How to Escape from a Bear in the Woods

Wooded trail

Do you know how to escape from a Bear in the woods? Say you find yourself out hiking a Nature Trail on a weekend excursion. There you are, enjoying all that nature has to offer. Identifying plants, birds, small animals and reptiles. Perhaps even searching for Morel mushrooms or edible berries. Perhaps, Whitetail Deer hunting. When, suddenly, you come face to face with a Bear. Bears, whether Black Bears, Brown Bears, Grizzly Bears or Polar Bears all have poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell. Bears are omnivorous, meaning that they eat both plants and animals. Chances are that the bear will just turn and run, especially black Bears. But if it doesn't, you may quickly find yourself in a bad situation. Sow Bears become especially aggressive, once you get between them and their cubs. Time to test your survival skills.

Things You'll Need:
* Wits and Common Sense
* Bear Repellent Spray
* Whistle / Bells (noise makers)

1. Don't panic! The Bear is probably just as surprised as you. But, whether scared, sick, hungry, or trying to protect their young, a full grown Bear can easily kill you! In the wild, you have trespassed into their territory. You can't out run, out climb or out swim a Bear so don't even think about it! Don't turn your back on the Bear either.

2. Back away, slowly and quietly. Again, don't turn your back and beat feet out of there! Backing away communicates to the bear that you made a mistake and didn't mean to intrude. Acting in a non-threatening manner, and attempting to back off may not do any good.

3. Stand your ground and throw your arms up and out to make yourself look big and large, while yelling at the Bear. Jump up and down too! If there are bushes, shake them violently. Dead limbs on the ground? Swinging branches overhead gives you a larger profile and make you appear formidable. You can even throw handfuls of dry leaves and twigs into the air. Do everything you can to scare the Bear away first!

4. Throw rocks or chunks of wood while continuing to yell, if the Bear still doesn't back down and run. Thick fur and a layer of fat will cushion the blow of anything that hits it, so aim for the Bear's head. A good hard pop on the nose or a crack on the noggin could very well save your life! This reinforces a fear of humans. Rest assured, this is beneficial to all concerned! Without that fear, Bears get too close and take too many chances which often end with drastic results!

5. DON'T RUN, if the Bear decides to take the offensive and charges after you! This will only reinforce a natural instinct to chase you down and attempt to kill you as a prey animal. Instead, find the largest tree or a tight grouping of small trees or boulders to get behind. Let the Bear chase you around and around the tree(s) or other obstacles. Bears aren't very agile, and they don't corner well. Just don't trip and fall! It shouldn't take long before the Bear gives up and wanders off. When it does, go the other way!

Tips
* Planning to go hiking in an area indigenous to Bears? Make noise by talking, singing or whistling so you don't surprise one. Some hikers even pin a jingle bell to their pack boots or clothing.
* Blasts from a loud whistle or PEPPER SPRAY canister should run a Bear off, under most circumstances.
* Force protection, such as dual-purpose hiking stick with a sharpened spearpoint, could save your life!
* Move slowly towards an obstacle you can use to dodge behind, if you come up on a Bear while out in a clearing.

Warnings
* Don't get cocky and charge at a Bear. They have far more advantages than you do!
* Don't throw food at a Bear, as a distraction. They will only associate you as a food source and come after more. The only exception is a Deer Hunter. By all means, if you cannot defend your kill give it up!
* Wetting your pants out of fear could be your undoing! A Bear will take that as a sign of aggression, as if you are marking its territory.

Copyright 05/03/2009 All Rights Reserved. Questions? Comments? Contact Me
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