Being located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, I am always hearing about the people who live up in the mountains who have to deal with bears that come calling in their back yards and communities. I used to get upset when the neighbor’s poodle came over to avail himself of my flower beds. I don’t know what it would be like to round the corner of my house and see something that could actually kill me, if not by attacking me then by giving me a heart attack.
As I look across the country wild fires seem to be going on all year long. I have recently thought about how this is one of the major causes of wildlife and human confrontations in the human habitat instead of the wildlife habitat. When the fire burns the bears habitat he has to go somewhere. His food supply moves or is destroyed, so he has to go in search of new supplies to survive.
Experts tell us, as far as bears go, most situations where there are problems between bears and humans come by one surprising the other. Bears don’t really want to be around you and don’t like you to be around them. The thing is bear cubs are curious little things and wonder everywhere. But Momma is not and she will overreact to anything she sees as a threat to her babies.
Just about every thing I have read from home-owners to hikers to emergency personnel all recommend that you keep bear spray with you when in areas that you might run into a bear. (Make sure it’s really bear spray and not human pepper spray there is a difference.) It seems to be the one thing everyone agrees on.
Other suggestions you see a lot.
1. If you are in a group, don’t panic! You should group up and pick up all the small children right away. Try to assess the bear’s intent. Maybe he will just go the other direction. Be prepared to use your bear spray if he comes your way
2.If the bear stands up on it’s back feet don’t run or make any exaggerated moves. It is just looking at you and listening to see what you are. Talk in a low steady voice so he can see you are a human.
3. Don’t look it straight in the eye as this could be misunderstood by the bear as a challenge. Back away slowly to give it room to go another way.
4. If the bear starts to move toward you give a couple of good blasts of your bear spray well in advance of the bears arrival to fill the air with the spray. This might cause it to rethink about getting close to you.
I hope that whether you live in a bear area or are a hiker or camper or maybe you just drive through a bear area often that these suggestions will cause you to think and to plan to prepare yourself for an unexpected encounter with wildlife.
BTW Bear spray works really well on many other types of “animals” as seen in the video below. Enjoy!