WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Page 4 of 13 FirstFirst 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ... LastLast
Results 61 to 80 of 244
  1. #61
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-28-2004
    Location
    New Brunswick
    Age
    61
    Posts
    11,116

    Default

    There are no fatal bear attacks on the historical record in New Brunswick, even though we have plenty of Black Bears. I am not entirely sure why this is so. We have enough bears, like 1 every 2 square miles, that I know they smell or hear or see me even if I never see them. Still, I am naturally nervous when hiking with my daughter because she seems just the right size. I mean, if they eat small moose... So I study what I can on the subject, and go from there.

  2. #62
    Registered User
    Join Date
    07-13-2008
    Location
    wilmington, nc
    Age
    38
    Posts
    3

    Default Bear Attacks???

    Quote Originally Posted by 4eyedbuzzard View Post
    Most don't get that big. 400 is usually considered a big bear. Usually they're more in the 250 to 350 range. They'll go after fawns and injured animals like deer and moose. Mostly they just scavenge though. But here's a youtube of a black bear taking a young moose. http://youtube.com/watch?v=-JVkaMqD5mI&feature=related So it does happen.
    That is wild. i mean, that was really sad to see that baby moose taken away. kind of scary. what do you do if a bear attacks u? black bears dont climb trees do they? and how do you avoid being attacked by a mother bear if she sees you? just bear spray? is that my only defense?

  3. #63

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dharmabum View Post
    That is wild. i mean, that was really sad to see that baby moose taken away. kind of scary. what do you do if a bear attacks u? black bears dont climb trees do they? and how do you avoid being attacked by a mother bear if she sees you? just bear spray? is that my only defense?
    Yes, black bears are capable tree climbers, and your best defense is hot lead.

  4. #64

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Montana Mac View Post
    Indian attacks
    Stage coach wrecks
    Suicide
    All of these issues are far more important to fear on the AT than bears. In addition I would add dingos, rhinoceros and man eating plants. Seriously, I know you NEED something to fear, but it's just not bears, I'm sorry.

  5. #65

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by _terrapin_ View Post
    Odd how that goes. When an animal capable of killing and eating you... decides not to.
    Happens to you hundreds of times a day. The animal, which also is millions of times more likely than a bear, to do so, the human. Again, if you just have to be afraid, and I know you do, stay away from them.

  6. #66

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by take-a-knee View Post
    Yes, black bears are capable tree climbers, and your best defense is hot lead.
    No your best defense is to stand there or walk away or read the newspaper.

  7. #67
    Registered User 4eyedbuzzard's Avatar
    Join Date
    01-02-2007
    Location
    DFW, TX / Northern NH
    Age
    67
    Posts
    8,143
    Images
    27

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dharmabum View Post
    That is wild. i mean, that was really sad to see that baby moose taken away. kind of scary. what do you do if a bear attacks u? black bears dont climb trees do they? and how do you avoid being attacked by a mother bear if she sees you? just bear spray? is that my only defense?
    Research it on the internet. Lots of info out there from bear experts on how to behave in the event of a bear confrontation. 99% of the time the bear simply runs off.

    But don't believe for a minute that bears aren't dangerous. They are the apex predator in the woods, not you. Even if armed with spray or a firearm your best defense is to avoid turning the confrontation into an attack, because if a close distance attack occurs you'll have very little time to use either spray or a firearm, and hitting a target given the nature of an attack(PANIC!) isn't going to be easy.
    "That's the thing about possum innards - they's just as good the second day." - Jed Clampett

  8. #68
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-28-2004
    Location
    New Brunswick
    Age
    61
    Posts
    11,116

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dharmabum View Post
    That is wild. i mean, that was really sad to see that baby moose taken away. kind of scary. what do you do if a bear attacks u? black bears dont climb trees do they? and how do you avoid being attacked by a mother bear if she sees you? just bear spray? is that my only defense?
    There is another thread, but no, bear spray is not your only defence, and by itself it is neither neccessary nor sufficient. It might be a good part of a system, but you have to educate yourself first.

    For Black Bears, I suggest reading this...
    http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business...ise/index.html
    and in particular, these...
    http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/197046.pdf

    If you can find something similar, but more local to your region, that would be
    even better. Ontario has serious Black Bear issues though, so it's a good start.

    From there I would research the bear demographics and bear behaviour specific to the area you are hiking in. Bear demographics and bear behaviour are effected, positively and negatively, by such things as hunting, camping, forestry, development, climate, vegetation, large prey, domestic and feral dogs, and competition from other predators such as wolves and coyotes, and other black bears. Here is a good start for learning about Black Bears in Maine.
    http://www.state.me.us/ifw/wildlife/...bear/index.htm

    Get to know your bears. Just don't let them get to know you.

  9. #69

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by John B View Post
    From Stumpknocker's June 17 entry:

    "The last time I saw Foxtrot, he had just gotten back from one of his walks in Alaska. He goes out for about 6 weeks and said he had about 5 days before he got out of the woods. He was walking along some young willow trees and a grizzly charged him. He fell back and the grizzly bit him in his calf, then ran back into the willow trees.

    By that time, Foxtrot had enough time to get his bear spray out...and he needed it because the grizzly evidentially thought he tasted pretty good and charged again. This time the bear spray made the bear decide to leave. The part of the story I liked best was that when he when he did get out of the woods and in to see a doctor, the doctor told Foxtrot that he could probably fix his leg so it didn't show much of a scar from the teeth marks of the grizzly. Foxtrot said..."NO...I want the scar!"
    Pretty interesting that he didn't have some pretty severe infection issues after 5 days. Bears rarely brush after meals and like many carnivores or carrion eaters the bacteria in thier mouths are a real danger.

  10. #70
    I'm the man on the mountain, come on up.....
    Join Date
    05-27-2006
    Location
    SW Ohio
    Posts
    979
    Images
    1

    Default

    not sure if this is posted in this thread but in case people missed it

    http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=5288312&page=1

    should i not feel more secure about bear encounters after watching this story...kind made me rest a little easier

  11. #71
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-28-2004
    Location
    New Brunswick
    Age
    61
    Posts
    11,116

    Default

    That is a cool story. I would keep the scar also.

    Also interesting about infections.
    I would presume that the doctor did give him some treatment against infections.

    We carry alot of nasty bugs on our skin also. I've notices I have to be more careful then when I was young. When I was younger I thought all this business of cleaning wounds and not picking scabs and stuff was a joke. Now I have to take it more seriously. I think it has mostly to do with aging. Bugs have gotten nastier also.

  12. #72

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by JAK View Post
    That is a cool story. I would keep the scar also.

    ...
    I would think any guy that doesn't get facials would want to keep the scar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXqqynfqE_0

  13. #73
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-28-2004
    Location
    New Brunswick
    Age
    61
    Posts
    11,116

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Freeleo View Post
    not sure if this is posted in this thread but in case people missed it

    http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=5288312&page=1

    should i not feel more secure about bear encounters after watching this story...kind made me rest a little easier
    I saw that.
    That was my overall impression also.

    It was an artificial 'fairy land', but I think it does provide some balance against the 'scarey land' portrayed by various commercial interests, such as outfitters and bear spray vendors and gun enthusiasts. I think the most objective source of information is obtained educational and research resources, such as that which I posted above.

    I thought it was interesting that Ontario recommends carrying a long handled axe in the back country. It's all those axe crazed softwood lumber lobbiests.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zey8567bcg

  14. #74
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-28-2004
    Location
    New Brunswick
    Age
    61
    Posts
    11,116

    Default

    I see the axe lobbiest are now spreading out of control.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiVOG...eature=related

  15. #75

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Blue Jay View Post
    No your best defense is to stand there or walk away or read the newspaper.
    this guy had it together though, he got to read about himself in the paper:

    http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=14970
    Last edited by Cuffs; 07-13-2008 at 15:13. Reason: No name calling please.

  16. #76
    Registered User
    Join Date
    11-20-2002
    Location
    Damascus, Virginia
    Age
    65
    Posts
    31,349

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by take-a-knee View Post
    this guy had it together though, he got to read about himself in the paper:

    http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=14970
    no name calling
    Last edited by Cuffs; 07-13-2008 at 15:14. Reason: removed quoted material.

  17. #77

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Blue Jay View Post
    No your best defense is to stand there or walk away or read the newspaper.
    :

    http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=14970
    Last edited by Cuffs; 07-13-2008 at 15:15. Reason: Again, no name calling please.

  18. #78

    Default

    With all due respect, Blue Jay is spot on. Count yourself lucky to see a bear on the AT. Experience teaches the agenda-less hiker that a firearm or bear spray is not needed on the AT for protection from bears. The ATC concurs.
    'All my lies are always wishes" ~Jeff Tweedy~

  19. #79
    Registered User
    Join Date
    05-03-2008
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Age
    51
    Posts
    619
    Images
    10

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by take-a-knee View Post
    Real men engage in melee combat.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_VlVckrUgY
    Last edited by Cuffs; 07-13-2008 at 15:15. Reason: removed quoted name calling.

  20. #80
    Registered User
    Join Date
    11-20-2002
    Location
    Damascus, Virginia
    Age
    65
    Posts
    31,349

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MOWGLI View Post
    With all due respect, Blue Jay is spot on. Count yourself lucky to see a bear on the AT. Experience teaches the agenda-less hiker that a firearm or bear spray is not needed on the AT for protection from bears. The ATC concurs.
    i agree. protection from humans is another matter

Page 4 of 13 FirstFirst 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ... LastLast
++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •