What Are Your "Grizzly / Wildlife" Precautions?
#76
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I wonder why people freak out about a bear attack when I'll bet a thousand bucks that dogs cause many more injuries and deaths for cyclists. I've seen a couple horrible injuries myself due to dogs jumping onto the cyclist in front of me while rolling downhill. Once from a driveway, once unsecured from the bed of a passing pickup (both cases, the dog's owners had no insurance whatsoever, too. First they both tried to claim they didn't own the dog; it just happened to be hitching a ride in the pickup, for example).
Anyway, since pepper spray often just seems to add extra flavor for grizzlies, I wonder if some kind of igniter for the spray, much like the hairspray flamethrower, would provide any extra deterrent. At least if you're mauled to death by a flaming grizzly, you could die knowing their woodland home would soon be going up in a holocaust. Dibs on the Kickstarter!
Anyway, since pepper spray often just seems to add extra flavor for grizzlies, I wonder if some kind of igniter for the spray, much like the hairspray flamethrower, would provide any extra deterrent. At least if you're mauled to death by a flaming grizzly, you could die knowing their woodland home would soon be going up in a holocaust. Dibs on the Kickstarter!
Last edited by stevepusser; 10-09-16 at 03:08 PM.
#77
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Actually, I've heard of a sexual assault repellent that was a pouch full of skunk like fluid worn about the neck you could squish open when attacked. Supposedly, the theory being a would be attacker would be repulsed by the smell and leave off the attack.
Curious idea for bears if there was a smell strong enough that would repulse them.
Will a bear attack a skunk?
Curious idea for bears if there was a smell strong enough that would repulse them.
Will a bear attack a skunk?
Last edited by Happy Feet; 10-09-16 at 03:55 PM.
#78
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Actually, I've heard of a sexual assault repellent that was a pouch full of skunk like fluid worn about the neck you could squish open when attacked. Supposedly, the theory being a would be attacker would be repulsed by the smell and leave off the attack.
Curious idea for bears if there was a smell strong enough that would repulse them.
Will a bear attack a skunk?
Curious idea for bears if there was a smell strong enough that would repulse them.
Will a bear attack a skunk?
#79
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I've seen a porcupine taken by coyotes in Alberta. They rolled it over, ate out the belly and left the pelt intact so.. that's a no go.
#80
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August 2016. Alaska grizzly, professional guide, single-stack compact 9mm handgun, 147gr Buffalo Bore hard casts. Close range, dead bear.
Can't post url, google on Alaska Outfitter Defends Fisherman from Raging Grizzly.
The guy's choice of BB 147gr 9mm Hardcasts made so much sense I actually traded off my 10mm Glock 29 (w 220gr Hardcasts) last weekend and used the money for binocs I needed for a raptor survey.
I have successfully used bear spray eight times over fifteen years against charging dogs, not to protect me but to protect my dogs (blue heelers) in my lower income urban area. Not on every dog, just that small percentage that cannot be bluffed away. These were the charging dogs (mostly pits and rotts) that ignored my shouts and body language and just homed in on my dogs. It is my belief that it is not the capsaicin that repels them but the sudden unexpected 20+ foot blast which throws a switch in their brain from fight to flight. I presume this is how it affects bears too.
Bear country, I'd rather have both but if'n I could only have just one I'd pick the spray.
I am not at all averse to handguns or the carrying thereof, in fact I've been legal to carry for more'n 20 years now. But on tour I'd guess a handgun would create more potential legal and practical hassles than the slim chance of me ever needing one would make it worth.
JMHO,
Mike
Can't post url, google on Alaska Outfitter Defends Fisherman from Raging Grizzly.
The guy's choice of BB 147gr 9mm Hardcasts made so much sense I actually traded off my 10mm Glock 29 (w 220gr Hardcasts) last weekend and used the money for binocs I needed for a raptor survey.
I have successfully used bear spray eight times over fifteen years against charging dogs, not to protect me but to protect my dogs (blue heelers) in my lower income urban area. Not on every dog, just that small percentage that cannot be bluffed away. These were the charging dogs (mostly pits and rotts) that ignored my shouts and body language and just homed in on my dogs. It is my belief that it is not the capsaicin that repels them but the sudden unexpected 20+ foot blast which throws a switch in their brain from fight to flight. I presume this is how it affects bears too.
Bear country, I'd rather have both but if'n I could only have just one I'd pick the spray.
I am not at all averse to handguns or the carrying thereof, in fact I've been legal to carry for more'n 20 years now. But on tour I'd guess a handgun would create more potential legal and practical hassles than the slim chance of me ever needing one would make it worth.
JMHO,
Mike
Last edited by Sharpshin; 10-10-16 at 04:48 PM.
#82
Senior Member
Deer and cattle also attack and kill many more people by surprise than bears* in North America each year--how shall they be deterred?
*at least until Bearmageddon.
*at least until Bearmageddon.
Last edited by stevepusser; 10-10-16 at 05:59 PM.
#83
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OPSAK, but we only have Black Bear around here. Andrew Skurka is said to have done Alaska with one.
#84
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This guy walked right through our campsite as we were packing up in the morning. He did not even slow down as he went by the bear box that was about 20 ' away
Selkirk Loop, BC
Selkirk Loop, BC
#85
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And have you ever tried putting a bear bell on. The collar is way too small and I doubt the bear would stay still long enough anyway.
That being said I tour with bear spray and keep food separate from camp. Two years ago I did a diving trip in Jasper that required a trek through trails that had recent bear activity. I carried bear spray, a bell and an air horn on that one.
That being said I tour with bear spray and keep food separate from camp. Two years ago I did a diving trip in Jasper that required a trek through trails that had recent bear activity. I carried bear spray, a bell and an air horn on that one.
I've noticed 2 things over the years of dealing with animals. The people who regularly deal with these animals regularly rarely/never carry a firearm and those people who are rarely in bear country tend to lean towards carrying a gun...
Personally I've lived in black bear/grizzly country all my life (Eastern Foothills/Rocky Mountains Alberta) and never even come remotely close to having any issues with bears. Good habits on and off the trail are key; be noisy, watch out for areas with a lot berries, keep far far away from any animals, stay far away from kills and eat in a different spot than you camp. This eliminates 99.9% of issues you'll have with any creature. Bear spray/bear bangers/firearms are extremely last resort.
I'm personally way more terrified of elk, African Lions (....), tourists in rental RV's and crashing into trees than bears.
#87
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Awesome! This past weekend I was hiking on part of the AT in New Jersey bear country. We thought we heard one in some thick growth, but it turned out to be a guy we think was doing his "business."
#88
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Oddly enough, I just drove 700km's yesterday to dive another site in the Shuswap, the Adams River, where a sockeye salmon run happens. On the hike to the river mouth (in full scuba kit) I came across this lovely bit of bear scat.
#89
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Speaking of CrazyGuyonaBike (other thread), there is a blog there I cannot re-find. A fairly recent account of a 60 year-old gentleman who wanted to be (and became) the first guy to ride a bicycle from the US to the Innuit State of Nunavut, which ride IIRC involved about 500 miles of remote dirt roads each way through the North Woods.
Notable because once up there he was encountering about three black bears a day (attracted to the forest margins along the road), most of which had probably never seen a human. Neither had he been allowed to bring bear spray into Canada.
His accounts of the effectiveness or lack thereof of various bear-scaring devices and strategies are quite humorous. For the most part the bears either fled or ignored him.
Out of all these bears, only two caused him problems, both large mature males.
In the first such encounter, he had stopped to pee when a bear emerged from the woods and, totally ignoring him, began to tear into the panniers on his bicycle. The trip was saved when the bear bit into a pressurized can of mosquito repellent, the explosive escape of the same causing the bear to flee the scene.
The second was potentially more serious. Along his route were scattered single Cree hunting cabins, generally left open and unoccupied most of the year. He was sleeping in one of these and had locked the doors to protect his stuff from bears. A big male black bear arrived and tried repeatedly to get into the cabin through the door and windows despite his best attempts at scaring it off. IIRC the gist was the gentleman felt that that particular bear was coming after him along with his stuff.
I wish someone could locate that account. he even had to cache food on the way up so as to be able to make the trip back.
Mike
Notable because once up there he was encountering about three black bears a day (attracted to the forest margins along the road), most of which had probably never seen a human. Neither had he been allowed to bring bear spray into Canada.
His accounts of the effectiveness or lack thereof of various bear-scaring devices and strategies are quite humorous. For the most part the bears either fled or ignored him.
Out of all these bears, only two caused him problems, both large mature males.
In the first such encounter, he had stopped to pee when a bear emerged from the woods and, totally ignoring him, began to tear into the panniers on his bicycle. The trip was saved when the bear bit into a pressurized can of mosquito repellent, the explosive escape of the same causing the bear to flee the scene.
The second was potentially more serious. Along his route were scattered single Cree hunting cabins, generally left open and unoccupied most of the year. He was sleeping in one of these and had locked the doors to protect his stuff from bears. A big male black bear arrived and tried repeatedly to get into the cabin through the door and windows despite his best attempts at scaring it off. IIRC the gist was the gentleman felt that that particular bear was coming after him along with his stuff.
I wish someone could locate that account. he even had to cache food on the way up so as to be able to make the trip back.
Mike
Last edited by Sharpshin; 10-12-16 at 08:38 AM.
#90
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Mike, I read that fellows trip journal. I don't know the reasons, but it is no longer on cg anymore. I can't remember names for the life of me but his last name is a French name, remember the issues he had at the border because of the diff spelling on documents?
It was a well written piece, I sometimes wondered if part of it was fictional or at least embellished, I don't know, but the whole food caches and hoping/being certain that he would get food out of the blue along the way seemed a little too risky/hardass for my tastes.
I also seem to remember that when I was reading/following it, it was about a year after he did the trip, so he obviously took the time with it, he is a good writer. I only read it that once, but it was a neat combination of bike trip blog with the various feelings and thoughts of being on a very isolated bike trip, but also his writing touched on a lot more in life than just a bike trip.
Meant to write him to tell him these things, but by then it wasnt around anymore and I couldn't find hide nor hair of him, so that was that.
one thing I took from reading that is that the Surly Troll is a tough bike, he is a big guy and carried a crapload of stuff at times, and the bike handled it well. Was part of the germ of the idea to get a Troll because I had confidence that it would make a good tough tourer. Took me years to get one, but finally did.
cheers
David
It was a well written piece, I sometimes wondered if part of it was fictional or at least embellished, I don't know, but the whole food caches and hoping/being certain that he would get food out of the blue along the way seemed a little too risky/hardass for my tastes.
I also seem to remember that when I was reading/following it, it was about a year after he did the trip, so he obviously took the time with it, he is a good writer. I only read it that once, but it was a neat combination of bike trip blog with the various feelings and thoughts of being on a very isolated bike trip, but also his writing touched on a lot more in life than just a bike trip.
Meant to write him to tell him these things, but by then it wasnt around anymore and I couldn't find hide nor hair of him, so that was that.
one thing I took from reading that is that the Surly Troll is a tough bike, he is a big guy and carried a crapload of stuff at times, and the bike handled it well. Was part of the germ of the idea to get a Troll because I had confidence that it would make a good tough tourer. Took me years to get one, but finally did.
cheers
David
#92
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#94
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Neil
#95
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It was a well written piece, I sometimes wondered if part of it was fictional or at least embellished, I don't know, but the whole food caches and hoping/being certain that he would get food out of the blue along the way seemed a little too risky/hardass for my tastes.
The guy wrote so perceptively of the First nations people he encountered I'm thinking he may be First nations himself.
Hopefully he took it down to put in a book, or else maybe someone got offended I dunno.
A pity was taken down, because it was an extraordinary tour.
#96
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Nothing personal but it's one problem with posting journals on third party sites. Yes, you do get more immediate exposure (you borrow their networking efforts) the but you also give away decision making ability as far as presence and creativity. Not saying that's what happened there at all but it's a consideration I've had over the years with biking and diving. I'd rather link to my own site so that, if I get mad and delete my presence on a forum or something, I still have my material intact.
Last edited by Happy Feet; 10-13-16 at 05:29 PM.
#97
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If it was embellished, it sure was a convincing embellishment.
The guy wrote so perceptively of the First nations people he encountered I'm thinking he may be First nations himself.
Hopefully he took it down to put in a book, or else maybe someone got offended I dunno.
A pity was taken down, because it was an extraordinary tour.
The guy wrote so perceptively of the First nations people he encountered I'm thinking he may be First nations himself.
Hopefully he took it down to put in a book, or else maybe someone got offended I dunno.
A pity was taken down, because it was an extraordinary tour.
#98
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Nothing personal but it's one problem with posting journals on third party sites. Yes, you do get more immediate exposure (you borrow their networking efforts) the but you also give away decision making ability as far as presence and creativity. Not saying that's what happened there at all but it's a consideration I've had over the years with biking and diving. I'd rather link to my own site so that, if I get mad and delete my presence on a forum or something, I still have my material intact.
Neil
#99
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No, I wasn't trying to imply that. It can be as much a case for the individual as the host. Unless he/she has a backup file of what they wrote so they can transcribe it to the next platform they are SOL if they delete it in a fit of anger. I might quit a forum but I doubt I'll delete my own website to spite others.
Definitely not a knock against you. As one who builds sites I appreciate the effort required.
Definitely not a knock against you. As one who builds sites I appreciate the effort required.
#100
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Ride fast