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-   -   Saw a bear today. (https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/1149724-saw-bear-today.html)

skookum 07-19-18 10:01 AM


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.

I think you can carry a non-restricted firearm, as long as it is unloaded. But not in a national park.

Big Lew 07-19-18 08:35 PM

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.

skookum 07-19-18 09:49 PM


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.

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.

Big Lew 07-19-18 10:44 PM


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.

I haven't done any testing of the mist type bear spray as opposed the thick stream, but as I said earlier, if a bear is suddenly in full charge
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.

Patriot1 07-20-18 04:35 AM

“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:





indyfabz 07-20-18 04:58 AM


Originally Posted by Patriot1 (Post 20458796)
Black bear droppings are smaller and contain lots of berries and fur.

In my best Jeff Goldblum voice..."Black bear droppings? Droppings?"

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a15a25e9de.jpg

saddlesores 07-20-18 07:44 AM

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)

skookum 07-20-18 08:06 AM


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. ...

Big Lew 07-26-18 09:40 AM


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:






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. You'd be much better served by loudly playing raucous music.

stardognine 07-26-18 09:52 AM


Originally Posted by saddlesores (Post 20459010)
bears? bears! you lucky, lucky ****! would that we only had to worry about bears!
)

Funny. 😁 I finally made it up to Denver, doing laundry in Twin Lakes now. I got soaked good last night, lol. 😋

skookum 07-26-18 09:55 AM


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.

Yup.

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.

Patriot1 07-26-18 01:51 PM

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.

skookum 07-27-18 09:27 AM


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 think the odds of a bad bear encounter are higher than winning the lottery, but I agree , still very low. People shouldn't be paranoid about bears, but should know the risks and how to mitigate them.

indyfabz 07-27-18 11:36 AM


Originally Posted by skookum (Post 20472661)
People shouldn't be paranoid about bears, but should know the risks and how to mitigate them.

qft

indyfabz 07-27-18 11:40 AM


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.

Here Are the Odds of Being Killed by an Animal in Every State

I'm moving to MA. :)

Steve B. 07-27-18 11:43 AM

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

Ritchie Logic 07-28-18 02:08 PM


Originally Posted by spinnaker (Post 20448136)
No pictures. It did not happen. ;)

lol. Well, I believe the OP, like you, that it did happen! :)

stardognine 07-29-18 10:27 AM


Originally Posted by indyfabz (Post 20472929)

There are some surprising results there. Colorado's actually pretty darn safe. 😎 That snail that's just as deadly as a bear must be freaking vicious. 😁

stardognine 07-29-18 10:31 AM


Originally Posted by Ritchie Logic (Post 20474767)
lol. Well, I believe the OP, like you, that it did happen! :)

Thanks for that. 🙂 I wouldn't lie about it, I have to live with myself. Every day. 😁

Ritchie Logic 07-29-18 08:28 PM


Originally Posted by stardognine (Post 20475977)
Thanks for that. 🙂 I wouldn't lie about it, I have to live with myself. Every day. 😁

Your welcome. That does sound like an interesting encounter. Regarding interactions with nature you might like this video that I saw the other 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'.

GAJett 08-01-18 04:13 PM

Thanks for the link to the deadly animals. Deer are simply the most dangerous as they attack through your windshield, typically travelling between 30 and 75 mph. Gotta watch out for those. But such attacks at high speeds are rare with bicycles.


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