Surviving a bear attack in the back country

There is nothing like a backpacking trip to the backcountry.

Over the years my husband and I have become avid fans of backpacking and hiking. Is there anything one cannot appreciate about the rugged mountainous terrain, fresh air and scenery?

Some want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, others for the majestic beauty of the wilderness areas.

With this migration, many people fail to realize that the original inhabitants of these areas remain. Those inhabitants are the animals: mountain lions, bears, bobcats and many others.

You can see the wildlife moving into populated city areas daily. They are visible on roadways, at public housing and schoolyards. With this in mind, we also need to realize that we; humans are encroaching on the wilderness, not the other way around. In the backcountry we also must remember that we are the guests of the wildlife in their natural environment. Yes, once again, we have intruded on nature. Most of our intrusions will go unnoticed by the natural inhabitants but on the rare occasion you should encounter a confrontation, what should you do?

That brings us to the fact that a bear attack could occur. Again, it is best to always be prepared even though the chances of an attack are next to none. Usually bears in the backcountry are more curious than aggressive. They may approach, but will usually run if they sense that you are aware of their presence. It is not unusual to see bears on the trail in daylight hours, although most of the sightings will be evening to nighttime hours. During these hours bears are out foraging for food, and also campers and backpackers cooking their evening meals will arouse the curiosity of area bears. The scent of the foods cooking attracts many, even though usually they will not wander in, only stand on the sidelines hidden; watching.

Several essential items to pack on any journey into the back country are :

* Bear Proof Food Containers

These containers are packable and very lightweight and if stored properly, with your food enclosed, bears have no chance of getting to your food. In fact, the scent of food cannot usually be detected by a bear once food is sealed in one of these containers. The sad thing about this, is over the years bears have become more and more familiar with human food stuffs and they enjoy them.

This has lead to several different problems: bears who eat human food stuffs do not want, or forget their forage instincts.

Also with this comes the problem that a bear will become more outwardly aggressive to humans in order to gain their food stuffs. Be sure to NEVER feed a bear you see on any trail or park, and also be sure to carry a bear proof container, for your own piece of mind as well as for the overall consideration of the bear. These containers can be purchased at any sporting goods store, or rented from a near-by Ranger station in the area of your backpacking trip at a very nominal fee.

I would always advise a bear proof container on any trip to the backcountry.

* Bear Spray, or Pepper Spray

If, indeed, you are confronted by a bear and it is going to attack, pepper spray can be your savior. One word of advice, be sure before you spray you check the direction of the wind because this spray can backfire right into your eyes.

This powerful spray can down a bear and give you ample time to remove yourself from the dangerous situation. Aim for the face and eyes of the bear. Once you have the bear will turn and run away trying to remove the spray by rubbing with their paws or on the brush in the area. Still, unfortunately an occasion could arise where a confrontation from a bear could turn for the worse. Here are some common sense ideas to keep in mind if this should arise.

* Keep a cool head This is a crisis situation and the worst thing you can do is panic and run. Never try to outrun a bear because they move much faster than you think. An average bear can run up to 25 MPH: a human doesn’t have that capability usually.

Also check to see if the bear has a "Fish and Game" Tag attached to the ear. If so try to get the number on it. The numbers are large and easy to spot at a distance.

* Never remove your pack Some people feel that the extra weight of a pack will hamper your agility in a confrontation with a bear. This is not true and in fact it provides extra protection to your body if the bear does grab, or roll on you.

* Roll, Cover and Ball Up If the bear looks as if it is going into a full confrontation, Drop to the Ground, Roll into a fetal position, Cover your Head Chest and abdomen by rolling yourself into a tight ball.

These areas are crucial areas and should at all costs be protected.

* Do Not Yell and Flail Sure you’re frightened, but again keep your head and DO NOT flail your arms or yell during the attack. This could be misconstrued as aggression on your part. At least that is what a bear may think. Usually if you allow the bear to roll on you and proceed with the attack and you’re still in your tight ball, the bear will give up and deem you dead, therefore you again are no threat and the bear will wander away.

DO NOT MOVE until you are positive the bear is out of the area. Bears can and will re-attack if you decide to show signs of life or make noises. Be still and wait it out.

If you are attacked by a bear, report this attack to the nearest Ranger station. They will want a full report and often they will track and tag the bear of remove it from the area if it is a known offender. With all that bear attacks and confrontations of any type are easy to avoid if you follow these common sense steps.

1) At your campsite, never leave dirty dishes unwashed, lying unprotected. Left over food is a welcome mat for any animal in the wilderness.

2)Never leave cosmetics or soaps lying freely at your campsite. This again is a welcome mat for especially bears. Bears are attracted to scents, and the sweeter smelling the better the chance to have one come visit your campsite.

3) WOMEN: Do not start out on a hike while on your monthly cycle. Again, the animals are attracted to scents, and bears especially have been known to violently attack women who are on their monthly cycle.

If you would begin your cycle while on the trail, stop your hike and return to civilization.

Remember, while in the backcountry never put yourself in a situation where a bear attack could occur.

Your best defense is your own common sense. Be alert and safe and enjoy your hike.