
I hope this website is just as good for you as it was for me. And makes me enjoy these animals just that much more.
In case you are thirsty for more you can google "Association for Bear Reasearch and Management" which has info on all the world's bear species
Graywolf
I stumbled across this website and I hope some of you take a look at it as it gives very good information, that could help you keep safe in the forest and also to see and enjoy these beautiful animals.
www.bearinfo.org (http://www.bearinfo.org)
I was prompted to begin a study on bears and bear safty last year when my father and I was coming home from Kansas and I wanted to stop at the Winding Stair Campground in Oklahoma to see the avaibility of water. The campground had been closed due to low water from a drought. On the way though the mountains I was going slow as it was evening and I wanted to watch out for wildlife activity. At one place a bear crossed in front of us and I took my camera and actually got out of the car and followed it taking numerous of pictures. Dangerous, yes, but my adreiniline (sp?) was pumping so much I didn't think twice. Seeing this bear up close was very dramatic. It was so beautiful. When I returned to the car I had to hear it from my father and he complained about my actions the entire of next 2 hours. Last word was, "That bear is the reason people shoudn't venture out in the forest". My reply was, "that is why we do". Later, when one night I was looking at the photographs, I began to ask myself just how much do I really know about bear safety? I have been going into wild areas for most of my life, had encounters with mountain lions, grizzilys, wolves, black bears, but I have never takin thought about how much I really know. The information has been an eye opener as well as inspiring to venture more into the backcountry.
I hope this website is just as good for you as it was for me. And makes me enjoy these animals just that much more.
In case you are thirsty for more you can google "Association for Bear Reasearch and Management" which has info on all the world's bear species
Graywolf