By Anna Geannopoulos
In light of last week’s fatal bear attack in Yellow Stone National Park, you might be hesitant to venture into bear country anytime soon. But, when you do, here is a crash course on the United States’ most feared “predator.”
From the Smokey Mountains to the Sierras, black, brown and grizzly bears roam the majority of North America. Their sharp claws, powerful bodies and deadly jaws could deter anyone from venturing out into the wild unprepared.
But bears don’t dream about terrorizing the masses. All they really want to do is eat.
And in the wild all they eat are berries, roots, insects, small rodents, fish and dead animals. Don’t be offended, but, bears are more interested in your trash than your flesh.
Most bear encounters occur when a bear is attracted by human food to an area occupied by people like a campsite or picnic area. The only time I have seen a bear outside a zoo is near roads and inside campsite trash-cans.
When bears venture into human territory the greatest threat they pose is to themselves. The more a bear feels comfortable interacting with humans in the wild, the more likely it will be to put itself in dangerous situations, like on the road in front of a car.
Twenty-eight bears were hit crossing the street last year inside Yosemite National Park. “Speeding kills bears” signs dot the side of the road in memory of roadside victims. Deaths like these demonstrate why you should never feed a bear as they will try and return for more food later.
Seeing a bear in a human environment also tends to make people forget that they are potentially dangerous wild animals.
Just because they don’t want to eat you doesn’t mean they couldn’t if they tried. It is important not to provoke a bear. The easiest way to accidently make a bear mad is to surprise them.
The most dangerous bear to sneak up on uninvited is a Mama bear. The second is a cub because that means the Mama bear can’t be far away. If the mother in any way feels that your presence is jeopardizing her children she will attack.
In the very rare occasion that you stumble upon a mother and her cubs, stay far away, use extreme caution and leave the area as soon as possible.
To avoid pissing Mama off make lots of noise while hiking to avoid showing up unannounced. An easy way to do this is by carrying a bell to alert bears of your presence and scare them off.
If you’re staying overnight remember that bears want your food and they will come and get it if you let them. Most campsites in areas populated by bears have plenty of information about how to keep the camp area clean and free of strong food odors. Talk to the park ranger if you have any questions.
Don’t let bears prevent you from seeing some of the best wilderness the United States has to offer. The great outdoors are big enough for both you and the bear to have a safe, enjoyable time. Just remember that the bear was there first and like all wild creatures they demand respect.
