Yes please. I’m rather antisocial and usually it’s just me and my wife hiking on lonely trails. We choose trails for the views and the absence of people. I’m responsible for protecting us both from wildlife encounters. We read tips and such but I’m still uneasy and would appreciate the benefit of hands on successful experiences.

I have a 20sf and a loud whistle. I feel like I’m bringing a pencil to a gun fight.

The next to last sentence of the linked story:

"The attack occurred too quickly for Johnson to use the bear spray he was carrying"

TatorTots advice is very good. Naive tourist me, visting AK, stayed at the Windsong Lodge in Seward,AK. Walked in front of the lodge several times and along the creek across from the hotel.

A friend who visited AK the next year was showing me pictures he had taken, one was a huge grizzly, standing in a creek. I asked my friend where was that bear when the picture was taken, and he told me in front of the Windsong Lodge at Seward...

Another time, I went walking at the trail at the Denali Vistors center. Walked a good distance too, but it dawned on me..anywhere in Alaska, there can be carnivores..then after thinking that, got the heebie jeebies..badly..

Anchorage has 60 brown bear (aka grizzly) and 350 black bear living in its city limits year around. Mainly along the coast, along Campbell Creek, and on hilltop.

Sunset, you'll never guess which Anchorage city department was responsible for tracking bear sightings?

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Anchorage has 60 brown bear (aka grizzly) and 350 black bear living in its city limits year around. Mainly along the coast, along Campbell Creek, and on hilltop.

Sunset, you'll never guess which Anchorage city department was responsible for tracking bear sightings?

TT, I used to know that dept, when I read the ADN every day or the Alaska Dispatch. I always thought I read that moose injure more people than any other animal in the Last Frontier.

I think its the police dept tracking , not Fish And Game.

From most of the bear attacks I have read about, from news in AK, there is no set outcome. Sometimes bear gets killed, sometimes person gets killed or maimed.

quote:

Originally posted by Sunset_Va:

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Anchorage has 60 brown bear (aka grizzly) and 350 black bear living in its city limits year around. Mainly along the coast, along Campbell Creek, and on hilltop.

Sunset, you'll never guess which Anchorage city department was responsible for tracking bear sightings?

TT, I used to know that dept, when I read the ADN every day or the Alaska Dispatch. I always thought I read that moose injure more people than any other animal in the Last Frontier.

I think its the police dept tracking , not Fish And. Game

The municipal waste department tracks because most of the bear sightings are on trash day

You're correct on the moose statistically being the most dangerous animal in Alaska

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

quote:

Originally posted by Sunset_Va:

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Anchorage has 60 brown bear (aka grizzly) and 350 black bear living in its city limits year around. Mainly along the coast, along Campbell Creek, and on hilltop.

Sunset, you'll never guess which Anchorage city department was responsible for tracking bear sightings?

TT, I used to know that dept, when I read the ADN every day or the Alaska Dispatch. I always thought I read that moose injure more people than any other animal in the Last Frontier.

I think its the police dept tracking , not Fish And. Game

The municipal waste department tracks because most of the bear sightings are on trash day

You're correct on the moose statistically being the most dangerous animal in Alaska

People probably get complacent around moose, because most of the time they appear docile, but they are high strung and quick to be agitated.
The racks injure many, but its the hooves that really slice people and pets up.

An enraged moose, from accounts, does not calm down fast. Here in Virginia, my biggest fear of animals is any animal thats rabid.

The odds of being attacked by a bear or a big cat are very low. Many millions of humans hike in the wilderness of this country each year, and a tiny number (much much much less than 1%) are actually attacked. (National Park Service says the odds of a bear attack is 1 in 2.1 Million, whereas the odds of being struck by lightning is 3x higher at 1 in 700,000...)

Be prepared and aware, but don't sweat it beyond that. There isn't an epidemic of attacks or anything.

They come right into town where I live.
http://www.codyenterprise.com/...21-7b0a8348faab.html

PC

quote:

Originally posted by DonDraper:
Unless you hike through the forest with your very large caliber gun drawn and cocked - you might as well leave it at home.

Oh really.

quote:

Originally posted by 46and2:
There isn't an epidemic of attacks or anything.

Yet.

Everyone I know, myself included, who spends any amount of time in the woods, report seeing bears, cats, and/or wolves on nearly every outing. Years ago it was a rarity to see any of those...ever.

Populations up, sightings up, attacks will go up.

WTF. Prime won’t ship bear spray to CA it seems.

Don’t think they can ship any aerosol via air, due to federal regulations. Try selecting a slower shipping method. Or look for a roll-on antibear product.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
WTF. Prime won’t ship bear spray to CA it seems.

Go to REI.

When in Grizzly country I carry Bear Spray, same with my wife. I've read enough to believe that's the best deterrent. We stayed at a lodge in Montana, the owner never went outside without the spray and he was a hunting/fishing guide.

We hike in a lot of Cougar/Coyote country, usually have our dogs with us. In 13 years, we've never been bothered, seen maybe a glimpse of a Cougar. I do carry a pistol when out locally.

Bears, particularly Grizzles are fascinating to me. One of the most majestic creatures on the planet. For certain in North America.
I've encountered numerous black bears right at my home and during the season I am always aware. I don't carry a gun or spray around the house but I do take common sense precautions. I never leave the garage door open for instance because they will wander in.

I will generally try to knock on the side of the house before going blindly around a corner. The times I have encountered them they will run or amble off at the first sound. Not surprising them is always the key but hard to do when in the wilderness.

I stopped putting out bird feeders years ago because I was attracting more bears than birds.

When we first bought our house there was a old widower living next door. He would feed the bears in his back yard. His friend was a butcher so he would bring home boxes full of bones and meat fat and dump it along the tree line in his back yard. I knew this was not a good idea but the first time I tried to talk to him about it I was basically told to fuck off and worry about what goes on in my own yard. Cantankerous old guy he was.
Well he didn't feel like feeding them everyday but the bears sure felt like eating everyday.

I was outside washing storm windows not paying much attention to my surroundings. My dog was laying under the picnic table growling. I told him to shut up because I thought he was growling at some kids riding bikes across the road.
I stood up to stretch my back and turned around to see 2 black bears sizing me up about 40 yards away. They both had their noses in the air testing the wind to see if I was putting food out for them no doubt. Neighbor didn't feel like feeding them that day.

I knew they could cover that ground in about 2 seconds had they wanted to. I grabbed the dog by the collar and slowly walked to the house watching the bears the whole time. Once I vacated the area they went and checked where I was for food. Finding none they wandered off. It's things like that that let you know you're alive!

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

quote:

Originally posted by DonDraper:
Unless you hike through the forest with your very large caliber gun drawn and cocked - you might as well leave it at home.

Oh really.

Yes, Really.

See what happens when you
A. ______________
B. ______________
C. ______________
D. ______________
E. ______________

quote:

Originally posted by DonDraper:
Unless you hike through the forest with your very large caliber gun drawn and cocked - you might as well leave it at home.

I wouldn't go quite that far, but you are somewhat correct.

With cats, they are on you so fast you won't know what hit you, and I've seen bears run 35-40MPH without a whole lot of effort. With a pissed off charging bear you'll have precious little time to do much of anything except shit your pants.

Bottom line is, if they want to eat you, they're going to get you. Thankfully, they don't often want to eat you, they just want you away from them.

For piece of mind I still carry in the woods though. 44 or 10mm and if it were practical - a shotgun.

quote:

Originally posted by DonDraper:

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

quote:

Originally posted by DonDraper:
Unless you hike through the forest with your very large caliber gun drawn and cocked - you might as well leave it at home.

Oh really.

Yes, Really.

Been attacked by a lot of bears, Don?