Great suggestions. This is a big problem on the east coast as well. I spoke with an AT ridge runner last week who told me they are trying to discourage hikers from making fire pits. Not because of fire hazard, although there are sloppy hikers who don't properly extinguish fires, but also because the fire pits become multi-layered garbage pits as well. And, the smelly garbage attracts animals. That same day she told me that a cub approached her. She tried to get rid of it several ways, yet the cub continued to follow her for about 150 yards. She emphatically asked me to dismantle any pits I see while hiking and give the message not to make pits to friends and other hikers I encounter. Another reason this is become more and more of a problem is the increase in hiker traffic. Thousands through hike the AT each season. The animals become accustomed to this and less fearful of approaching camp sites. So, your warnings are spot on and important!
Thank you for your comment. I get worried if I see a bear near a campground. I always feel he or she is doing reconnaissance. Fire pits are a lot like barbecues, which bears also live. Thank you again for your comment and for watching.
A huge thank you! Although I’m a lot more confident about walking through bear country, for the longest time the thought was terrifying. A few months ago I had US Parks Ranger on my tour. As it happens she works mainly in Alaska! Over lunch I had a few questions for her in relation to hiking on bear country and she was a gold mine of information. Your video on ‘bear etiquette’ complemented her advice perfectly.
This fellow Alaskan agrees on all counts. I recently saw a post on a hiking group that advocated harassing the heck out of all bears - constantly spraying them with pepper spray for example - so they will leave us alone. That made me so sad! In addition to probably not being an effective deterrent long-term, it feels just abusive. We walk through the only home bears have, and I think we should be good guests. Don't feed, harass or approach any wild animal - observe and enjoy from a distance. I never stop feeling at least a bit nervous when bears are around, and that's ok.
Thank you, Karen. Sounds like you and I think differently from the deterrence folks. I really believe a fed bear is a dead bear. Respect in the wilderness goes a long ways and covers a multitude of situations. Happy Trails.
Great tips. I have not done any multi-day hikes because I have a deep fear of bears. I grew up east of Algonquin park. We often got bears in the backyard garden in spring / fall. A quick shout from my mother "You get out of that garden you" was often enough to send them running into the woods behind the house lol. As a kid we often camped out in the back yard. One night a few of us were just out in sleeping bags under the stars. A friend was snacking on chips before we crashed. Sure enough a bear showed up, we woke to it chomping on the bag of chips. Quickly hopped the fence by the house, and just watched him snack away, he huffed a few times when he was done and wandered off. We were lucky. I think that's why I'm so intimidated to camp out. I don't think I have since that experience.
Great stories. I remember my wife chasing a moose out of her garden with a broom while wearing a dress. Hell hath no fury… If you remove all food, deodorant, toothpaste, etc., from your tent, the likelihood of a bear encounter drops. I’m still worried more about encountering crazy humans on the trail than bears.
Excellent information. I started hiking about 15 months ago and just had my first bear sighting a few days ago. It was pretty close and I never would have seen or heard it if I wasn't listening and watching as I hiked. No earbuds while hiking!!!
You are so right. I live in black bear country and they walk through our neighborhood daily. We have nutty bear people here too thinking they are harmless. They have no fear of us at all and you should be on alert at all times and make noise. I see less bears while hiking then in my neighborhood. Dogs warn us if bears are near.
Thank you. I recently read a story about some people who were all huggy-puggy toward a black bear sow and cubs that kept visiting their porch. Made me want to scream.
That was a really good informative video. Very serious subject, yet your humour is funny. There is a black bear and her 2 cubs hanging around where I live. So, your tips will be helpful to me. I was wondering how heavy your packs are? When you went on that 5 1/2 month hike. I am asking because I have 2 puppies which equal 15 pounds together in my backpack and it’s so heavy. You had suggested in a video to carry a knapsack that wasn’t too heavy to start to build up to a heavier load.
Omg. I find 15 pounds unbelievably heavy 😂. Flash carries that much too? Thank you for your reply. I hope you are having nice weather. You are both so inspirational. Thanks for sharing.
...Bart The Bear. ... I was wondering about behavioural differentiation between human smells, in regards to [bears], namely menstrual fluid, intercourse, and non-sweat excretions (vomit included). Theory that mammal response to vegetarian and omnivore humans as differing seems to be only theory to me, I have heard no study otherwise.
I have heard bears can be attracted to some of the smells you mentioned, but I have not researched it deeply. You stirred my interest. I’ll look into it.
"Nothing but the bear essentials, mam, just the bear essentials".
Absolutely. Thanks for watching!
Great suggestions. This is a big problem on the east coast as well. I spoke with an AT ridge runner last week who told me they are trying to discourage hikers from making fire pits. Not because of fire hazard, although there are sloppy hikers who don't properly extinguish fires, but also because the fire pits become multi-layered garbage pits as well. And, the smelly garbage attracts animals. That same day she told me that a cub approached her. She tried to get rid of it several ways, yet the cub continued to follow her for about 150 yards. She emphatically asked me to dismantle any pits I see while hiking and give the message not to make pits to friends and other hikers I encounter. Another reason this is become more and more of a problem is the increase in hiker traffic. Thousands through hike the AT each season. The animals become accustomed to this and less fearful of approaching camp sites. So, your warnings are spot on and important!
Thank you for your comment. I get worried if I see a bear near a campground. I always feel he or she is doing reconnaissance. Fire pits are a lot like barbecues, which bears also live. Thank you again for your comment and for watching.
A huge thank you! Although I’m a lot more confident about walking through bear country, for the longest time the thought was terrifying. A few months ago I had US Parks Ranger on my tour. As it happens she works mainly in Alaska! Over lunch I had a few questions for her in relation to hiking on bear country and she was a gold mine of information. Your video on ‘bear etiquette’ complemented her advice perfectly.
I’m glad I could, perhaps, help reduce your stress in bear country. Enjoy the woods!
This fellow Alaskan agrees on all counts. I recently saw a post on a hiking group that advocated harassing the heck out of all bears - constantly spraying them with pepper spray for example - so they will leave us alone. That made me so sad! In addition to probably not being an effective deterrent long-term, it feels just abusive. We walk through the only home bears have, and I think we should be good guests. Don't feed, harass or approach any wild animal - observe and enjoy from a distance. I never stop feeling at least a bit nervous when bears are around, and that's ok.
Thank you, Karen. Sounds like you and I think differently from the deterrence folks. I really believe a fed bear is a dead bear. Respect in the wilderness goes a long ways and covers a multitude of situations. Happy Trails.
Great tips. I have not done any multi-day hikes because I have a deep fear of bears. I grew up east of Algonquin park. We often got bears in the backyard garden in spring / fall. A quick shout from my mother "You get out of that garden you" was often enough to send them running into the woods behind the house lol. As a kid we often camped out in the back yard. One night a few of us were just out in sleeping bags under the stars. A friend was snacking on chips before we crashed. Sure enough a bear showed up, we woke to it chomping on the bag of chips. Quickly hopped the fence by the house, and just watched him snack away, he huffed a few times when he was done and wandered off. We were lucky. I think that's why I'm so intimidated to camp out. I don't think I have since that experience.
Great stories. I remember my wife chasing a moose out of her garden with a broom while wearing a dress. Hell hath no fury… If you remove all food, deodorant, toothpaste, etc., from your tent, the likelihood of a bear encounter drops. I’m still worried more about encountering crazy humans on the trail than bears.
Excellent information. I started hiking about 15 months ago and just had my first bear sighting a few days ago. It was pretty close and I never would have seen or heard it if I wasn't listening and watching as I hiked. No earbuds while hiking!!!
That is awesome! Glad your first encounter was a good one!
You are so right. I live in black bear country and they walk through our neighborhood daily. We have nutty bear people here too thinking they are harmless. They have no fear of us at all and you should be on alert at all times and make noise. I see less bears while hiking then in my neighborhood. Dogs warn us if bears are near.
Thank you. I recently read a story about some people who were all huggy-puggy toward a black bear sow and cubs that kept visiting their porch. Made me want to scream.
Well said. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
priceless information. thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Excellent information; learned a lot! Appreciate the humor!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching.
Thank you! This seems pretty comprehensive and down to Earth. It’s a good general guide.
Thank you for watching. I was striving for a common sense approach.
That was a really good informative video. Very serious subject, yet your humour is funny. There is a black bear and her 2 cubs hanging around where I live. So, your tips will be helpful to me. I was wondering how heavy your packs are? When you went on that 5 1/2 month hike. I am asking because I have 2 puppies which equal 15 pounds together in my backpack and it’s so heavy. You had suggested in a video to carry a knapsack that wasn’t too heavy to start to build up to a heavier load.
Thank you. We’re on the Oregon section of the PCT right now. When we carry 3 liters of water and 5 days of food, we’re at about 30 pounds.
Omg. I find 15 pounds unbelievably heavy 😂. Flash carries that much too? Thank you for your reply. I hope you are having nice weather. You are both so inspirational. Thanks for sharing.
...Bart The Bear. ...
I was wondering about behavioural differentiation between human smells, in regards to [bears], namely menstrual fluid, intercourse, and non-sweat excretions (vomit included). Theory that mammal response to vegetarian and omnivore humans as differing seems to be only theory to me, I have heard no study otherwise.
I have heard bears can be attracted to some of the smells you mentioned, but I have not researched it deeply. You stirred my interest. I’ll look into it.
👍