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Originally Posted by skookum
(Post 20452280)
You are unlikely to have a problem with a bear feeding at the side of the road. But I wouldnt stop and take pics.
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I heard a large animal taking off in the woods this week while on a hike. It was just 30 feet from me. I thought it was a moose at first but the panting sounded more like a bear. Then I saw a tiny cub climbing up a tree right next to the trail. I couldn't circle around so I waited until the cub came down and disappeared in the forest. I never actually saw the mother.
I've had many bear encounters. My favourite was about 40km from the west coast of Vancouver Island. I had stopped at a short hiking trail to get away from the highway noise. I walked the trail to some giant trees, then heard a bald eagle and went back to my bike to get a longer lens. The river had salmon and while I was waiting under a tree for the rain to pass, a bear came out to fish. It was pretty cool but short. the bear was coming my way and I came out from under the tree, hoping the bear would see me from a distance and stay around... but It ran away. |
Originally Posted by Erick L
(Post 20454496)
I heard a large animal taking off in the woods this week while on a hike. It was just 30 feet from me. I thought it was a moose at first but the panting sounded more like a bear. Then I saw a tiny cub climbing up a tree right next to the trail. I couldn't circle around so I waited until the cub came down and disappeared in the forest. I never actually saw the mother.
I've had many bear encounters. My favourite was about 40km from the west coast of Vancouver Island. I had stopped at a short hiking trail to get away from the highway noise. I walked the trail to some giant trees, then heard a bald eagle and went back to my bike to get a longer lens. The river had salmon and while I was waiting under a tree for the rain to pass, a bear came out to fish. It was pretty cool but short. the bear was coming my way and I came out from under the tree, hoping the bear would see me from a distance and stay around... but It ran away. https://youtu.be/6kJ9OBm3boA It was in 1956, I was 10 years old, and quietly making my way along a path beside Whonnock Creek in the Fraser Valley of BC which my grandparents had property along. In those days that creek was a major salmon spawning area which attracted many bears. I was there to do some trout fishing, I stopped to watch the hordes of spawning salmon when out of the bush on the other side of the creek came a black bear. He didn't know I was there so I remained very still trying to look like a post as he walked out into the stream, plunged his head into the water, and then backed out the way he had come with a salmon in his mouth. He was only about 10 feet from me when he grabbed that fish. That's when I began a habit of whistling as I traveled around fish spawning streams. |
Originally Posted by Big Lew
(Post 20453405)
" You are unlikely to have a problem with a bear feeding at the side of the road. But I wouldnt stop and take pics."
True, but as in most situations, there are exceptions. In my 62 years prowling about in the back country, mostly in BC Canada where there are healthy populations of both black bears and grizzlies, I've seen approx 200-250. I've only been really concerned for my safety a couple of times...one when I was cycling uphill to Summit Lake on the Alaskan Hwy. As I made my way slowly up the long grade I noticed a scruffy black bear on a avalanche scar a little ahead of and across the road from me. It wasn't really close to the road so I wasn't worried and kept going. As soon as it saw me it came toward me at a fast walk, and as it got closer, into a trot. As I got off my bike to quickly turn it around I was fortunate that a fellow came onto the scene driving a truck which he used to cut the bear off long enough for me to escape. That driver then accompanied me past the spot to make sure the bear didn't try again. That bear was acting in predatory fashion, and I don't know if I would have been able to hit a high enough speed to get away from him before he reached me had it not been for that fellow with the truck. When I reached the village at Summit lake I learned that the Game Warden was already on his way to dispose of that bear as my incident wasn't the first reported to him within 24 hours. |
Originally Posted by skookum
(Post 20456522)
Good story. There have been a few incidents of predatory black bears and bicycles and it definitely makes you stop and think. I don't generally carry bear spray on road rides in the mountains but I probably should.
riding both in Alaska and Canada as well as parks etc. |
Originally Posted by Big Lew
(Post 20456547)
Yes, I should have had a big can of bear spray at the ready on my bike when touring up north. Carrying a gun was not an option as I was
riding both in Alaska and Canada as well as parks etc. |
Yes, but as we're not allowed to carry sidearms in BC as they are restricted, packing a 'defender' on a bike
would be problematic, especially considering the close bear encounters I experienced on my rides in Alaska, The Yukon, Northwest Territories, and BC were in no shooting zones and/or national parks. After doing a fair amount to testing of the big cans of bear spray that spew out a stream rather than a fog, I don't have a lot of faith in them unless a bear is not coming in at me in full charge. They are the best secondary option though. |
Originally Posted by Big Lew
(Post 20458498)
Yes, but as we're not allowed to carry sidearms in BC as they are restricted, packing a 'defender' on a bike
would be problematic, especially considering the close bear encounters I experienced on my rides in Alaska, The Yukon, Northwest Territories, and BC were in no shooting zones and/or national parks. After doing a fair amount to testing of the big cans of bear spray that spew out a stream rather than a fog, I don't have a lot of faith in them unless a bear is not coming in at me in full charge. They are the best secondary option though. Some of the bear experts I have read, I think it was Van Tighem, actually recommend bear spray over fire arms, and recommend that hunters carry bear spray. I personally don't know, but I will stick to bear spray for the time being. |
Originally Posted by skookum
(Post 20458579)
Well, anywhere in Canada.
Some of the bear experts I have read, I think it was Van Tighem, actually recommend bear spray over fire arms, and recommend that hunters carry bear spray. I personally don't know, but I will stick to bear spray for the time being. it's not likely spray will deter it...but on the other hand, many people have been mauled or killed even when carrying a firearm. Bears are incredibly fast. I used to chase black bears on horseback and it was all my fast horse could do to keep up, never mind gain on them in short runs. Where I believe bear spray would work well is if a predatory bear is either stalking or trotting toward you, giving you enough time to deploy the spray. That type of bear is by far the most dangerous as they aren't likely to be deterred or frightened away. |
“Some days you eat bear and some days the bear eats you”. So glad we have no so called “restrictions” on firearms here in the Great North State. In light of the rising frequency of human/bear confrontations, the Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, cyclists, city slickers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and be alert for bears while in the field. …We advise that all outdoorsmen wear small bells on their clothing so as not to startle bears that aren’t expecting them, and to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter…. It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen within the US should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear droppings. Black bear droppings are smaller and contain lots of berries and fur. Grizzly bear scat/droppings have little bells in it and smell like pepper.:lol: |
Originally Posted by Patriot1
(Post 20458796)
Black bear droppings are smaller and contain lots of berries and fur. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a15a25e9de.jpg |
bears? bears! you lucky, lucky ****! would that we only had to worry about bears!
Tourists have been warned about wild elephants in a forest plantation in Kanchanaburi province, particularly a male that has been nicknamed “Nga Lek, the bully”. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3e959f1845.jpg (random photo lifted off the intertubes) |
Originally Posted by saddlesores
(Post 20459010)
bears? bears! you lucky, lucky ****! would that we only had to worry about bears!
Tourists have been warned about wild elephants in a forest plantation in Kanchanaburi province, particularly a male that has been nicknamed “Nga Lek, the bully”. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3e959f1845.jpg (random photo lifted off the intertubes) But only after 3:00 P.M. ... |
Originally Posted by Patriot1
(Post 20458796)
“Some days you eat bear and some days the bear eats you”. So glad we have no so called “restrictions” on firearms here in the Great North State. In light of the rising frequency of human/bear confrontations, the Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, cyclists, city slickers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and be alert for bears while in the field. …We advise that all outdoorsmen wear small bells on their clothing so as not to startle bears that aren’t expecting them, and to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter…. It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen within the US should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear droppings. Black bear droppings are smaller and contain lots of berries and fur. Grizzly bear scat/droppings have little bells in it and smell like pepper.:lol: under most situations. It isn't effective if hiking along a noisy stream or if in high winds coming toward you. It also isn't effective when riding a bike because you're generally there before the bear locates where the faint ringing is coming from. While riding up north, many times I was right among animals on the road before they were aware I was coming even though I was constantly chatting with my riding partner. We once rode past a wolf sitting on the roadside before he understood what we were and had a chance to disappear. Unless your peddling, the bells don't ring anywhere loud enough to do any good, so if you're coasting or just cruising along, they won't warn anything. You'd be much better served by loudly playing raucous music. |
Originally Posted by saddlesores
(Post 20459010)
bears? bears! you lucky, lucky ****! would that we only had to worry about bears!
) |
Originally Posted by Big Lew
(Post 20470780)
Wearing bells on your outfit is actually a good idea if your's hiking as it gives bears etc enough warning that you're approaching
under most situations. It isn't effective if hiking along a noisy stream or if in high winds coming toward you. It also isn't effective when riding a bike because you're generally there before the bear locates where the faint ringing is coming from. While riding up north, many times I was right among animals on the road before they were aware I was coming even though I was constantly chatting with my riding partner. We once rode past a wolf sitting on the roadside before he understood what we were and had a chance to disappear. Unless your peddling, the bells don't ring anywhere loud enough to do any good, so if you're coasting or just cruising along, they won't warn anything. I saw a bear yesterday whilst riding on a trail. I had stopped because there was a huge puddle and I was trying to figure out the best way to negotiate it. I heard a noise in the bush, and there was a smallish black bear about 10 m away. I talked to it to let it know I was there. It ignored me and kept foraging in the bush. If I hadn't stopped, I probably wouldn't have noticed it and ridden right past it. I turned around and went back. When I got back to the trailhead, I saw part of the trail network had been closed because a bear was feeding on a carcass. That was a kilometre or so from where I was. They are definitely out there. |
Lions and tigers and bears....oh my :roflmao2: odds likely are you have a better chance of winning the lottery than being attacked by a wild animal. |
Originally Posted by Patriot1
(Post 20471305)
Lions and tigers and bears....oh my :roflmao2: odds likely are you have a better chance of winning the lottery than being attacked by a wild animal. |
Originally Posted by skookum
(Post 20472661)
People shouldn't be paranoid about bears, but should know the risks and how to mitigate them.
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Originally Posted by Patriot1
(Post 20471305)
Lions and tigers and bears....oh my :roflmao2: odds likely are you have a better chance of winning the lottery than being attacked by a wild animal. I'm moving to MA. :) |
This was posted in Foo - Funny GIF's.
I'm thinking the cyclist had right-of-way. https://www.bikeforums.net/foo/97271...l#&gid=1&pid=3 |
Originally Posted by spinnaker
(Post 20448136)
No pictures. It did not happen. ;)
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
(Post 20472929)
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Originally Posted by Ritchie Logic
(Post 20474767)
lol. Well, I believe the OP, like you, that it did happen! :)
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Originally Posted by stardognine
(Post 20475977)
Thanks for that. 🙂 I wouldn't lie about it, I have to live with myself. Every day. 😁
Here's the link and video description: Dr. Stephan Harding, Resident Ecologist at Schumacher College shares a moment of magic in describing the idea of 'encounter'. This is a segment of the forthcoming film about the radical economist and ecologist, David Fleming, 'The Seed Beneath the Snow'. |
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