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Hope, BC
Canada
7095 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2009 : 8:18 PM
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I seen this story in todays newspaper:
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Gibsons+baby+toddler+hide+bedroom+bear+ransacks+home/1765360/story.html
Scary ordeal...
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Cpl. Murray McNeil of the Gibsons RCMP said they tried pepper spray, but all that did was infuriate the bear.
The bear lunged toward one of the officers and it was shot twice with the shotgun, he said.
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I wonder if the Pepper Spray was the same strength as regular bear spray?
All it seemed to do was make it mad.
Another good reason to do something with dirty diapers in the woods. |
Edited by - AcesHigh on 07/07/2009 8:22 PM |
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3022 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2009 : 9:34 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by AcesHigh
I seen this story in todays newspaper:
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Gibsons+baby+toddler+hide+bedroom+bear+ransacks+home/1765360/story.html
Scary ordeal...
==
Cpl. Murray McNeil of the Gibsons RCMP said they tried pepper spray, but all that did was infuriate the bear.
The bear lunged toward one of the officers and it was shot twice with the shotgun, he said.
==
I wonder if the Pepper Spray was the same strength as regular bear spray?
All it seemed to do was make it mad.
Another good reason to do something with dirty diapers in the woods.
Seems like such a small bear, officer m. smith sums up his opinion well in his last sentence.
When we had woods on our back side yard a few years back I got frustrated with our unfenced
neighbors that fed birds and coons year round by the bushel, attracting bears, and the characters
son is a d.f.o officer who ignored our concerns. Go figure.The guy himself used to be a fed cop.
Loved the birds but put the bears and neighbors at risk.
Diapers in the woods eh, "hang em high". |
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82 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2009 : 7:34 PM
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Not trying to be gross here, but:
Speaking of crap attracting bears, that has me wondering - if you really have to go, and you didn't think to bring a porta-potty with you - how far off the trail should you go about your business? I've been in that situation twice in the past month while on hikes. Will human feces attract bears, or other animals, potentially putting fellow hikers at risk?
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82 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2009 : 7:39 PM
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I'm thinking that a bear bell would probably drive me to distraction. The rocks in a tin can sounds like not a bad idea, as I usually push myself pretty hard on hikes, and scarcely have enough breath left to sing. My favourite trails are heavily treed, so I would need to belt out the tunes constantly. Just as well that I don't, as it would probably be more annoying than the bear bell.  |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1028 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2009 : 7:43 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by flatlandnomore
Not trying to be gross here, but:
Speaking of crap attracting bears, that has me wondering - if you really have to go, and you didn't think to bring a porta-potty with you - how far off the trail should you go about your business? I've been in that situation twice in the past month while on hikes. Will human feces attract bears, or other animals, potentially putting fellow hikers at risk?
No, human feces will not attract bears, but will attract flies. I haven't seen too many backcountry outhouses knocked over by bears wanting in. |
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Too close to the city, BC
Canada
784 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2009 : 10:38 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by flatlandnomore
Not trying to be gross here, but:
Speaking of crap attracting bears, that has me wondering - if you really have to go, and you didn't think to bring a porta-potty with you - how far off the trail should you go about your business? I've been in that situation twice in the past month while on hikes. Will human feces attract bears, or other animals, potentially putting fellow hikers at risk?
Reminds me of dogs eating 'cat treats' from litterboxes - the difference being that a cat's diet is very high in protein, and they poop out a lot of protein. Dogs eat a lower protein diet than cats. A human diet is generally higher in carbs and lower in protein, and our intestines are longer so we absorb more. The end result, no pun intended, is that our waste isn't as appealing to other animals [bugs notwithstanding] |
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681 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2009 : 10:54 PM
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| something fishy about that story of the RCMP going in with bear spray. To do what? scare it off till it comes back?. No,no they would go in with guns ready like the airport,,, oh i mean tasers. |
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Hope, BC
Canada
7095 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2009 : 11:07 PM
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Well they likely didn't want to use tasers because it would kill it  |
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972 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 06:00 AM
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First of all i would not get too worried about animals when you are out hiking.
There are alot of other things that can hurt/kill you just as fast in the city or on the road.
If the area is well used by bears etc. then make sufficient noise when hiking.
There is not much more than you can do.
I wouldn't worry about whether bear spray attracts or not.....if you ever have to use it,i am sure that you won't be hanging around the area for long after and the smell will dissipate in short time.
I have read books that say differing things about whistles
one says that it may mimic the sound of a hurt or distressed animal
one says that it would work.....so i dont know who to beleive
i have used an air horn before,i haven't seen any bear. I did blow it one time coming back down to tree line and was circled and charged by a buck. I am not sure what his thoughts were but blowing the horn brought him out of the bush and targeted on me.
My advice would be to just make noise(bang rocks together,rock in tin can,yell)
and not worry about wild animals too much. I'd rather be in the middle of the bush than most cities.....it is alot safer.
p.s. hey flatlandnomore,i am from manitoba too,where abouts do you live??
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82 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 12:18 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by nmcan84
... p.s. hey flatlandnomore,i am from manitoba too,where abouts do you live??
St. B area of Winnipeg. How about yourself? |
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3022 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2009 : 02:09 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by lobo
quote:
Originally posted by flatlandnomore
Not trying to be gross here, but:
Speaking of crap attracting bears, that has me wondering - if you really have to go, and you didn't think to bring a porta-potty with you - how far off the trail should you go about your business? I've been in that situation twice in the past month while on hikes. Will human feces attract bears, or other animals, potentially putting fellow hikers at risk?
No, human feces will not attract bears, but will attract flies. I haven't seen too many backcountry outhouses knocked over by bears wanting in.
... poo poo platter...[:D]
... What an image, couldn't have said that any better |
Edited by - cambium on 07/10/2009 02:11 AM |
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972 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2009 : 05:35 AM
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| brandon |
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Whistler, BC
Canada
631 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2009 : 11:46 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by lobo
No, human feces will not attract bears, but will attract flies. I haven't seen too many backcountry outhouses knocked over by bears wanting in.
I've seen a black bear rip open the septic system of a drill camp I was working out of a few years ago... even came back for a second helping. |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1028 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2009 : 4:58 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Andrew Strain
quote:
Originally posted by lobo
No, human feces will not attract bears, but will attract flies. I haven't seen too many backcountry outhouses knocked over by bears wanting in.
I've seen a black bear rip open the septic system of a drill camp I was working out of a few years ago... even came back for a second helping.
I wouldn't be surprised if someone hadn't dumped a bunch of food down the toilets, it being a work camp. That might get a bear digging into a septic system, or maybe it was just a freakish bear. I lived in a log cabin for four years on the edge of Jasper N.P.. My outhouse was 100 yards from the cabin and although I never kept a lot of food in the cabin, I had to replace my door twice and some shutters a few times from bears trying to get in, but never was there a scratch on the outhouse, and it was flimsy. A bear could easily have knocked it over. I have spent months over the years in trappers cabins, ACC and backcountry huts all up and down the Rockies which all had outhouses, never so much as a bear scratch. Other critters yes, but not bear. I have used many, many parks Canada's green toilets, never noticed a scratch on them. You'd think if the bears had wanted to get in at least one or two lids would have been ripped off. I have also spent a sh*tload of time backcountry camping in bear country and never once noticed one of my spots where I buried my business dug up.
I think the question was, "do you think that you are endangering anyone doing your business close to a trail" And I'd have to say no, unless you dumped a bunch of food at the same time. |
Edited by - lobo on 07/10/2009 5:11 PM |
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Surrey, B.C.
Canada
199 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2009 : 7:59 PM
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I must add my experience of several years ago.
Armed with a Swiss army knife and a fly rod throwing a red carey, I had wandered into Placid Lake in Wells Gray Park. With 8 fine rainbow trout dangling from a willow branch, I headed down the trail back to my car. As it was a summer sunset, daylight was lingering, but seeing things was poor. I saw a small brown thing jump into the bush ahead of me, and then another. Arriving at the spot, I got down on my hands and knees to see what it was. Sure enough they were miniature bear tracks. If there are baby bears here, there must be a mother somewhere. I looked up and found myself almost nose to nose with mama bear, and every hair on her back was standing straight up. I stood up and looked around to see which tree I could climb WITH my fishes in hand. She stood her ground, so after a few seconds I just screamed, and she ambled down the trail ahead of me towards my car, until she was out of sight. I picked up a fast walk, only to find her coming back at me a few moments later. This time I screamed and whistled with every bit of lung power in my possession, and she left the trail and headed off into the trees. With full afterburner adrenalin liftoff, I must have broken every 100 metres Olympic record ever created. I only remember touching the ground a few times in the next thousand metres.
No bear spray, no pepper, no BFK, no firearms, no slingshot, and no airhorn. Never tasted so delicious a fish! I guess it just was not my time to meet up with Saint Peter. |
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Fleece thong wearin, Buntzen Lurkin, mystic poet mountain man and international spokesman of the friends of the white squirrel society
Port Moody, B.C.
Canada
5904 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2009 : 8:09 PM
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You could have used the natural bear repellent found in the back of your pants!  |
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Qualicum Beach, BC
Canada
1305 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2009 : 9:43 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by RollingR
I must add my experience of several years ago.
Armed with a Swiss army knife and a fly rod throwing a red carey, I had wandered into Placid Lake in Wells Gray Park. With 8 fine rainbow trout dangling from a willow branch, I headed down the trail back to my car. As it was a summer sunset, daylight was lingering, but seeing things was poor. I saw a small brown thing jump into the bush ahead of me, and then another. Arriving at the spot, I got down on my hands and knees to see what it was. Sure enough they were miniature bear tracks. If there are baby bears here, there must be a mother somewhere. I looked up and found myself almost nose to nose with mama bear, and every hair on her back was standing straight up. I stood up and looked around to see which tree I could climb WITH my fishes in hand. She stood her ground, so after a few seconds I just screamed, and she ambled down the trail ahead of me towards my car, until she was out of sight. I picked up a fast walk, only to find her coming back at me a few moments later. This time I screamed and whistled with every bit of lung power in my possession, and she left the trail and headed off into the trees. With full afterburner adrenalin liftoff, I must have broken every 100 metres Olympic record ever created. I only remember touching the ground a few times in the next thousand metres.
No bear spray, no pepper, no BFK, no firearms, no slingshot, and no airhorn. Never tasted so delicious a fish! I guess it just was not my time to meet up with Saint Peter.
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Qualicum Beach, BC
Canada
1305 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2009 : 9:55 PM
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RollingR,
You are one very lucky person. Getting between a grizzly bear and her young, keeping your fish, confronting the bear and running from said bear... You did several wrong things and somehow escaped unscathed... A very lucky SOB indeed!
I hope you dont justify your reckless behavior as a method to use again and I hope readers of this forum dont take your foolish experience as a way to act towards bears.
If you continue this kind of behavior, your final post will likely come from a pile of steaming bear scat.
If people heed your story as advise, we will just see more confrontations between bears and people, with the ultimate looser in these situations, the bear. While we might lose one ignorant human out of billions, we will also see a rare animal, thats only wrong was to attack an intruder encroaching on its territory, hunted down and destroyed.
Do you realize the ramifications of your off-the-cuff story? Im sick of hearing stories of wild animals, in their own habitat, having encounters with humans and then being destroyed, for no fault of their own, but only because a human was injured or only even offended!
If you cant learn how to responsibly travel in the backcountry, please just stay out.
Peter
PS Fourm, sorry if my reply is a bit disjointed. I'm not computer savvy and I mix up my messages.
quote:
Originally posted by RollingR
I must add my experience of several years ago.
Armed with a Swiss army knife and a fly rod throwing a red carey, I had wandered into Placid Lake in Wells Gray Park. With 8 fine rainbow trout dangling from a willow branch, I headed down the trail back to my car. As it was a summer sunset, daylight was lingering, but seeing things was poor. I saw a small brown thing jump into the bush ahead of me, and then another. Arriving at the spot, I got down on my hands and knees to see what it was. Sure enough they were miniature bear tracks. If there are baby bears here, there must be a mother somewhere. I looked up and found myself almost nose to nose with mama bear, and every hair on her back was standing straight up. I stood up and looked around to see which tree I could climb WITH my fishes in hand. She stood her ground, so after a few seconds I just screamed, and she ambled down the trail ahead of me towards my car, until she was out of sight. I picked up a fast walk, only to find her coming back at me a few moments later. This time I screamed and whistled with every bit of lung power in my possession, and she left the trail and headed off into the trees. With full afterburner adrenalin liftoff, I must have broken every 100 metres Olympic record ever created. I only remember touching the ground a few times in the next thousand metres.
No bear spray, no pepper, no BFK, no firearms, no slingshot, and no airhorn. Never tasted so delicious a fish! I guess it just was not my time to meet up with Saint Peter.
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Terrace, BC
957 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2009 : 11:30 PM
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bad bad bad RollingR!!, no more woods for you. And certainly no more sillines with fish.
Now go sit in the corner until the end of the day!! |
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3022 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2009 : 12:09 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by prother
RollingR,
You are one very lucky person. Getting between a grizzly bear and her young, keeping your fish, confronting the bear and running from said bear... You did several wrong things and somehow escaped unscathed... A very lucky SOB indeed!
I hope you dont justify your reckless behavior as a method to use again and I hope readers of this forum dont take your foolish experience as a way to act towards bears.
If you continue this kind of behavior, your final post will likely come from a pile of steaming bear scat.
If people heed your story as advise, we will just see more confrontations between bears and people, with the ultimate looser in these situations, the bear. While we might lose one ignorant human out of billions, we will also see a rare animal, thats only wrong was to attack an intruder encroaching on its territory, hunted down and destroyed.
Do you realize the ramifications of your off-the-cuff story? Im sick of hearing stories of wild animals, in their own habitat, having encounters with humans and then being destroyed, for no fault of their own, but only because a human was injured or only even offended!
If you cant learn how to responsibly travel in the backcountry, please just stay out.
Peter
PS Fourm, sorry if my reply is a bit disjointed. I'm not computer savvy and I mix up my messages.
quote:
Originally posted by RollingR
I must add my experience of several years ago.
Armed with a Swiss army knife and a fly rod throwing a red carey, I had wandered into Placid Lake in Wells Gray Park. With 8 fine rainbow trout dangling from a willow branch, I headed down the trail back to my car. As it was a summer sunset, daylight was lingering, but seeing things was poor. I saw a small brown thing jump into the bush ahead of me, and then another. Arriving at the spot, I got down on my hands and knees to see what it was. Sure enough they were miniature bear tracks. If there are baby bears here, there must be a mother somewhere. I looked up and found myself almost nose to nose with mama bear, and every hair on her back was standing straight up. I stood up and looked around to see which tree I could climb WITH my fishes in hand. She stood her ground, so after a few seconds I just screamed, and she ambled down the trail ahead of me towards my car, until she was out of sight. I picked up a fast walk, only to find her coming back at me a few moments later. This time I screamed and whistled with every bit of lung power in my possession, and she left the trail and headed off into the trees. With full afterburner adrenalin liftoff, I must have broken every 100 metres Olympic record ever created. I only remember touching the ground a few times in the next thousand metres.
No bear spray, no pepper, no BFK, no firearms, no slingshot, and no airhorn. Never tasted so delicious a fish! I guess it just was not my time to meet up with Saint Peter.
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Yea , I get the gist of that.
I think experienced people can see the "horse shoes " this guy was packing. Veerryy lucky.
The few times I've treaded grizzle - turf with armed company when I was young I was
totally freaked out in the mornings seeing fresh grizz-tracks outside my open air outhouse.
Never heard them yet they arrived every sun down to sniff our shoes.
... another reason i am alarmed by people, tourons and locals, that seem to think in increasing
numbers that it is Okay to allow dogs to enter serious backcountry {not} All too often some bear
or cougar is destroyed because of a confrontation between Beast and canine/owner. |
Edited by - cambium on 07/11/2009 12:17 PM |
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the dangers of wild animals while out hiking
