Another Stupid Hiker Question: Bearbells

[stuff_it]

Yes, I got some good answers about the boot issue I posted earlier.

I normally wouldn't be worried, but the population of bears has risen dramatically in the area I'm planning on hiking and they've had a couple of maulings already this year. I blame the humans.

If lots of people have used them for a while in the area you are going to then isn't there a risk that the bears will be used to them?

Surely the hard part is keeping them off your food/from checking out your tent for treats when you're camped up? Do you know the history behind the maulings? If the people were doing something stupid or not? If there are a lot of hikers and a lot of bears the chances of a bear/human/stupidity related incident go up.

Surely more important that you secure your food/camp well, especially being on your own?

 

[Mrs Magpie]

I am hiking alone, but it's only day hikes.

[worrywart] Can you post every day so I know you're OK? [/worrywart]

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Heh. I've just dug out my bear bell. Noisy, orange thing. I wouldn't use it unless the rangers strongly advised it. But then here in Europe the bears are shyer and their dinner has bells on it.

There are a couple of national parks near Banff where they advise not going hiking unless you have a group of people, plus horses.

I've never hiked there.

 

[chilango]

Where exactly you going?

 

[stuff_it]

There are a couple of national parks near Banff where they advise not going hiking unless you have a group of people, plus horses.

I've never hiked there.

Surely there are wolves and the fucking lot somewhere like that though.

 

[chilango]

There's wolves allover the place, they're not a issue.

 

[stuff_it]

There's wolves allover the place, they're not a issue.

Feel free to go camping somewhere with wolf packs on your own then, and let us know how you get on.

 

[chilango]

Hiking in a group of 3 or more reduces the risk of an attack to almost zero. Though tbh the risk to a solo hiker is near enough nothing anyway. I deliberately go to places with bears etc. and look out them and still never bloody see them!

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Feel free to go camping somewhere with wolf packs on your own then, and let us know how you get on.

Wolves are a bit misunderstood. I think we should reintroduce them to the UK.

 

[chilango]

Feel free to go camping somewhere with wolf packs on your own then, and let us know how you get on.

I have.

You do know that much of Europe has a steadily expanding wolf population right? You go hiking in the mountains of Italy, Spain, southern France even and there are wolves about.

Saw a wolf or two in the Carpathians in Romania and a couple of dead ones in Alaska.

 

[chilango]

Yuwipi, best place to would be the NP rangers or the website. If bears are an issue it'll say so .

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

If lots of people have used them for a while in the area you are going to then isn't there a risk that the bears will be used to them?

Surely the hard part is keeping them off your food/from checking out your tent for treats when you're camped up? Do you know the history behind the maulings? If the people were doing something stupid or not? If there are a lot of hikers and a lot of bears the chances of a bear/human/stupidity related incident go up.

Surely more important that you secure your food/camp well, especially being on your own?

My impression is that if they're used to them that's probably a good thing. Bears arn't really interested in humans, just the food they might leave. I'm not planning on taking any food on a day hike--just water.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Feel free to go camping somewhere with wolf packs on your own then, and let us know how you get on.

Wolves are really just not a problem.

http://www.wildsentry.org/WolfAttack.html

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

[worrywart] Can you post every day so I know you're OK? [/worrywart]

That's possible, but probably not every day.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

There's wolves allover the place, they're not a issue.

Yes, they're even less interested in humans than bears.

 

[stuff_it]

Look, I'd happily pass through an area with wolves or even camp there, but I'd still be wary of camping for a long while on my own in a known wolf area.

They're even less interested in humans than bears.

Bears are very interested in humans food though.
Where are you going anyway?

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

They guy who got mauled last week was hiking alone and suprised a mother with cubs. They found an energy bar in his pack, but it wasn't eaten.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

Look, I'd happily pass through an area with wolves or even camp there, but I'd still be wary of camping for a long while on my own in a known wolf area.

Bears are very interested in humans food though.
Where are you going anyway?

Montana, probably the western part.

I'm not planning on camping in that area.

 

[stuff_it]

My impression is that if they're used to them that's probably a good thing. Bears arn't really interested in humans, just the food they might leave. I'm not planning on taking any food on a day hike--just water.

You shouldn't really go off hiking with no food at all, sounds like if the matey surprised a mother and cubs it was just bad luck.

 

[Pseudopsycho]

You shouldn't really go off hiking with no food at all, sounds like if the matey surprised a mother and cubs it was just bad luck.

^ this, you really should have chocolate, energy bars and some dehydrated meals *just in case*

watched 127hrs yet?

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

^ this, you really should have chocolate, energy bars and some dehydrated meals *just in case*

watched 127hrs yet?

Sorry, not a fan of James Franco.

Ok, I'll throw something in that's in a smell-free container, but I'm not likely to starve to death any time soon. If you get lost water is usually more of an issue than food.

 

[Me76]

I keep reading the title of this thread as 'Another Stupid Hitler question'

 

[stuff_it]

Sorry, not a fan of James Franco.

Ok, I'll throw something in that's in a smell-free container, but I'm not likely to starve to death any time soon. If you get lost water is usually more of an issue than food.

It's not just for starving, it's good to have something on you anyway - some nuts or something at least.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Surely there are wolves and the fucking lot somewhere like that though.

No, the warnings are strictly about the bear threat.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Feel free to go camping somewhere with wolf packs on your own then, and let us know how you get on.

Wolves don't concern me anywhere near as much a bears. Also, wolves tend to be in more remote areas.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Hiking in a group of 3 or more reduces the risk of an attack to almost zero. Though tbh the risk to a solo hiker is near enough nothing anyway. I deliberately go to places with bears etc. and look out them and still never bloody see them!

If you want to see bears, I can recommend a couple of places where it's pretty much guaranteed.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

My impression is that if they're used to them that's probably a good thing. .

You don't really want a bear that's gotten over its natural shyness about humans.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

They guy who got mauled last week was hiking alone and suprised a mother with cubs. They found an energy bar in his pack, but it wasn't eaten.

After eating his head and upper torso, the bear was probably too full to eat the energy bar.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

After eating his head and upper torso, the bear was probably too full to eat the energy bar.

Sad, but probably true. I think they found him partially burried, which usually means the bear plans to come back later for another nosh.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

They guy who got mauled

Oh you mean killed. I took mauled to be badly injured.