Habitualized bear near Skyland, SNP

[Lellers]

Was day hiking from Rock Spring Cabin to Skyland yesterday. As I came up to the water tower near the end of my hike I saw a young bear with its front paws up on the tower. It appeared to be licking at the paint. No problem. I didn't want to startle it, so I stopped to watch for just a bit. It looked up and spotted me and seemed completely unconcerned. Still no problem. I gave him a Hey Bear! and he went about his business. I started walking backwards slowly, with the idea that I'd leave the bear alone and just backtrack to the south entrance at Skyland. But the bear decided I was more interesting than the water tower paint and started walking down the trail toward me. It wasn't aggressive, was not making any sound, but it had its head up, was looking right at me, and was sniffing while deliberately walking toward me. I did not like that at all! I'm used to seeing bears that run away from me! I raised my trek poles and banged them and yelled. The bear stopped but didn't run away. I kept it up, and he finally ambled off toward the paved road at the north entrance. When I saw that he had gone well off the trail, I headed north again, got to the road and went around to the office area. By then the bear had a big audience of car tourists who were doing the usual stupid things, getting out of their cars, walking into the woods to get "better pictures". The bear was quite close to the crowds, certainly not aggressive, but certainly not concerned by the crowd so close to it.

On my way out of the park today as we drove past the north entrance to Skyland, there was the bear again. Bigger crowd gathering all over the road, even more stupid tourist behavior. The bear was only yards from the road, eating vegetation and ignoring the people, but the people were going into the woods. I saw parents with very small children walking closer to the bear. One of the parents even sent their child running down the road to the car to "get the camera". I screamed at one woman who had an apple in her hand just as she was about to throw the apple at the bear. Good thing that several other people yelled at her, and she slunk back to her car. It's only a matter of time before someone actually does toss food to this bear. It has no fear of people, even lots of people gathering close to him.

If you're in the area, it's good to keep a heads up.

[Tinker]

I hadn't heard that word before - habitualized - I'd always heard habituated. Seems like there's a new word every day lately. :)
Yes, people are the REAL problem. The bear just does what comes naturally - looks for food, finds it, and returns time and again to where he finds it, and there are plenty of woods-stupid people there to feed them.

[johnnybgood]

To paraphrase an Einstein quote :

"There are only two things infinite , the universe and human stupidity and I'm not so sure about the former."

[TheCheek]

Not to diminish the importance of this notice but it sounds a lot like most bears in snp.

[Blue Jay]

Not to diminish the importance of this notice but it sounds a lot like most bears in snp.

Actually TO diminish the importance yet another of the almost constant bear scares. This happens ALL the time in SNP.

[berkshirebirder]

Calling people stupid is not going to solve this problem.

[john gault]

I saw parents with very small children walking closer to the bear. One of the parents even sent their child running down the road to the car to "get the camera". I screamed at one woman who had an apple in her hand just as she was about to throw the apple at the bear.
I guess there's a lot of people that never heard of all the stories of bears, and animals in general, attacking kids. People just don't realize these animals are predators, yeah, there not like lions, but they do prey on animals and kids, to them, look tender and tasty.

It's only a matter of time before someone actually does toss food to this bear. It has no fear of people, even lots of people gathering close to him.
I'm sure it's already happened many times. Especially since the Animal Planet's showing of "A Stranger Among Bears" documentary.

I can't believe an organization, such as Animal Planet, which professes to love animals would air in such an irresponsible manner this stupid show.

[Blue Jay]

Calling people stupid is not going to solve this problem.

You are correct, however it might help. Quite often people are not aware they are stupid. If enough people tell them they just might become aware.
It's actually happened on this site.:D

[berkshirebirder]

I think you'd get a much better response by educating the public--letting them know they are wrong about their understanding of wild animals (not stupid).

This education is a joint responsibility.

Government agencies and park employees have the major role: maybe parks should not be promoted as a way of seeing and enjoying wildlife "up close;" maybe they need to limit the size of bear populations in parks with many visitors.

As John Gault just pointed out, media also need to project a different image and message about wildlife. They love to show people maimed by sharks and bitten by snakes--maybe a few programs about people bitten/clawed/chased by bears would be useful.

Hikers have a responsibility, too. Take a look in the wildlife photo gallery here at Whiteblaze. There are many photos of bears, and I don't think they were taken with fancy zoom lenses. If it's wrong for the public to approach bears closely for a good picture, it's wrong for hikers, too.

[Dogwood]

It's refreshing and encouraging to note the positive posts that realize ignorant human behavior plays a KEY role in the development of "problem" bears or negative encounters with these creatures.

Human having "problems" with bears can ultimately be traced to bears adapting to their environment, regardless of whether or not that adaption is perceived as good or bad for or by humans. BUT, the bears are adapting to that changing environment largely because it is humans who have changed that environment! Humans need to realize that! The bear do!

Seems to me, that if we as humans are as intelligent and aware, as we often like portraying ourselves, then we as human beings have an obligation and responsibility to examine and alter our own human behavior in the context of finding ways to coexist with these animals(this is not a new story!). OR, as the human population expands exponentially, not only are these animal's existence put into peril, but very likely the existence of the human species!

Personally, I don't think we were meant to and I don't want to live in a world where the evidence of mankind's destruction is so prevalent!

[wcgornto]

I hadn't heard that word before - habitualized - I'd always heard habituated.


What the OP described was the habitualation process.

[earlyriser26]

Hiked that section 2 weeks ago and saw bears every day. And yes, they seemed to be much less concerned about my being there than I would have expected. They did not run off when we made noise, but finally seemed to get bored. We walked past a deer on the trail and I actually touched it before it moved off.

[john gault]

Tinker is technically correct. There is no word: Habitualize

But he's still a smart ass:D

[Virginia Trails]

If you're in the area, it's good to keep a heads up.

What you witnessed is pretty typical in SNP. We live right on the park boundary and hike somewhere in the park almost every week. Many of the bears in Shenandoah are rather indifferent to human presence. Rangers use noise and bean bags to try and chase the boldest bears deeper into the forest, but it usually doesn't work permanently.

I can't tell you how many hikes we've been on and encountered bears within feet of the trail. I've looked to the side so many times and been startled to find a bear blandly watching us pass by.

I think there are just too many bears in a relatively small space to avoid them getting somewhat accustomed to a human presence. I do, however, have a HUGE issue with anyone feeding the bears. That kind of behavior lures the bears in, makes them accustomed to human food, and gets them killed.

We heard from some guys at Bearfence Hut last night that they witnessed another thru-hiker feeding a bear some of his breakfast. Not cool!