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Encounters between Humans and Black Bears

Introduction

Humans and black bears have a long history of encounters. Recently the number of these has increased. Because of the problems that often arise when humans live, work, or play in bear country, many places require people to take certain precautions when in bear country.

Recent Increase in Number of Human-Bear Encounters

The increasing number of human-black bear encounters in recent years has been caused both by an increasing number of people in bear country and an increase in the population of bears. According to Linda Masterson, author of Living With Bears: A Practical Guide to Bear Country, during America’s early history the settlers were mainly farmers, and therefore saw bears as a nuisance to be gotten rid of. The bears’ population was greatly reduced during this time period. During the Industrial Revolution, much of the population migrated to the cities, abandoning their farms. This allowed for the forests that had been cleared to make way for farms to grow back, which in turn provided better habitat for bears and allowed their population to increase. The creation of national parks also contributed to the increase in bears’ population, as it gave them a protected place to live. In recent years, it has become the trend to move out of the suburbs and into more rural areas. According to Masterson, many factors have contributed to this trend, including the ease of working from home due to the Internet, increased housing costs, and “the trend to second and even third homes.” As a result of this trend, forests surrounding national parks have become housing communities. This has increased the number of encounters between humans and bears, as there are now more people in bear country.

Problems Arising from Frequent Human-Bear Encounters

Because they hibernate, bears need to consume a lot of calories during the time of year that they are actually active. During late summer and early fall bears undergo what is known as hyperphagia. During this time, they need to eat enough food to gain three to five pounds a day in order to survive the hibernation months. According to Dorothy Patent, author of Bears of the World, “bears will eat just about anything they can get their paws on”.

James Garfield, in his book Bear Vs. Man: Recent Attacks and How to Avoid the Increasing Danger, discusses how and why bears become accustomed to human food. Because dumpsters are so full of high caloric food, they are an attractive food source for bears. Although black bears exhibit a natural reluctance to be around humans, once they learn that human-populated areas provide easy access to a lot of calories, they will keep coming back. Once they learn that humans mean food, they may try other ways of getting at human food, including breaking into houses or coming into campgrounds. Occasionally people living in bear country will intentionally leave dog food or other treats on the front porch for the bears, attempting to make them into pets. The bear grows accustomed to this free food source, and if the food ever stops appearing, the bear may break into the house to investigate. The likely outcome of this event is the death of the bear and the destruction of the person’s property.

Often home-owners unintentionally leave food out. Any hint of food, such as an un-cleaned barbeque grill or a bird-feeder, can attract a bear’s attention. Garbage cans, bird feeders, and other sources of food commonly found in backyards provide easy sources of highly caloric food. Because bears can smell food from many miles away, any food left in a backyard can tempt a bear to overcome its natural reluctance to be around humans. Once a bear discovers that backyards can provide a ready food source, it will keep coming back. The same type of problem occurs in national parks and other frequently visited tourist attractions in bear country. Because of the high number of people, bears grow accustomed to humans, and especially human food. Stephen Herrero, in his book Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance, discusses Yellowstone bears that have learned to beg along the sides of roads. Some bears in Yosemite have learned to hook their claws between the door and the frame of cars in order to bend the door and eventually get into the trunk, where they have learned food is often stored. These bears have even learned which cars are the easiest to break into. This obviously learned behavior shows what can happen when bears become accustomed to humans. Herrero attributes at least ninety percent of bear-related injuries to bears that have become accustomed to human food. The most apparent problem arising from the increasing number of human-bear encounters is the increase in the number of bear attacks. This is not as much of a problem as it might first appear. Black bears prefer to avoid humans, although they will become defensive if provoked. The BearPlanet website states that although black bears are not normally aggressive, “a wounded or cornered black bear or one whose cubs might be endangered can be a fearsome spectacle.”

Solutions

For People Playing in Bear Country

Many national parks have put bear attack prevention programs into place. For example, in Tetons National Park in Wyoming, park officials have put in bear canisters as a bear-proof way to store food, and backpackers are required to carry bear canisters with them. Yellowstone, which has had many problems with visitors feeding bears, has initiated rules against feeding bears. Even things such as more bear-resistant dumpsters have been proven to make a difference. According to Erin McCloskey, author of Bear Attacks in Canada, information such as what type of bears live in a certain area, what time of day they are most active during, what type of habitat they most often frequent, and what types of food they eat is the best way to avoid being attacked. Park visitors centers will often have pamphlets available on bear problems in the area. Rangers can often provide specific information on bears in the area, such as whether or not they have become habituated to humans and what techniques they use to get at human food. Sometimes rangers will even know the habits of individual bears. People who know the signs of a bear are better able to avoid encounters with them. Things such as bear scat, claw marks on trees, overturned rocks and logs, fish heads and entrails along streams, and brush-covered carcasses often signify that a bear has been in the area, although the bear may or may not still be there. There are many techniques used by campers to avoid bears. Using bear containers provided by the park or campground service to store food in is one such technique. If bear containers are not provided, campers will often string their food up between two trees, placing it in such a position that a bear could not climb up the tree to get at it. In either case, Annalise Kaylor, author of the webpage How to be Safe From Bears When Hiking or Camping: Preventing Bear Attacks or Maulings, advises storing food at least one hundred yards away from the camping spot. She also advises storing anything that smells in the same way. Herrero advises campers not to cook near their sleeping area, and to completely dispose of trash. People who hike in groups and make a lot of noise also have an easier time avoiding bears. According to Garfield, “There has never been a documented bear attack on a group of four or more people, as long as they stood united in one mass against the bear”. Herrero agrees with this: “Very rarely will a black bear kill two or even three people”. Bears prefer not to attack people, and, if they know a human is nearby, will stay away.

Products to Protect Against Bears

Consumers can buy products to help protect against bear attacks, and there are several more currently being developed. These include electric fencing for use around tents, an aluminum frame with a “self-inflating device” for backpacks, bear spray, and Karelian dogs. Electric fencing for tents is currently available for sale. An electrical charge is sent through the wire, and will shock anything that touches it. It is low enough that an individual who knows it is there can easily step over it. Ryan Dougherty, in an article in a NCPA magazine, states that the Katmai National Park Service and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game specifically advise backpackers to carry a portable electrical fence with them. Scientists are currently working on a design for an aluminum frame that can be attached to backpacks. This frame will contain a “self-inflating device that fans out in a partial circle behind the person when it is released, much like a male turkey’s tail”. This device will make a person seem three to four times their normal size, and may help discourage bears from attacking. Hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts most commonly use bear spray as a precaution against bears. Bear spray consists of “concentrated red pepper extracts”, and can be used to blind a bear when in close proximity. Many people find that carrying bear spray makes them feel safer, even though they quite likely will never have the opportunity to use it. Some people who live, work, or play in bear country like to use Karelian dogs. Generally dogs, once they spot a bear, will either run, leading the bear straight to its owner, or harass the bear and then run, leading an angry bear back to its owner. For this reason, experts warn against taking dogs with in bear country. However, the breed of dogs known as Karelian has been “bred to chase bears”. These dogs are fiercely territorial and are good for anyone living in bear country, as they will alert the owner to the presence of a bear in the yard.

For People Living in Bear Country

For people living in bear country, avoiding bears can be much more difficult. Bears will often wander into backyards, attracted by the smell of food. Any traces of food left on a barbeque grill become a target. Bears also often use bird feeders and garbage cans as a food source. Once bears learn that these easy food sources exist, they will come back again and again. The most obvious solution to this problem is for home-owners to not leave any food outside, and to either not put garbage cans out until pick-up day or to use a bear-resistant trash can. There are other more involved solutions, and many cities in bear country have complex regulations regarding this problem. Masterson suggests that home-owners ensure that their house and all other buildings are sturdy and have good locks (68). She also suggests that windows be kept closed and locked (64). Because bears can climb trees, Masterson discourages home-owners from having trees right next to the house. In many towns that have serious bear problems, town officials have come up with strict regulations, such as requirements for garbage disposal, to help keep bears from using the town as an easy food source.

Interpreting a Bear’s Noises and Body Language

If a bear is seen, it is possible to tell a bear’s intent from the noises it makes and from its body language. According to Masterson, bears “huff” when they are scared or nervous, pop their jaws when defensive, moan and pulse their throats when feeling very distressed. Mothers with cubs will often click their teeth in order to warn their cubs to run and hide. Bears will stand on their hind legs and move their head from side to side in order to smell better. If a bear appears to be cowering and trying to make itself look smaller, most likely it is scared. If a bear’s ears are forward and it approaches confidently, it is aggressive and preparing to attack. Occasionally black bears will bluff an attack, especially if feeling threatened. The bear will pop its jaws, and sometimes slap the ground or make a “staccato huffing sound” as an added warning. In a bluff attack, the bear’s ears stay up, whereas in a real attack, the body will be completely streamlined. The purpose of a bluff attack is to warn the person away. According to Herrero, most often a surprised black bear will bluff an attack, but will not actually attack. If a black bear does attack, Garfield advises neither playing dead, climbing a tree, nor running. Black bears can run faster than humans, easily climb trees, and are easily intimidated. Therefore, Garfield advises either fighting back or dropping, facedown, to the ground, and covering all vital parts of the body. Jack L. McSherry, III, on arcticwebsite.com, also advises playing dead, but adds that if the bear bites, it is best to attack back.

Conclusion

Humans have always had run-ins with bears, and will continue to do so, especially as bears’ population and the number of people in bear country increase. Despite this, people continue to live and play in bear country. Many towns and national parks have come up with strict regulations to help guard against problems arising from the increasing number of human-bear encounters.