Bear Spray versus Bullets Study

[chairrock]

This guy played dead.....

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/05/17/grainer.can.grizzly.attack.ctv

[marzrw]

In a couple more weeks, Doug and I will be in "bear country". We will be carrying bear spray because it's mandatory. Personally, I hope to see one or two of those magnificent creatures again.


Hawk

Hawk,

Is that the trip to Glacier you spoke about last year? If so, have a great trip. It is an amazing area. You might want to see if Jack Gladstone is playing while you are out there. I did finally get arounfd to purchasing 'Noble Heart' and Buffalo Cafe'. Pretty cool.

I never thought we would return to Glacier, but we will be there near the end of June, this time with our 26 and 20 year old sons.

[ken999]

...guess we learn something new everyday wether we want to or not eh?....

[Neil]

Roger that...I spend a considerable amount of my time in the backcountry SOLO...leg/knee/foot injuries are at the forefront of my thoughts and actions while out.

And all this time I've been scanning the sky for fear of meteorites. No wonder I keep spraining my ankles and wrenching my knees.

[ken999]

Just saw this on Backpacker.com - turns out bears and snakes are the least of our worries. Just food for thought...

A sprained ankle is more likely to ruin your next hike than dehydration, hypothermia, or other often-feared medical problems, according to two studies recently published in Wilderness and Environmental Medicine. A three-year record of medical incidents on trips led by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) concluded that more than half of all injuries primarily affected the knees and ankles. And a report analyzing a 10-year span of backcountry evacuations by Yosemite Search and Rescue arrived at a similar conclusion. The take-home lesson: While looking out for bears and snakes is smart, the most important thing you can do for safety is to watch your footing.

Roger that...I spend a considerable amount of my time in the backcountry SOLO...leg/knee/foot injuries are at the forefront of my thoughts and actions while out.

[coolrobc]

Conservationist had an article about Black bears in the latest issue, and it referenced the increasing population and expanding range.

[St.Regis]

I'm guessing there are a lot more black bear encounters because there are lot more people near and around black bears than browns. I stil think every animal should be treated with caution. Not fear,, but caution.

I'd agree with that. A lot more meatheads in the woods now too.

Regarding Neil's question about black bear population increases...DEC estimates 6,000 to 7,000 bears in NY. In the late '90s the estimate was 4,000 to 5,000. So, yes, the population has increased fairly significantly in the last decade (+/- 2,000 bears). Their range has expanded as well.

More people + more bears = more encounters = more trouble for people or the bears.

[WinterWarlock]

More to worry about...

I agree. Actually in the woods I'm more afraid of seeing other people, or sleeping and being happened on by them since I usually solo more often than not. At least most animals will run away, being happened on by 2-leggers when out and about is frightening to me, well... at least if there solo. I guess I myself fall into my own hysteria.

Just saw this on Backpacker.com - turns out bears and snakes are the least of our worries. Just food for thought...

A sprained ankle is more likely to ruin your next hike than dehydration, hypothermia, or other often-feared medical problems, according to two studies recently published in Wilderness and Environmental Medicine. A three-year record of medical incidents on trips led by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) concluded that more than half of all injuries primarily affected the knees and ankles. And a report analyzing a 10-year span of backcountry evacuations by Yosemite Search and Rescue arrived at a similar conclusion. The take-home lesson: While looking out for bears and snakes is smart, the most important thing you can do for safety is to watch your footing.

[WinterWarlock]

Got any stats that show bear population changes?

Or, that compare bear population growth and decline with attacks by bears on humans?

I did read something about bear hunting in New York, and it's dramatic decline...I'll try to find it, but that likely has some effect as well.

[Neil]

Got any stats that show bear population changes?

Or, that compare bear population growth and decline with attacks by bears on humans?

[randomscooter]

.........That may have worked years ago, but today with all this CSI and DNA.......doubtful! My way you can always fall on, " golly-gee officer, I think he may have stepped in something earlier". Your way," that's right sir, this angry bear came at us brandishing a 22cal revolver nailing my friend in the leg". Why they'd see through that in a matter of days.......

Good point. I think we'd both be in trouble though ... now that we've gone public with our methods.

I did a little review of the stats - didn't use unknowns, just compared griz to black deaths from present to the 1960s...

The decades from the 1960s through the 1990s had more griz/brown attacks than blacks...in fact about 1/3 more griz than black deaths...

In the 1990s: 10 griz, 7 black (17 total)

In the 1980s: 8 griz, 1 black (9 total)

In the 1970s: 3 griz, 5 black (8 total)

In the 1960s: 2 griz, 1 black (3 total)

37 deaths in 40 years (less than 1/year)


It appears this decade (2000s) is the worst for bear attacks, and basically 1/3 more black bear than griz deaths...

In the 2000s (so far): 10 griz/brown, 15 black (25 total)

25 deaths in just over 7 years (+/- 3.5/year)

I'm not going to try and draw a bunch of conclusions. But I bet there are a lot more goofy people roaming in the woods now than ever before.

I'm guessing there are a lot more black bear encounters because there are lot more people near and around black bears than browns. I stil think every animal should be treated with caution. Not fear,, but caution.

[St.Regis]

Here is a list of bear attacks in the US and Canada. The statistics in that list show that more people are killed by black bears than the combined number killed by grizzly and other brown bears.

I did a little review of the stats - didn't use unknowns, just compared griz to black deaths from present to the 1960s...

The decades from the 1960s through the 1990s had more griz/brown attacks than blacks...in fact about 1/3 more griz than black deaths...

In the 1990s: 10 griz, 7 black (17 total)

In the 1980s: 8 griz, 1 black (9 total)

In the 1970s: 3 griz, 5 black (8 total)

In the 1960s: 2 griz, 1 black (3 total)

37 deaths in 40 years (less than 1/year)


It appears this decade (2000s) is the worst for bear attacks, and basically 1/3 more black bear than griz deaths...

In the 2000s (so far): 10 griz/brown, 15 black (25 total)

25 deaths in just over 7 years (+/- 3.5/year)

I'm not going to try and draw a bunch of conclusions. But I bet there are a lot more goofy people roaming in the woods now than ever before.

[DRIFTER]

.........That may have worked years ago, but today with all this CSI and DNA.......doubtful! My way you can always fall on, " golly-gee officer, I think he may have stepped in something earlier". Your way," that's right sir, this angry bear came at us brandishing a 22cal revolver nailing my friend in the leg". Why they'd see through that in a matter of days.......

[randomscooter]

Sounds like that'll work, but my preferred defense is a .22 cal handgun. No, it won't stop the bear, but a shot in my partner's calf will surely slow him down and leave a good blood trail. Much easier for the bear to catch him than me.