Bear Smart Advice – Articles & Book Excerpts

If people food is readily available, it’s just a matter of time before a bear comes exploring. If the bear has a positive experience (getting a food reward) without any negative consequences (being yelled at and chased off), it will try for what its enterprising bear-brain thinks might be an even bigger and better reward.

People tend to ignore these early stages of conflict, hoping the bear will eventually move on, or rationalizing that losing a bag of garbage or the occasional feeder full of bird seed isn’t so bad.

But ignoring a bear’s activity encourages it not only to continue, […]

Hiking takes you into places wild animals call home. You’re the guest; they’re the residents. It’s up to you to learn how to enjoy spending time on their home turf without doing any damage. Statistically speaking, your chances of even seeing a bear are slim; the odds you’ll be involved in an unpleasant encounter are slimmer still.

But if you do encounter a bear, not knowing how to respond and behave could turn a dream day in the woods into a nightmare, or even cost you your life.

So arm yourself with the information you need to stay safe, have fun […]