Staying Safe Around Bears

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Staying Safe Around Bears

When it comes to reputations, animals often get the short end of the stick. For the most part humans and animals get along quite well. Many people welcome animals into their homes, hearts and families, while some appreciate them in other ways like preserving natural lands, respecting their space, and advocating for their rights. Unfortunately, not all interactions between animals and humans are so positive. Misconceptions and pre-disposed notions can quickly turn an otherwise friendly interaction sour. In reality, most negative instances stem from misunderstanding. While animals and people cannot communicate with words, we can communicate through behavior. For this reason, it is critical for humans to understand animal behavior in order to mitigate negative interactions with our animal counterparts as much as possible. As such, today’s Species Spotlight is the often-misunderstood North American Black Bear.

Lions, tigers, bears – oh my! Well . . . not quite . . . at least not here . . . Unless you work at a zoo or have an exotic pet, most people in North America will never run into a lion or tiger. That being said, many people (particularly those in rural areas) will cross paths with a black bear at least once in their lifetime. You may see one while camping or glimpse a dark shadow as it crosses the street. Perhaps you’ll catch one going through your trash and you may even spot one peering in your window. For the most part, humans and bears keep separate lives. Like most wild animals, black bears are generally fearful and reluctant to get anywhere near a person. However, for many animals this is changing as more and more people encroach on wild lands, bears included. Where people go, food tends to follow, and wildlife is becoming habituated to this fact. Like the infamous “trash pandas” that most of us have learned to coexist with, black bears too find our cans of discarded food incredibly enticing. However, unlike raccoons, black bears are larger, and as such, are often interpreted as being more dangerous. Because of their size, teeth, and claws, bears in general are often stigmatized and even demonized by the human world whenever they are encountered. Black bears are especially at risk of unfair persecution because, as North America’s smallest bear species, they are far better adapted to live in developed areas than their larger relatives. So, what are the main issues between people and black bears, and how do we mitigate them?New Paragraph

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The majority of human-black bear conflicts arise over food. Humans have the luxury of grocery stores and pre-packaged foods. Bears, on the other hand, must forage and search out their next meal. As omnivores black bears are incredibly opportunistic feeders and eat a steady diet of both plant matter and insects, so you can imagine the convenience a human garbage presents to a hungry black bear. That being said, human food is not generally good for bears. It’s often filled with things they really shouldn’t be consuming and allowing them to eat from the trash or, worse, feeding them yourself, encourages behavior that ultimately will do more harm than good. A black bear should be afraid of people. When wild animals start associating people with food, they can lose that sense of fear. Although it can be entertaining to feed wild animals, things can get out of control very quickly. Unfortunately, animals do not understand boundaries like we do. They may become pushy or impatient for food if they are habituated to getting it on a regular basis, and this goes for all wild animals, not just black bears. So, how do we deter feeding black bears?

For starters, we can deter black bears from entering human spaces by refraining from leaving any food around. If you are camping, keep food out of the tent and hang it on a tree branch at least 10 feet off the ground. Please note, black bears are good climbers so this is not a fool-proof way to “save” your food, but it is a safer alternative to keeping it in your tent (a confined space, which if a bear should enter, may panic and potentially injure a person) and on most occasions, this method will work just fine. If you live in a rural area where black bears are known inhabitants, it is advised to remove any food from your car as well. A bear’s sense of smell is seven times stronger than a bloodhounds, even being able to smell carcasses from 20 miles away! A black bear can definitely detect that bag of chips you’ve been saving in your glove box for later! Likewise, back bears are known trash burglars. If you wake up in the morning to strewn trash across your yard, there is a good chance a critter got to your can. Some people are angered by this inconvenience, and it is valid to be upset, but it’s also important to remember that allowing a wild animal to consume your trash isn’t very healthy for them either. To combat this, a person might want to invest in a bear-proof trash can or make your own (there are several easy designs on the internet). There is also trash can cages and electric fences that can be helpful in deterring wildlife.

Another source of conflict is encountering black bears in the wild. The vast majority of these interactions end peacefully, but sometimes things can go bad if signals and circumstances are not interpreted correctly. For the most part, black bears are peaceful, shy animals that try to steer clear of people whenever possible. However, there are a few instances in which a black bear can become defensive, but surprisingly enough, mother’s protecting their young is not one of them. That’s not to say a person should go and harass a mother black bear and her cubs – all animals have their limits and such kinds of behavior put stress on the animal – but it is interesting to know that defensive mother bears are more of a grizzly bear trait, and less of a worry with black bears.

In general, many black bear attacks are instigated by hunger rather than territoriality. The majority of these attacks occur in isolated areas where bears have had little to no contact with people. Dogs are also another source of conflict. Dogs can be relentless and a fed-up bear can be defensive. Usually, black bears will not actively seek out a dog as food – they have much better and easier things to eat – but a dog that does not leave a bear alone can end up getting itself in trouble. Most black bears are frightened by dogs and want nothing to do with them. Only very, very occasionally will a bear attack a dog. When this happens and a person discovers their pet is in harm’s way, many people try to intervene, which can put them at risk if the situation is not handled properly. Banging pots and pans, spraying the animals with a hose, and, if those methods do not work, shooting a gun in the air or utilizing it, are the best options. Marching into the fight and attempting to “break it up” is perhaps the worst thing you can do. Most people are well aware that you are likely to be bit if your put yourself between two fighting dogs, so it’s probably not the best idea to put yourself between a fighting dog and a bear!

Between 1900 and 1980, 23 people were killed by black bears. Statistically, you are much more likely to be killed in a car accident or by a dog. The chance of being killed or even attacked by a black bear is incredibly slim. Should you encounter a wild black bear, the Humane Society advises to:

• Stand and face the bear directly. Never run away from or approach him.

• Make yourself look as big as possible by spreading your arms or, better yet, a coat.

• Make as much noise as possible by yelling, banging pots and pans or using other noise making devices.

• If the bear approaches and you have bear spray, spray the bear as he approaches.

• In the very rare case that a black bear does attack you, fight back (don’t play dead).

• After the bear leaves, remove whatever attracted him to the location (barbecue grill, bird feeder, pet food or garbage).

A black bear may “mock” charge a person they see as a threat. This basically means the bear pretends like they are going to attack by running towards the threat but have no real intention of doing so and stop short prior to making any contact.

In the vast majority of cases, black bears and humans can coexist swimmingly. However, the human population is growing, and with it the frequency of our wildlife interactions. The need for humans to better understand our wild animal counterparts is only going to become more important in the future. We need to give our wildlife every chance to be successful in this ever-changing world. To do so, it’s important for us to understand, learn and invest our knowledge in making inevitable human-animal interactions as seamless as possible. Black bears are an important part of ecosystems, one of North America’s largest predators, and are incredibly fascinating animals. The better we understand them, the better we can help them, and the better we can preserve and appreciate North America’s wildlife.

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Article written by Faith Paul

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