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Thread: Bear Bells

  1. #1
    Registered User awwstin's Avatar
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    Default Bear Bells

    Are bear bells effective? Do they keep just the bears away or other hikers as well?

  2. #2
    Registered User DavidNH's Avatar
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    The only thing bear bells will accomplish is annoying every hiker within earshot of you. I don't think bear bells will do a darn thing in terms of repelling bears.

    It's better to just talk as you walk in bear country so the beat knows you are coming. Usually, the bear is already walking away before you notice him. Bears have a great sense of smell.

  3. #3

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    Bear bells on the AT alerts me to the presence of a newbie.

  4. #4
    Registered User mmorgan's Avatar
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    I've heard it is very difficult getting the bells around the bear's neck but have never tried it myself....lol

  5. #5
    Registered User ChinMusic's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by max patch View Post
    Bear bells on the AT alerts me to the presence of a newbie.
    This

    Awesome
    Fear ridges that are depicted as flat lines on a profile map.

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    "The National Park Rangers are advising hikers in Glacier National Park and other Rocky Mountain parks to be alert for bears and take extra precautions to avoid an encounter.
    They advise park visitors to wear little bells on their clothes so they make noise when hiking. The bell noise allows bears to hear them coming from a distance and not be startled by a hiker accidentally sneaking up on them. This might cause a bear to charge.
    Visitors should also carry a pepper spray can just in case a bear is encountered. Spraying the pepper into the air will irritate the bear's sensitive nose and it will run away.
    It is also a good idea to keep an eye out for fresh bear scat so you have an idea if bears are in the area. People should be able to recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear scat.
    Black bear droppings are smaller and often contain berries, leaves, and possibly bits of fur. Grizzly bear droppings tend to contain small bells and smell of pepper."
    http://www.boyscouttrail.com/content/joke/joke-606.asp

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    Coach Lou coach lou's Avatar
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    WOW, we've been discussing this for the past 4 days on another titled thread!

  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by coach lou View Post
    WOW, we've been discussing this for the past 4 days on another titled thread!
    Please speak louder I can't hear you.

  9. #9
    Coach Lou coach lou's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by max patch View Post
    Please speak louder I can't hear you.
    This program does'nt get any louder Max.

  10. #10
    Registered User 1234's Avatar
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    Been hiking over 30 years and never been bothered by bears. Till the last 2 years, I do not like close encounters, makes my heart pound to hard. I wear a bell always now, I cannot hear the pitch so it does not matter to me. It is also behind me so perhaps the bears do not hear it either. Why does it bug folks, It is a bell not a rap song.

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    Coach Lou coach lou's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 1234 View Post
    Been hiking over 30 years and never been bothered by bears. Till the last 2 years, I do not like close encounters, makes my heart pound to hard. I wear a bell always now, I cannot hear the pitch so it does not matter to me. It is also behind me so perhaps the bears do not hear it either. Why does it bug folks, It is a bell not a rap song.
    Now that you mention it I have seen alot of ear buds on the trail lately.

  12. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by max patch View Post
    Bear bells on the AT alerts me to the presence of a newbie.
    Reminds me of coming up on a couple in SNP last year banging pots while walking along. I kind of knew what the deal was but I just had to ask, yeah they saw a bear. I had to get around them and down the trail asap.... I wanted to see a bear.
    [COLOR="Blue"]Hokey Pokey [/COLOR]

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    Quote Originally Posted by max patch View Post
    Bear bells on the AT alerts me to the presence of a newbie.
    ^^^^^ this

  14. #14
    Chicken Feathers Chicken Feathers's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by awwstin View Post
    Are bear bells effective? Do they keep just the bears away or other hikers as well?
    I have a pair that I will give you just pay postage. You need to check the black bear site out lots of information they are more afraid of you than you are of them but there are many exceptions. The site is www.bear.org
    I agree with DavidNH and also leaftye
    Last edited by Chicken Feathers; 06-08-2012 at 20:57. Reason: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    The mountains are calling and I have to go

  15. #15
    Wanna-be hiker trash
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    Quote Originally Posted by awwstin View Post
    Are bear bells effective? Do they keep just the bears away or other hikers as well?
    Why would you want to keep the bears away? Then you could never get a photo of them.

    My usual response to any question related to the fear of bears on the East Coast/ A.T. Is that I recommend you spend some time reading through the North American Bear Center's website http://www.bear.org/website/, which is primarily dedicated to black bears (the species we have on the east coast) It dispels most of the myths and misconceptions that are common.

    Long story short, as long as you have a decent bit of knowledge about black bears and respect them, they will pose virtually no threat to you.
    Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.

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    Quote Originally Posted by awwstin View Post
    Are bear bells effective? Do they keep just the bears away or other hikers as well?
    useless as teats on a bull

  17. #17
    Wanna-be hiker trash
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lone Wolf View Post
    useless as teats on a bull

    Well that all depends on what the bull is into.
    Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.

  18. #18
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    never seen a tranny bull

  19. #19
    PCT, Sheltowee, Pinhoti, LT , BMT, AT, SHT, CDT, TRT 10-K's Avatar
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    Get you some firecrackers and set one off every once in a while. Bonus points for lighting sparklers around your tent at night...

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    99% of bears (I made that # up) wont mess with you, bell or no bell, they will run away.

    The other 1% that might be having a bad day, just might. Bell or no bell.

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