DO NOT Fear The Bear: 4 Steps To Prevent A Bear Attack -

Foldable cabin tent. Check!

Snacks and water. Check!

Insect Repellant. Check!

So, all set for your upcoming hiking and camping adventure?

You really feel so?

Well, we think otherwise for the simple reason that you missed out on bear spray in your list.

Bear attacks, although a rare occurrence in camping trips are not that uncommon too. It’s always for the best to be prepared for the worst (yes, a bear attack too) when going outdoors, away from the comfort of your homes.

So, in this article, we have shed light on 4 vital things you need to ensure when you’re confronted by a bear in the wilderness.

Read on to learn more.

Be aware of the different species of bear

If you’re hiking in some region of United States, you are likely to encounter the three different species of bear, i.e. Black Bear, Brown Bear, and Polar Bear. Only when you are hiking somewhere around the Arctic Circle, you shall come across the third kind.

If we highlight some of the distinguishing features of the Grizzlies, one of the sub-species of Brown bears, you may realise that:

They weigh less than the coastal brown bears
They have a hump of muscles on their shoulders unlike the brown bear
They tend to be more aggressive towards humans

(No, we don’t mean to scare you in any way; Just a word of caution though!)

On the other hand, if we look at black bears:

They are found almost everywhere in the United States be it Alaska or the East Coast
They are less aggressive towards humans
They are rather timid and are less dangerous than the grizzlies

As already mentioned, you may come across polar bears only if you plan to hike in the Arctic regions of Canada. Forget about the cute, friendly polar bears that you see on television. The ones in real life are the most aggressive and daunting of all.

Knowing about the different species of the bear will help you take the right approach to tackle them.

Be vigilant

Okay, so you need to bid goodbye to those earphones of yours before hitting the trail. They are nothing more than a distraction on the hike and prevent you from being watchful of the different sounds you hear on your way.

Apart from that, you should NEVER startle a bear. Always make noise, talk, call out to others loudly, and clap if you need to. Refrain from being completely quiet.

Thirdly, you must never hike alone. Always be part of a large group and avoid spaces or corners where bears are not likely to hear you.

Never be careless with your food and trash

Trust us, the last thing you would want to do is carelessly handle your food items and trash while camping. Unless you don’t wish to invite any of the bear species to join your trek, make sure you get food that has a little-to-moderate aroma. Strong-smelling food is an open invitation to unwanted guests. And, pack it smartly (maybe double pack it).

In fact, there are bear-resistant food storage boxes available for packing your stuff that you can invest in.

On the other hand, when you’re done eating, secure your trash carefully. Put it inside your backpack and you can always discard it once you reach home.

P.S. All food items should be stored in a place where it’s hard for the bears to reach. One idea is to hang it at least 10-15 feet above the ground and far away from your tents.

Carry a bear spray, ALWAYS

We repeat, ALWAYS carry a bear spray along.

A bear pepper spray is considered to be one of the most effective things at repelling bears and minimising the incidents of human injuries. In fact, it is so much better than a firearm!

Unleashing a bullet from your gun shall only result in a minor injury to the bear that won’t even stop him. But, a pepper spray is strong enough to stop it then and there.

FYI: The bear spray is a special solution containing 1% – 2% capsaicin. The chemical has its roots from hot peppers which make the solution extremely irritating to the bears’ eyes, nose, and throat, and lungs. This impairs their ability to attack for some time but does no permanent harm.

DO NOT fear the bear!

These are a few important safety measures that need to be taken to prevent unnecessary bear encounters for your next adventure. Now that you are aware of them, slide into your Bates Tactical Boots, lift your backpack, and hit the trail already.

Happy camping!

** This is a guest post **