What NOT To Do If You See A Bear In The Wild
Weighing in at upwards of 500 pounds the black bear, which is the only bear species found in New England happens to be the largest meat eater around these parts! They also diet on the trash humans leave behind as they are very opportunistic feeders! They also enjoy a variety of fruits, nuts, berries and even different types of grasses.
While they hibernate in the winter they are capable of waking up should danger arise! If you are out on a hike or trip in the wilderness its best to be very aware of your surroundings especially given that that these bears can run up to 32 miles per hour and YES they can climb trees.
Close encounters of the bear kind is becoming quite common as humans encroach more and more into their homes. As bears lose their feeding grounds they are traveling at much greater distances to find new food sources including populated residential areas.
How to avoid bear encounters
Between April 1 and November 1st is when black bears are most active. If you live in an area where bears are common, keep your trash tightly closed and during this time remove any outdoor bird feeders or any food source that they may be seeking out; if they don’t find one they move on. If you have a garden pick ripened fruits and vegetables daily to avoid them becoming enticed to rummage through. If they find any of these food sources they will be very inclined to return again for more. Remember bears have a great long term memory and will revisit places where they know they can find food.
If you DO encounter a black bear in the wild
Black bears are not naturally aggressive in nature and will avoid close human contact, often running away should they spot you. However if they feel trapped or threatened, or if they have a cub nearby they can and will defend themselves. Here are the steps you should take to ensure your safety should you encounter a bear.
- DON’T startle them! If they don‘t see you, slowly back away and be quiet. The last thing you want to do is startle them.
- DON’T stick around to take photos!
- DON’T panic and run up a tree …they can run faster and climb better than you!
- If they spot you, make your self look larger and be loud, talk loudly, sing, even bang a large stick on a tree …hopefully they will leave.
- If the bear comes toward you its time to yell, be aggressive, blow a whistle a horn anything to be very loud. This will not only frighten them away it will also alert anyone nearby that you are in danger.
- If the bear is agitated they will stomp their paws and huff at you …just continue to back away giving them plenty of space if they don’t feel threatened they should leave.
- A black bear with a cub …that feels threatened or trapped might be a different story …should a bear actually attack you immediately curl up into the fetal position and protect your vital organs as best as you can. If you have a weapon or bear spray its time to use it.
While a black bear attack is very rare it can happen. There have only been approximately 25 fatal black bear attacks in the past 20 years. Arming yourself with the knowledge and tools to avoid an encounter and protect your self in the event of an encounter is crucial! Remember Survive NOW Panic Later.
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