Contrary to popular belief, bears can see almost as well as people, but trust their noses much more than their eyes or ears. Always let bears know you are there. Bears, like humans, use trails and roads. Don’t set up camp close to a trail they might use.
What to do if you see a bear while hiking in Alaska?
STAND YOUR GROUND. Wave your arms and speak in a loud low voice. Many times charging bears have come within a few feet of a person and then veered off at the last second. If a bear approaches your campsite aggressively chase it away.
Should I worry about bears while hiking?
Always watch out for bear sign when hiking in parks with bears. Be aware. Be alert while on the trail, and always be on the lookout for bears. Keep an eye out for fresh tracks, scat, other signs (torn up logs, digging, fresh claw marks on trees), and carrion (carcasses) in the area.
Are bear attacks common in Alaska?
Deadly bear attacks are considered rare in Alaska, happening once every three to four years. But just last year there were two– one outside Anchorage and the other in the Interior.
How worried should I be about bears in Alaska?
In most cases, bears are not a threat, but they do deserve your respect and attention. When traveling in bear country, keep alert and enjoy the opportunity to see these magnificent animals in their natural habitat. Female bears can be fierce defenders of their young.
Should you wave your arms if you see a black bear?
Identify yourself by talking calmly so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal. Remain still; stand your ground but slowly wave your arms. Help the bear recognize you as a human. It may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell.
What to do if you encounter a black bear while hiking?
If you encounter a bear on the trail, or in your campsite, stop what you are doing and evaluate the situation. Identify yourself by speaking in a calm, appeasing tone. Back away slowly, preferably in the direction you came. Walk, don’t run, and keep your eye on the bear so you can see how it will react.
Should I hike with bear spray?
Keep your bear spray on a belt holster or on a chest holster at all times. Never keep it in your backpack while hiking—you won’t be able to reach it in time if a bear charges or attacks you. Know when to spray it. Only use your bear spray when the bear is charging or attacking you.
How do bears avoid backpacking?
How to Avoid Bears While Hiking
- Avoid hiking at dawn or dusk. That’s when bears are most active.
- Hike in a group of four or more and stay close together; groups of that size are less likely to be attacked.
- Make noise as you hike in order not to surprise a bear.
- Carry bear spray.
Do I need bear spray for hiking?
If you know you’re in brown bear country, you should be carrying bear spray as a bear deterrent. Defensive spraying has been shown to be very effective at turning away a charging bear. How do you know you’re in grizzly terrain? Read the information compiled by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (no joke).
Do you need bear spray to hike in Alaska?
Yes, many people do. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game recommends bear spray and it is effective in many situations. Wind direction is critical, and can extend its effective range or shorten it. Most bear spray has a range up to 30 feet.
Is hiking in Alaska Safe?
Whether it’s short or long, hiking safety should be at most concern for all of us. Most of our hike are under 2 hours, on well established trail, and within a city. So, your chance of getting into hiking accident is low.
What should you avoid in Alaska?
20 Things Everyone In Alaska Should Avoid At All Costs
- Farmed seafood. Flickr/fs999.
- Or buying fish in general.
- Even feeding your dogs farmed fish.
- Eating hot dogs.
- Camping without a view.
- Snacking on chips from the lower 48.
- Shopping at big corporate box stores.
- Drinking wine that isn’t from Alaska.
What animal kills the most humans in Alaska?
The study examined 59 fatal encounters between black bears and humans in Alaska, Canada and the Lower 48 during the 110 years ending in 2009. Some 88 percent of the 63 deaths were caused by a bear that exhibited predatory behavior, and 92 percent of these predatory black bears were male.
Should you throw things at a bear?
If you surprise a bear, regardless of the species, don’t fight it. Unless the bear is acting predatory, do not fight it. This can cause the bear to act more aggressively toward you and trigger an attack.
How frequent are bear attacks in Alaska?
There were 66 bear attacks in Alaska from 2000–2017.
That averages 3.8 admissions every year, while the average rate of bear attack hospitalizations is 8.6 per 10,000 hospitalizations annually.
Are black bears friendly?
Black bears, for instance, are usually less aggressive and more tolerant of people. They often live near human settlements, whereas grizzly bears prefer to stay away from human settlements and are often extirpated from heavily used or populated areas. Black bears are excellent climbers.
What to do if you see a black bear vs a brown bear?
Step 1: Get big and be loud. Black bears would rather flee than fight. If you make yourself appear as a threat by waving your arms, shouting, and making yourself big, you should scare black bears away. Step 2: Use bear pepper spray.
What to do if a bear approaches you?
Bear Encounters
“Know what to do when you see a bear. NEVER run from a bear. Don’t approach a bear – just quietly move away and leave the area. However, if a black bear does approach you, make yourself look big, make loud noises, clap your hands, and continue to back away.”
Are black bears aggressive?
In fact, they are often attracted to people’s food sources or get used to the presence of humans. However, black bears are typically not aggressive and fear the “repercussions of attacking someone,” Garshelis said. “They just don’t want to attack people,” Garsheilis said. “They’re kind of timid animals.”
Does bear spray work on grizzlies?
“There are reasons why bear spray should be the first choice for anybody recreating in bear country,” he says, pointing to Smith’s research in Alaska that showed bear spray to be 92 percent effective in deterring attacks by grizzly, black and polar bears.
