I lived in Florida in the national, had a lot of encounters with black bears. The best thing is when you see a bear coming, just turn the other way and walk away. It works even if they have cubs. Black bears just don’t care if your not threatening to them
This is true when encountering bears I just leave them alone many people that hike around here no that. You don’t need to be killing them and going after them I know a guy here who hunts bears and it makes me sick I can’t stand him.
A funny bear story from my family ... When my grandmother was a little girl, her mother took all of her children to a wild berry patch deep in the woods. While they were all busily picking berries, my great grandmother looked out across this big patch and saw a momma bear picking berries with her cubs. My GGM panicked, hiked up her skirt, and started running back to the house. About halfway home, she realized that she'd left her kids amongst the berries with the bears! So, she reversed course. The bears were gone, her kids were fine, and the story became a family legend. LOL
The fact that gun clubs etc were booked up for months speaks volumes about the times in which we live...& you might not think you are a bear expert but I just learnt so much from you Amanda. Thank you 🙏🤗🌸
indeed it does. i'm convinced it was COVID that caused this. it was at the point where we were allowed to move about, but couldn't travel outside of our general area. i am definitely no bear expert for sure, but know the basics :). thanks for watching Deb!
thanks so much for addressing the bear issue! while we were shocked at the reports of predatory black bear attack, which we know is extremely rare, we were disappointed at the sensational coverage on tv. hopefully one positive side-effect will be that people will think twice about stopping on the side of the highway and getting out of their cars to get way too close to bears so that they can take selfies. the sad fact is that human bear conflicts usually end up with dead bears, when 99% of the time the problem was the human. keep up the great work, Amanda and Buttercup, i love following (with envious eyes) your incredible life up there on the BC coast!
hi See to Sky... i definitely agree. too many people nowadays trying to get the perfect tiktok/insta shot with a bear :(. it's a terrible thing that happened in Dawson Creek, just terrible, but you're right maybe it will deter people from getting too close. thanks for watching :)!!
I've had 2 bear encounters, a year apart, on the Indian Group of Islands, which are close to your island. They were non-threatening and it could've cared less about my presence, and seemed almost friendly. I think the bears in your neighborhood are nice ones 🙂 Love the drone shots, they make me want to go back to the Broughtons.
haha... maybe they are nice. the bear i encountered early in the summer looked at me like he wanted to murder me before he ran away... yikes! maybe a 'nice' bear is one that leaves you alone... haha :).
Thank you for the info on the bears! Your reasoning for using bear spray vs. a gun makes a lot of sense. Last thing we would want is to anger a bear! I look forward to your videos so much!
definitely the last thing you want to do... they're not very nice when they're angry - yikes!!! i am so glad you enjoy the videos... thank you so much :)!
I live in bear country. I'm always aware and cautious of them . When walking I've been known to carry a pop can half filled with small stones and I rattle these stones. I don't sing very well LOL The back of our property is solid bush, a haven for wild life. Lived here for 4 decades so I'm used to it . Liv in Ontario.
Hi there, the rocks are a good idea. I'm always talking. Apparently there is a bear hibernating quite near the property... I am assuming he's fast asleep by now... or soon will be!
Hello Amanda . I'm a caretaker in Homfray Channel and fish at Channel Island near where you were. I have been here for fifteen years now. bear spray only works 25% of the time the wind has to be at your back. For you the horn would work best. Bears have bad eyesight and if you stand by a tree and do not move they can not see you. Black bears kill more people every year than Grizllys do. The ones that are dangerus are young males (2 years old) That have just been kicked out so mom can have a new cub Or older males with bad teeth. Bears can run at 30 miles per hour. If you do not have a gun the horn or you voice work best. I know you can not do it but bears never attack groups of people. They don't do muiltiple targets. I enjoy your posts and smile some times. I also have a sailboat a Catilenia 27. And if I was to leave here I would get a bigger one and live on it. I go to town once a month ( Powell River ) It take all day and hard to do in the short days in the winter. I post on facebook so my faimly and friends can see what I'm doing. My name is Ken Beaubien
It's a pleasure to meet you! 😊 I've sailed up Homfrey Channel, and it truly is beautiful. Many years ago, I was the caretaker at Toba Wilderness during a winter. Regarding your comment about bear spray only working 25% of the time, I must respectfully disagree. I have researched this topic extensively and consulted with local bear experts and members of our local band. Bear spray is considered a highly effective method for deterring bears, with data suggesting an effectiveness rate of about 80% to 90%. While I acknowledge that the effectiveness can vary, it is certainly not as low as 25%. As a sailor with many years of experience, I am always aware of the wind direction, which is crucial when using bear spray. Although the average person might not think about it, it’s the first thing I check in the morning and throughout the day when I’m outdoors. Recently, I have invested in bear bangers, which I believe are a better choice than bear spray (thank you to my subscribers who pointed this out!) since they can be effective from a greater distance. You know what they say: "If you're using your bear spray, the bear is too close!" While I haven't done research on a bear's eyesight, I do know that they are thought to have the best sense of smell of any animal on the planet. So, even if a bear can't see you, it can certainly smell you! Horns do work to some extent, but I have noticed that some bears become accustomed to them, especially those that hang around frequently. And you are indeed correct that bears are fast! Despite their slow, lumbering appearance, they can run surprisingly quickly. It's been very nice meeting you, and I will check out your Facebook page! 😊
@@AmandaOffGrid Caretaker Ken again. I have a artsie side too. I'm a oil painter. I live on a 100 year old homestead ( 160 aks ) you may find interesting . I use water and solar to make the power we need. People do not know how little caretakers are payed and I smile when you said it was enough to feed your dog.
That sounds wonderful! Yes, this particular property/position offers very low pay. If I didn't have my side projects, I wouldn't be able to manage. My low pay is quite unusual for this area, as the average salary for a caretaker is generally quite high. Currently, it's around $100 per day. A local resort recently hired new winter caretakers, offering about $3,500 per month plus an hourly wage for any manual labor. The Grizzly Resort here advertised a similar rate last season and they also provide food. When I was caretaking at Toba Wilderness, I wasn't paid at all. I didn't realize it was an unpaid position until I arrived. It took me about five days by sailboat from Vancouver, and the weather was so bad that I was stuck there. Nevertheless, it was an unforgettable experience!
@@AmandaOffGrid Hello Amanda. Toba is same as here only there is a salmon run in the next bay and I have lots of fruit trees here that attract the bears. I get my mail at Refuge Cove. No docks to open to storms so the small boats go on trailors and are pulled out of the water. The first winter here I rebuilt the jetty and made a drydock behind it for my sailboat so it is high and dry in the winter. Today was spent washing the boat so it can go back in the water for the summer. We have bouys to tie to for visitors. Ken
Thanks for the bear info. Quite informative. I encountered black bears twice - once in urban park Mundy Park in Coquitlam (100 feet away on the path - got goosebumps and turned around and went back to the parking lot) and the second time in Ontario at a garbage dump (it was HUGE). I have a healthy respect for them and stay the heck away as far as I can!
I read a true life bear attacks book many years ago. Most bears want nothing to do with humans or dogs based on the book. However, rogue black bears will attack to eat humans going for the throat/jugular. This book exposed the lie that bears only attack when food or cubs were involved. This book had hundreds of personal stories , based in BC. Be safe and pray over the property. My neighbor once told me that I made her laugh because she's seen me run from a bee but chase a bear. That was before I read the book... :)
I've been binge watching to catch up. I have this craving for s'mores @ the end of every video!! 😂 The scenery, the music, your entire life-so beautiful & Super Jelly. Keep it up. Gr8 content!!!
it sounds scary, but black bears generally want nothing to do with humans. as long as you don’t annoy them, keep your garbage secure and don’t leave food out they’ll leave you alone. if it was grizzlies passing through here i’m pretty sure id be off living on my boat somewhere 😆
I remember that bear attack, if I remember correctly they unloaded their bear spray on the but to no avail. I would have a gun, some say that bear spray is not that effective.
Hello and good Sunday afternoon to you Amanda.wow,I have the first comment so I feel special. Haha.if the wind is blowing towards you then the bear spray won't help you.the issue also with a bear attack is you will only get one chance to be wrong.stay safe.enjoy
typically you'll run into a bear in thick trees so wind likely won't be as big of an issue, but you're correct, if bear spray is your main source of protection and you run into him on a shoreline (for example) then you have to stay calm and work around it by moving your body. i think if you're the kind of person that freezes and panics, bear spray (or a gun) isn't going to do you much good.
Awesome! I make noise, use unscented body-care/dish soap etc, and keep food smells to a minimum. I've had good luck for decades! 👍🇨🇦😎🐻 oh, and i wear bear spray...
My only close encounter with a bear was in Algonquin National Park. Silly me was walking down a trail at around 11pm, total darkness..I brushed up against something furry with my shoulder...I stopped and heard a kind of huffing noise, turned around and walked back up the trail...Honestly, I'm assuming it was a bear, or maybe a Sasquatch ! Did see a grizzly once, from a distance up at Whister... beautiful animal.
Bears scare the crap out of me as do cougars. I know they are in the woods not far from me while mostly I get deer and elk in my yard, and a lone wolf once. I’m in the states and have a revolver but think I’m going to get a shotgun, too (I live on 10 wooded acres & think I’d carry that when I went out to check fences). Basically, though, avoidance is the best bet, and making a lot of noise. However I like to cover my bets just in case.
YES, bears are scary, but I'll be honest cougars scare me more. You don't know they're there until they're on top of you. Scary stuff. If I lived in an area that had cougars regularly (in fact, i wouldn't mind a shotgun here specifically for cougars - they were seen on the neighbouring island in 2020) I would have a shotgun with me at all times. I was caretaker of a property a little bit south of here many years ago and cougars were regular visitors to the property. I carried a shotgun with me wherever I went. Had to scare one off once with it. Worked like a charm. Bear spray can also deter cougars, but a shotgun is better.
I've heard bear gel was a much better product than the bear spray. Also would hooking up outside music speakers be a good bear deterrent...how about wearing a whistle around your neck?? I'm sure having a huge dog like a Newfoundland doesn't hurt either...her barks alone would help keep you safe and encourage bears to move out! =)
hi Deborah :). do you mean pepper gel spray? i haven't heard of bear gel (gotta Google it). i am pretty sure pepper gel spray does not work on bears. the actual bear spray has different active ingredients that do work on bears. i think i've heard Buttercup 'bark' a handful of times in her life. she's rarely, if ever, talks. the only times she makes noise is when she is breathing (snoring) and reprimanding other dogs for annoying her (she does this a lot), but she never barks... ever. a few weeks ago she locked herself in the bathroom (she drinks from the toilet and when she turns to exit she'll often shut the door locking herself in). she didn't make a peep. she just sat down and suffered in her own anxiety - it took me about 10 minutes to figure out she was missing and rescued her from the bathroom - haha! i would be stunned if she barked at a bear. i am 99% sure she would smell a bear coming and instead of barking she would hightail it to the cabin... she would absolutely leave me behind :).
hi Deborah :). do you mean pepper gel spray? i haven't heard of bear gel (gotta Google it). i am pretty sure pepper gel spray does not work on bears. the actual bear spray has different active ingredients that do work on bears. i think i've heard Buttercup 'bark' a handful of times in her life. she's rarely, if ever, talks. the only times she makes noise is when she is breathing (snoring) and reprimanding other dogs for annoying her (she does this a lot), but she never barks... ever. a few weeks ago she locked herself in the bathroom (she drinks from the toilet and when she turns to exit she'll often shut the door locking herself in). she didn't make a peep. she just sat down and suffered in her own anxiety - it took me about 10 minutes to figure out she was missing and rescued her from the bathroom - haha! i would be stunned if she barked at a bear. i am 99% sure she would smell a bear coming and instead of barking she would hightail it to the cabin... she would absolutely leave me behind :).
I think that your assessment and approach to bear encounters is reasonable. I have guns but seldom take them out unless it is a rare instance where I'm going to a gun range or hunting. I believe that many people who carry guns do so as a way to deal with their fear. I think carrying a gun can provide a false sense of security and can increase the risk of injury and mortality to those who carry them. Bear spray seems like a safer and more effective way to handle an aggressive bear. In the journals of Lewis and Clark they wrote about bear encounters. They generally viewed black bears as a potential food resource. Grizzly bears were avoided as much as possible because it was too difficult to stop them with a rifle. I found it interesting that the Lewis & Clark expedition lost just one member during the trip. The man died from a burst appendix in Iowa, shortly after they started out on the trip.
agree 100%. i believe the stats on the success rate of bear spray is something like 93%. if you're going to shoot at a grizzly you'd better get the kill shot on the first try or you're in trouble. if you're not a seasoned shooter chances of you getting that shot are pretty much zero.
Yes. I agree , bear spray is more effective than a gun. Still, will be wise to get at least a shot gun. The guns are for the other kind of animals. The biped ones. Usually , just the fact that the biped sees a shot gun , or o hand gun, or a rifle, will move on. And if the biped animal does not see the gun , a warning shot will do it. A biped animal still can be dangerous, even blinded by the bear spray. Good luck and stay safe.
Hi Mario... Yes, I do want a shotgun. Definitely. I have to figure out a way to get my license from way out here. Might not happen til next summer... we'll see. All excellent advice!!!!
Here in Louisiana I had a black bear in the field behind my home very close...my dogs were barking and I guess it saw me and ran off. It was very fast. I believe it came this close because it was hungry and looking for food. Other wise they stay out of sight. Hopefully, The bears probably know and recognize you. And,see you as a non threat. Being alert is the first line of defense for sure.
Wow! That's scary! A dog is an amazing deterrent for black bears. They don't like dogs much. Our resident bear here definitely knows when it's just me on the property. I see him more when I am alone than any other time. He's not too afraid of me, but also doesn't want to interact with me. He'll very slowly move off if I yell at him to go. He doesn't move too fast when he's leaving. I don't think he likes me much. Definitely... being alert is key! So glad your bear left without doing any damage!
Ahhh so you can get a gun if you want. Just have to take safety classes! Ok cool! People in Alaska always talk about best calibers for bears but a bear charging you is going to scare the crap out of you and your not going to be able to shoot straight. But bear spray doesn’t have to be accurate! Just spray (and hopefully the wind is right). I carry a side arm everyday when I go outside. BUT I do have bear spray as well. And spray would be my first go to. Black bears are scardy cats (normally) and grizzlies and brown bears are just unpredictable. Just never run away! I have seen the website you mentioned but will go back for a refresher. Just before winter sets in is when bears are all cranky so best to have some knowledge! 😁
This time of year a bear will literally eat from sunup to sundown. For a black bear a human would be their very very last choice for food. Where I am, in the Broughtons, there are plenty of food sources for them... vegetation, deer, the ocean (black bears feed off of the shore for hours right before and after hibernation - it's a good rule of thumb to avoid the shoreline at low tide!)
haha... oh yah. i can get a gun... not a hand gun though... a shotgun (which is what i wanted to get for my boat) or a rifle. you have to take a course and then there is a certain waiting period if i recall correctly. it's a process. if a bear is on top of you getting angled to spray or shoot would be challenging and would take a lot of mental fortitude. luckily though bears don't generally sneak attack so more often than not you'll have a bit of time to plan out your attack. now cougars are another story!! they scare me more than bears do...
@@AmandaOffGrid One day I went to Sportman's Warehouse to get some butane and walked out with a handgun. 🤣 As far as bears sneaking up on you watch this (its good) ua-cam.com/video/rbE53XUtVw0/v-deo.html AND at least I do not have cougars out here! Yeah they are scary!!😆
More concerned about mountian lions then bears.. it's also fall so they're more increased in food for winter. You can load 12 gage bear bangers and rubber bullets so doesn't have to be lethal rounds. Bear spray does fail sometimes
Interesting conversation. I thought of you when I first heard of the attack in Dawson Creek, but felt you were taking reasonable precautions for bears in the area. I think this video confirms that. Buttercup causes me some angst. She doesn’t appear to be at all aggressive, which is good, as often aggressive dogs can provoke a bear attack, in a non-predatory encounter. Clearly you understand bear behaviour and know when to be large and bold and when to be less threatening. Regarding guns I couldn’t agree with you more. If you’re not accomplished using a gun, it’s more likely to kill you than the bear. Bear spray (as you noted) or bear bangers are far more effective protectors for you. Continue to take care and Happy Thanksgiving.
You made the very specific point perhaps I should have... "If you're not accomplished with a gun..." If I got a gun license I would have a gun, great, BUT would I be able to shoot with dead accuracy... unlikely! I know, without a doubt, that Buttercup would run from a bear, which also would not be good. I think Buttercup has barked, without prompting, about 5 times in her entire life. She NEVER barks. She'll snarl at another dog that's misbehaving, but that's about it. Happy Thanksgiving right back at ya :)!
Owning and carrying a gun is a big commitment and responsibility. If you're not going to do the work to become familiar and proficient with a firearm, you're better off without one. Luckily bear spray is a great option and my first choice as well. It's my opinion that these sites that advise against carrying a gun are more worried about bears dying than people dying. Nobody is a bear expert because there is always that bear that defies all the rules. I carry a gun because what can it hurt? It doesn't weigh that much, and I hope I never use it.
Very well put. Part of why I don't carry a gun (there is one on the property that I have access to) is that I am not trained to carry it. Eventually I will get my license and will need much practice before I can rely on it for protection.
@@AmandaOffGrid Good for you Amanda. It's just another tool in the tool box. One we hope we never need, but it's good to have. Kind of like an insurance policy. I wish you safety and security. I honestly do. Everybody deserves that.
Ty. Btw.... When you have a text on your videos could you please leave it up a little longer as I can't read them that fast even though I'm a fast reader. Ty!
Hi :), yes, of course!!! Sometimes they're a bit shorter b/c the scene changes and the text wouldn't make sense on another scene (does that make sense?!). I will do my absolute best!
Hi Amanda. I can tell you’re not too much of a big gardener but please don’t use tires as somebody recommended on the other show they do leach chemicals you can use the long pep boy or Ace food safe containers, BPA free. Those are safe to use but don’t listen to people who tell you to use tires that is a very bad idea lol also regarding bears I don’t carry a gun either I prefer to keep my gun under the bed in case I really need it for a human entering my home. I wander around here all the time and there are cougars and bears but I have never had a problem and I know for sure that if a bear came around I have enough bells and noisemaking keys and everything to keep them away they really don’t want to be bothered by us they would like to stay away from us. As per cougars my understanding is they really like to go after rabbits and smaller prey I think that humans are really on the last part of their list. However they are definitely scary and thank God I have not encountered them yet.
I am not a big gardener. I want to be :)... might take some time - haha! I will heed your advice and not use tires - thank you! a cougar will generally attack a human only if they are very hungry, sick or young (so they don't know better). i am always on the lookout for cougar poop here... haven't seen any yet!
The ball method isn't recomend anymore. Lie flat and cover neck and head they will bite the neck area. For black bear always fight back grizzley play dead. Walk away if the bear doesn't notice you and be more careful in fall and spring going into hibernation they food eating machines coming out they want food too
yes, they are definitely eating machines right before hibernation. they are classified as carnivore, but technically are omnivores and a small portion of their diet is meat. an attack on a human, even when they are gorging for hibernation, is extremely extremely rare (doesn't mean it can't happen though!). they prefer fish (they can very often be found on the shoreline here eating crabs and insects for hours) and other mammals. the percentage of meat vs vegetation that they eat is dependent on their environment. if there is no consumable vegetation then their diet will consist mostly of whatever meat they can find. where i am food sources (other than me!) are in abundance so i would definitely be their very last choice for sustenance :).
I lived in Florida in the national, had a lot of encounters with black bears. The best thing is when you see a bear coming, just turn the other way and walk away. It works even if they have cubs. Black bears just don’t care if your not threatening to them
Hi Alan :)... that is exactly right!! Stay calm and just go on with your business as generally they don't care about you or what you're doing.
This is true when encountering bears I just leave them alone many people that hike around here no that. You don’t need to be killing them and going after them I know a guy here who hunts bears and it makes me sick I can’t stand him.
Love your videos! Your dog is living a life that my dog can only dreams of...You both are lucky girls
aw thanks :)! we are lucky to have each other for sure :) 🧡🧡🧡
A funny bear story from my family ... When my grandmother was a little girl, her mother took all of her children to a wild berry patch deep in the woods. While they were all busily picking berries, my great grandmother looked out across this big patch and saw a momma bear picking berries with her cubs. My GGM panicked, hiked up her skirt, and started running back to the house. About halfway home, she realized that she'd left her kids amongst the berries with the bears! So, she reversed course. The bears were gone, her kids were fine, and the story became a family legend. LOL
hahaha... OH NO. poor Grandmother prob never lived that down! good story!
The fact that gun clubs etc were booked up for months speaks volumes about the times in which we live...& you might not think you are a bear expert but I just learnt so much from you Amanda. Thank you 🙏🤗🌸
indeed it does. i'm convinced it was COVID that caused this. it was at the point where we were allowed to move about, but couldn't travel outside of our general area. i am definitely no bear expert for sure, but know the basics :). thanks for watching Deb!
thanks so much for addressing the bear issue! while we were shocked at the reports of predatory black bear attack, which we know is extremely rare, we were disappointed at the sensational coverage on tv. hopefully one positive side-effect will be that people will think twice about stopping on the side of the highway and getting out of their cars to get way too close to bears so that they can take selfies. the sad fact is that human bear conflicts usually end up with dead bears, when 99% of the time the problem was the human. keep up the great work, Amanda and Buttercup, i love following (with envious eyes) your incredible life up there on the BC coast!
hi See to Sky... i definitely agree. too many people nowadays trying to get the perfect tiktok/insta shot with a bear :(. it's a terrible thing that happened in Dawson Creek, just terrible, but you're right maybe it will deter people from getting too close. thanks for watching :)!!
You're such a sweet lady , really enjoy your videos !
Thank you so much!
Enjoyed the talk Amanda. Please take care and stay safe.
Hi Leilani... thank you, I am glad you enjoyed it :)! hopefully there are no bears where you are - haha!
I've had 2 bear encounters, a year apart, on the Indian Group of Islands, which are close to your island. They were non-threatening and it could've cared less about my presence, and seemed almost friendly. I think the bears in your neighborhood are nice ones 🙂 Love the drone shots, they make me want to go back to the Broughtons.
haha... maybe they are nice. the bear i encountered early in the summer looked at me like he wanted to murder me before he ran away... yikes! maybe a 'nice' bear is one that leaves you alone... haha :).
Thank you for the info on the bears! Your reasoning for using bear spray vs. a gun makes a lot of sense. Last thing we would want is to anger a bear! I look forward to your videos so much!
definitely the last thing you want to do... they're not very nice when they're angry - yikes!!! i am so glad you enjoy the videos... thank you so much :)!
Your a very special person. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😘
well, thanks Timothy :)
I live in bear country. I'm always aware and cautious of them . When walking I've been known to carry a pop can half filled with small stones and I rattle these stones. I don't sing very well LOL The back of our property is solid bush, a haven for wild life. Lived here for 4 decades so I'm used to it . Liv in Ontario.
Hi there, the rocks are a good idea. I'm always talking. Apparently there is a bear hibernating quite near the property... I am assuming he's fast asleep by now... or soon will be!
Hello Amanda . I'm a caretaker in Homfray Channel and fish at Channel Island near where you were. I have been here for fifteen years now. bear spray only works 25% of the time the wind has to be at your back. For you the horn would work best. Bears have bad eyesight and if you stand by a tree and do not move they can not see you. Black bears kill more people every year than Grizllys do. The ones that are dangerus are young males (2 years old) That have just been kicked out so mom can have a new cub Or older males with bad teeth. Bears can run at 30 miles per hour. If you do not have a gun the horn or you voice work best. I know you can not do it but bears never attack groups of people. They don't do muiltiple targets. I enjoy your posts and smile some times. I also have a sailboat a Catilenia 27. And if I was to leave here I would get a bigger one and live on it. I go to town once a month ( Powell River ) It take all day and hard to do in the short days in the winter. I post on facebook so my faimly and friends can see what I'm doing. My name is Ken Beaubien
It's a pleasure to meet you! 😊 I've sailed up Homfrey Channel, and it truly is beautiful. Many years ago, I was the caretaker at Toba Wilderness during a winter.
Regarding your comment about bear spray only working 25% of the time, I must respectfully disagree. I have researched this topic extensively and consulted with local bear experts and members of our local band. Bear spray is considered a highly effective method for deterring bears, with data suggesting an effectiveness rate of about 80% to 90%. While I acknowledge that the effectiveness can vary, it is certainly not as low as 25%.
As a sailor with many years of experience, I am always aware of the wind direction, which is crucial when using bear spray. Although the average person might not think about it, it’s the first thing I check in the morning and throughout the day when I’m outdoors.
Recently, I have invested in bear bangers, which I believe are a better choice than bear spray (thank you to my subscribers who pointed this out!) since they can be effective from a greater distance. You know what they say: "If you're using your bear spray, the bear is too close!" While I haven't done research on a bear's eyesight, I do know that they are thought to have the best sense of smell of any animal on the planet. So, even if a bear can't see you, it can certainly smell you!
Horns do work to some extent, but I have noticed that some bears become accustomed to them, especially those that hang around frequently. And you are indeed correct that bears are fast! Despite their slow, lumbering appearance, they can run surprisingly quickly.
It's been very nice meeting you, and I will check out your Facebook page! 😊
@@AmandaOffGrid Caretaker Ken again. I have a artsie side too. I'm a oil painter. I live on a 100 year old homestead ( 160 aks ) you may find interesting . I use water and solar to make the power we need. People do not know how little caretakers are payed and I smile when you said it was enough to feed your dog.
That sounds wonderful! Yes, this particular property/position offers very low pay. If I didn't have my side projects, I wouldn't be able to manage. My low pay is quite unusual for this area, as the average salary for a caretaker is generally quite high. Currently, it's around $100 per day. A local resort recently hired new winter caretakers, offering about $3,500 per month plus an hourly wage for any manual labor. The Grizzly Resort here advertised a similar rate last season and they also provide food. When I was caretaking at Toba Wilderness, I wasn't paid at all. I didn't realize it was an unpaid position until I arrived. It took me about five days by sailboat from Vancouver, and the weather was so bad that I was stuck there. Nevertheless, it was an unforgettable experience!
@@AmandaOffGrid Hello Amanda. Toba is same as here only there is a salmon run in the next bay and I have lots of fruit trees here that attract the bears. I get my mail at Refuge Cove. No docks to open to storms so the small boats go on trailors and are pulled out of the water. The first winter here I rebuilt the jetty and made a drydock behind it for my sailboat so it is high and dry in the winter. Today was spent washing the boat so it can go back in the water for the summer. We have bouys to tie to for visitors. Ken
Thanks for the bear info. Quite informative. I encountered black bears twice - once in urban park Mundy Park in Coquitlam (100 feet away on the path - got goosebumps and turned around and went back to the parking lot) and the second time in Ontario at a garbage dump (it was HUGE). I have a healthy respect for them and stay the heck away as far as I can!
I read a true life bear attacks book many years ago. Most bears want nothing to do with humans or dogs based on the book. However, rogue black bears will attack to eat humans going for the throat/jugular. This book exposed the lie that bears only attack when food or cubs were involved. This book had hundreds of personal stories , based in BC. Be safe and pray over the property. My neighbor once told me that I made her laugh because she's seen me run from a bee but chase a bear. That was before I read the book... :)
I've been binge watching to catch up. I have this craving for s'mores @ the end of every video!! 😂 The scenery, the music, your entire life-so beautiful & Super Jelly. Keep it up. Gr8 content!!!
Thanks so much!
Beautiful yet dangerous place to live Amanda. I'm in the UK so never encountered a bear, the thought is quite scary.
it sounds scary, but black bears generally want nothing to do with humans. as long as you don’t annoy them, keep your garbage secure and don’t leave food out they’ll leave you alone. if it was grizzlies passing through here i’m pretty sure id be off living on my boat somewhere 😆
Hi from Calgary! There was a bear attack in Banff a couple of months back. The bear killed a man and his wife. It's sad. They were camping.
yes… terrible. a grizzly attack. very very scary.
I remember that bear attack, if I remember correctly they unloaded their bear spray on the but to no avail. I would have a gun, some say that bear spray is not that effective.
Hello and good Sunday afternoon to you Amanda.wow,I have the first comment so I feel special. Haha.if the wind is blowing towards you then the bear spray won't help you.the issue also with a bear attack is you will only get one chance to be wrong.stay safe.enjoy
typically you'll run into a bear in thick trees so wind likely won't be as big of an issue, but you're correct, if bear spray is your main source of protection and you run into him on a shoreline (for example) then you have to stay calm and work around it by moving your body. i think if you're the kind of person that freezes and panics, bear spray (or a gun) isn't going to do you much good.
Awesome! I make noise, use unscented body-care/dish soap etc, and keep food smells to a minimum. I've had good luck for decades! 👍🇨🇦😎🐻 oh, and i wear bear spray...
brilliant!!!! stay safe :)!
My only close encounter with a bear was in Algonquin National Park. Silly me was walking down a trail at around 11pm, total darkness..I brushed up against something furry with my shoulder...I stopped and heard a kind of huffing noise, turned around and walked back up the trail...Honestly, I'm assuming it was a bear, or maybe a Sasquatch ! Did see a grizzly once, from a distance up at Whister... beautiful animal.
what?!!! you rubbed up against something furry?! omg that's so crazy :)!!
Bears scare the crap out of me as do cougars. I know they are in the woods not far from me while mostly I get deer and elk in my yard, and a lone wolf once. I’m in the states and have a revolver but think I’m going to get a shotgun, too (I live on 10 wooded acres & think I’d carry that when I went out to check fences). Basically, though, avoidance is the best bet, and making a lot of noise. However I like to cover my bets just in case.
YES, bears are scary, but I'll be honest cougars scare me more. You don't know they're there until they're on top of you. Scary stuff. If I lived in an area that had cougars regularly (in fact, i wouldn't mind a shotgun here specifically for cougars - they were seen on the neighbouring island in 2020) I would have a shotgun with me at all times. I was caretaker of a property a little bit south of here many years ago and cougars were regular visitors to the property. I carried a shotgun with me wherever I went. Had to scare one off once with it. Worked like a charm. Bear spray can also deter cougars, but a shotgun is better.
Great information on bears. I learned a lot. Ty for sharing this knowledge today. Be blessed Amanda.
Thanks for watching. I hope you never have to use this knowledge :)!!!
I've heard bear gel was a much better product than the bear spray. Also would hooking up outside music speakers be a good bear deterrent...how about wearing a whistle around your neck??
I'm sure having a huge dog like a Newfoundland doesn't hurt either...her barks alone would help keep you safe and encourage bears to move out! =)
hi Deborah :). do you mean pepper gel spray? i haven't heard of bear gel (gotta Google it). i am pretty sure pepper gel spray does not work on bears. the actual bear spray has different active ingredients that do work on bears. i think i've heard Buttercup 'bark' a handful of times in her life. she's rarely, if ever, talks. the only times she makes noise is when she is breathing (snoring) and reprimanding other dogs for annoying her (she does this a lot), but she never barks... ever. a few weeks ago she locked herself in the bathroom (she drinks from the toilet and when she turns to exit she'll often shut the door locking herself in). she didn't make a peep. she just sat down and suffered in her own anxiety - it took me about 10 minutes to figure out she was missing and rescued her from the bathroom - haha! i would be stunned if she barked at a bear. i am 99% sure she would smell a bear coming and instead of barking she would hightail it to the cabin... she would absolutely leave me behind :).
hi Deborah :). do you mean pepper gel spray? i haven't heard of bear gel (gotta Google it). i am pretty sure pepper gel spray does not work on bears. the actual bear spray has different active ingredients that do work on bears. i think i've heard Buttercup 'bark' a handful of times in her life. she's rarely, if ever, talks. the only times she makes noise is when she is breathing (snoring) and reprimanding other dogs for annoying her (she does this a lot), but she never barks... ever. a few weeks ago she locked herself in the bathroom (she drinks from the toilet and when she turns to exit she'll often shut the door locking herself in). she didn't make a peep. she just sat down and suffered in her own anxiety - it took me about 10 minutes to figure out she was missing and rescued her from the bathroom - haha! i would be stunned if she barked at a bear. i am 99% sure she would smell a bear coming and instead of barking she would hightail it to the cabin... she would absolutely leave me behind :).
Another great video! 17:34
I think that your assessment and approach to bear encounters is reasonable. I have guns but seldom take them out unless it is a rare instance where I'm going to a gun range or hunting. I believe that many people who carry guns do so as a way to deal with their fear. I think carrying a gun can provide a false sense of security and can increase the risk of injury and mortality to those who carry them. Bear spray seems like a safer and more effective way to handle an aggressive bear.
In the journals of Lewis and Clark they wrote about bear encounters. They generally viewed black bears as a potential food resource. Grizzly bears were avoided as much as possible because it was too difficult to stop them with a rifle. I found it interesting that the Lewis & Clark expedition lost just one member during the trip. The man died from a burst appendix in Iowa, shortly after they started out on the trip.
agree 100%. i believe the stats on the success rate of bear spray is something like 93%. if you're going to shoot at a grizzly you'd better get the kill shot on the first try or you're in trouble. if you're not a seasoned shooter chances of you getting that shot are pretty much zero.
Yes. I agree , bear spray is more effective than a gun. Still, will be wise to get at least a shot gun. The guns are for the other kind of animals. The biped ones. Usually , just the fact that the biped sees a shot gun , or o hand gun, or a rifle, will move on. And if the biped animal does not see the gun , a warning shot will do it. A biped animal still can be dangerous, even blinded by the bear spray.
Good luck and stay safe.
Hi Mario... Yes, I do want a shotgun. Definitely. I have to figure out a way to get my license from way out here. Might not happen til next summer... we'll see. All excellent advice!!!!
Great video and bear info
Thanks 👍! Glad you enjoyed it :)!
Here in Louisiana I had a black bear in the field behind my home very close...my dogs were barking and I guess it saw me and ran off. It was very fast. I believe it came this close because it was hungry and looking for food. Other wise they stay out of sight. Hopefully, The bears probably know and recognize you. And,see you as a non threat. Being alert is the first line of defense for sure.
Wow! That's scary! A dog is an amazing deterrent for black bears. They don't like dogs much. Our resident bear here definitely knows when it's just me on the property. I see him more when I am alone than any other time. He's not too afraid of me, but also doesn't want to interact with me. He'll very slowly move off if I yell at him to go. He doesn't move too fast when he's leaving. I don't think he likes me much. Definitely... being alert is key! So glad your bear left without doing any damage!
I agree with you when it comes to black bears.
Yah, they're almost predictable. Grizzlies... dunno 'bout those guys. Scary scary!
Ahhh so you can get a gun if you want. Just have to take safety classes! Ok cool! People in Alaska always talk about best calibers for bears but a bear charging you is going to scare the crap out of you and your not going to be able to shoot straight. But bear spray doesn’t have to be accurate! Just spray (and hopefully the wind is right). I carry a side arm everyday when I go outside. BUT I do have bear spray as well. And spray would be my first go to. Black bears are scardy cats (normally) and grizzlies and brown bears are just unpredictable. Just never run away! I have seen the website you mentioned but will go back for a refresher. Just before winter sets in is when bears are all cranky so best to have some knowledge! 😁
There not so much being cranky as they are trying to gain weight for the winter months in able to hibernate for it
Another words anything can be a food source for them to gain it too
This time of year a bear will literally eat from sunup to sundown. For a black bear a human would be their very very last choice for food. Where I am, in the Broughtons, there are plenty of food sources for them... vegetation, deer, the ocean (black bears feed off of the shore for hours right before and after hibernation - it's a good rule of thumb to avoid the shoreline at low tide!)
haha... oh yah. i can get a gun... not a hand gun though... a shotgun (which is what i wanted to get for my boat) or a rifle. you have to take a course and then there is a certain waiting period if i recall correctly. it's a process. if a bear is on top of you getting angled to spray or shoot would be challenging and would take a lot of mental fortitude. luckily though bears don't generally sneak attack so more often than not you'll have a bit of time to plan out your attack. now cougars are another story!! they scare me more than bears do...
@@AmandaOffGrid One day I went to Sportman's Warehouse to get some butane and walked out with a handgun. 🤣 As far as bears sneaking up on you watch this (its good) ua-cam.com/video/rbE53XUtVw0/v-deo.html AND at least I do not have cougars out here! Yeah they are scary!!😆
More concerned about mountian lions then bears.. it's also fall so they're more increased in food for winter. You can load 12 gage bear bangers and rubber bullets so doesn't have to be lethal rounds. Bear spray does fail sometimes
I'm the same... more concerned about cougars that bears... have had 2 encounters with them and don't want another one!
Interesting conversation. I thought of you when I first heard of the attack in Dawson Creek, but felt you were taking reasonable precautions for bears in the area. I think this video confirms that.
Buttercup causes me some angst. She doesn’t appear to be at all aggressive, which is good, as often aggressive dogs can provoke a bear attack, in a non-predatory encounter.
Clearly you understand bear behaviour and know when to be large and bold and when to be less threatening. Regarding guns I couldn’t agree with you more. If you’re not accomplished using a gun, it’s more likely to kill you than the bear. Bear spray (as you noted) or bear bangers are far more effective protectors for you.
Continue to take care and Happy Thanksgiving.
You made the very specific point perhaps I should have... "If you're not accomplished with a gun..." If I got a gun license I would have a gun, great, BUT would I be able to shoot with dead accuracy... unlikely!
I know, without a doubt, that Buttercup would run from a bear, which also would not be good. I think Buttercup has barked, without prompting, about 5 times in her entire life. She NEVER barks. She'll snarl at another dog that's misbehaving, but that's about it.
Happy Thanksgiving right back at ya :)!
@@AmandaOffGrid You made the point about guns very well. I just echoed your thoughts.
Owning and carrying a gun is a big commitment and responsibility. If you're not going to do the work to become familiar and proficient with a firearm, you're better off without one. Luckily bear spray is a great option and my first choice as well. It's my opinion that these sites that advise against carrying a gun are more worried about bears dying than people dying. Nobody is a bear expert because there is always that bear that defies all the rules. I carry a gun because what can it hurt? It doesn't weigh that much, and I hope I never use it.
Very well put. Part of why I don't carry a gun (there is one on the property that I have access to) is that I am not trained to carry it. Eventually I will get my license and will need much practice before I can rely on it for protection.
@@AmandaOffGrid Good for you Amanda. It's just another tool in the tool box. One we hope we never need, but it's good to have. Kind of like an insurance policy. I wish you safety and security. I honestly do. Everybody deserves that.
Ty. Btw.... When you have a text on your videos could you please leave it up a little longer as I can't read them that fast even though I'm a fast reader. Ty!
Hi :), yes, of course!!! Sometimes they're a bit shorter b/c the scene changes and the text wouldn't make sense on another scene (does that make sense?!). I will do my absolute best!
Hi Amanda. I can tell you’re not too much of a big gardener but please don’t use tires as somebody recommended on the other show they do leach chemicals you can use the long pep boy or Ace food safe containers, BPA free. Those are safe to use but don’t listen to people who tell you to use tires that is a very bad idea lol also regarding bears I don’t carry a gun either I prefer to keep my gun under the bed in case I really need it for a human entering my home.
I wander around here all the time and there are cougars and bears but I have never had a problem and I know for sure that if a bear came around I have enough bells and noisemaking keys and everything to keep them away they really don’t want to be bothered by us they would like to stay away from us. As per cougars my understanding is they really like to go after rabbits and smaller prey I think that humans are really on the last part of their list. However they are definitely scary and thank God I have not encountered them yet.
I am not a big gardener. I want to be :)... might take some time - haha! I will heed your advice and not use tires - thank you! a cougar will generally attack a human only if they are very hungry, sick or young (so they don't know better). i am always on the lookout for cougar poop here... haven't seen any yet!
@@AmandaOffGrid 🥰🙏🏻
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New sub ☘️
Yay! Thank you! Welcome!
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hello :)!
@@AmandaOffGrid Hello, remember, don't pet the bears haha. You take care up there, aren't you wearing a bell anymore? 🔔
no, bells are annoying 😆
Thankfully no bears here.
thankfully - ha ha :)!
By the way I really like your videos
Thank you Alan :)!
The ball method isn't recomend anymore. Lie flat and cover neck and head they will bite the neck area. For black bear always fight back grizzley play dead. Walk away if the bear doesn't notice you and be more careful in fall and spring going into hibernation they food eating machines coming out they want food too
yes, they are definitely eating machines right before hibernation. they are classified as carnivore, but technically are omnivores and a small portion of their diet is meat. an attack on a human, even when they are gorging for hibernation, is extremely extremely rare (doesn't mean it can't happen though!). they prefer fish (they can very often be found on the shoreline here eating crabs and insects for hours) and other mammals. the percentage of meat vs vegetation that they eat is dependent on their environment. if there is no consumable vegetation then their diet will consist mostly of whatever meat they can find. where i am food sources (other than me!) are in abundance so i would definitely be their very last choice for sustenance :).
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Thanks for watching!!