[at-l] Bear Repellent

[jmmiele at optonline.net (joe miele)]

Black bears are not aggressive toward humans and they should not be thought
of as a threat to anything other than the food in your pack.  In the
recorded history of the state of New Jersey, there has not been one instance
of an unprovoked bear attacking a human and causing serious injury.  I've
seen bears along the Greenwood Lake, NY portion of the AT and they seemed
quite uninterested in me.

Don't believe the myth about never going between a mother bear and her
cubs - I've been in that position and I'm obviously here to type this
message.  I know many people who live in New Jersey's bear country who have
almost daily interaction with bears of some sort.

The best way to chase them away is to wave your arms above your head and
make lots of loud noise.  Bears are far more afraid of you than you are of
them.

For some great information check out the following pages -

http://www.bear.org/Black/BB_Home.html

http://www.savenjbears.com/commentary.html#AFRAID%20OF%20BEARS%20HERES%20WHY
!

Peace,
Joe



----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Adams" <stephensadams@hotmail.com>
To: <at-l@backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 11:53 AM
Subject: [at-l] Bear Repellent


> I met someone who began hunting bear 35 years ago and seems quite
> knowledgeable about black bear.  He was very deferential to another
hunter,
> who was not present, whom he admires for his vast knowledge of bears.
This
> second hunter advised him bear sufficiently dislike high pitched noises
that
> they usually leave the vicinity of such noises promptly after encountering
> them.
>
> The hunter suggested using a metal "clicker," with which kids sometimes
> play, to persuade a bear to leave.  He also suggested carrying a small
tape
> recorder with a tape recording of a dog barking - - bear have an aversion
to
> dogs on the loose.
>
> I asked the hunter whether rattling pebbles in a can might have the effect
> of the clicker.  He thought it would probably be quite effective.
>
> A thought.  If you are accustomed to carry a metal container - - cup / mug
/
> pot - - in your pack, and are concerned about aggressive bears, why not
> carry the metal container attached to the outside your pack?  When you
> encounter a troublesome bear you could scoop up some rocks / pebbles, drop
> them into the container, and shake them vigorously.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Steve
>
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