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RE: How To Actively Prevent Animal Attacks While Hiking…

in #outdoors6 years ago (edited)

I don't agree with much you've posted here. I am an avid hiker, raised in Alaska, and have hunted and fished in the company of bears often. They're not at all predictable sometimes. Sometimes they have a toothache or something, and they're mad.

One time when I was a kid, my dad and I were hiking along a salmon stream where bears were congregating. He told me 'If a bear comes after us, you don't have to outrun the bear. You just have to outrun me.'

Gee, thanks Dad!

Rangers in Alaska also recommend wearing a tinkling bell while hiking, and to carry pepper spray. They point out that Grizzly are far more dangerous than black bears, so also try to teach how to tell when you're on one or the other's trail. They point out that black bear poop is full of berries, and usually very dark. Grizzly bear poop makes a tinkling sound and smells of pepper.

Nothing less than a .44 Mag will deter an angry Grizzly. Don't trust your life to pepper spray.

The last time I was trailed by a cougar was in Nov. '18. She had kits, and was nursing. She had no interest in me once I spotted her, because people are far more dangerous than cougars. Being afraid of them attracts aggression. If you're not afraid they are. Same with most bears.

If they have a toothache, though, and look to take their irritation out on you, best either shoot them, or beat them to death.

Nothing much else attacks people often, except rutting Moose. Again, nothing short of a .44 Mag is going to have much persuasive power on a bull Moose. Don't go hiking in areas where powerful predators make a living by killing things if you're afraid of those powerful predators, because they know when you're afraid, and that marks you as prey.

What they do to prey is attack it.

If you're unarmed, you should be afraid.

Be armed when predators attack.

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you have a right to your opinion... im guessing you didnt read the part about bears or the link i provided giving detailed instructions on how to deal with them.