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[–] 33 points 2 years ago (5 children)

Fucking hell. My wife and I wanted to plan our next hiking trip and go to Banff, then started reading about the grizzly threat. It seemed real, and there are so many beautiful places to go, so we dropped it.

Then, about a week ago, a guy in the gym at work is telling me about his trip to Banff where they took their kids along too. I started thinking maybe we should go for it. Now I read this awful news. Suddenly it once more seems like a bad idea.

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  • [–] 9 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Bear attacks are incredibly rare. Bears are usually docile creatures and don't want anything to do with humans.

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  • [–] 31 points 2 years ago

    Interesting editorial choice to stick a photo of a sick sunrise in the middle of an article about a bear mauling.

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  • [–] 15 points 2 years ago (18 children)

    "only 14% of grizzly bear attacks are fatal" seems like this just downplays the danger. If a product on the shelves had "only 14%" chance of causing cancer people would be livid.

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  • [–] 33 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Considering bears are 8ft long 900lbs killing machines an 86% survival rate is actually pretty fucking good.

    Also if you're dumb enough to downplay the danger involving grizzly bears for any reason you're not going to live long anyway

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  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Pretty sure that is another way of saying 86% of people can successfully play dead.

    Remember folks: If it's black, fight back. If it's brown, lie down. If it's white, goodnight.

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  • [+] 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)
  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago

    There's actually an interesting statistic where bear attacks from black bears are more likely to happen from the males, whereas attacks from grizzlies are more likely to happen from the females.

    Black bear cubs have a strategy to run up the nearest tree when threatened and the mama bear guards the base of the tree rather than going on the offensive, so you are able to back away and avoid an attack a lot easier than a female grizzly, since grizzly cubs don't instinctually climb trees when threatened but inside rely on the mother to defend them by going on the offensive.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Well also if your spine is cracked but your alive, its not fatal.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    If my spine is cracked I'm probably not making it out of the back country to get the medical care I need in order to not die.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago

    I'd think in general, "just a broken back" would not be an immediate death sentence (even if it's results in you being paralyzed and unable to effectively save yourself). However I also don't see it being likely that's all you'd suffer from a grizzly attack. If they've broken your back, you probably have one or two other injuries.

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  • [–] 11 points 2 years ago (17 children)

    See, stuff like this is why I stay inside. The bears can have the outdoors.

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  • [–] 14 points 2 years ago (15 children)

    The bears can share the outdoors with people. This story is light on details but bear spray is considered the best defense against bear.

    I've camped many times in bear country and slept in a tent. I kept bear spray with me at all times and fortunately had no problems...knock on wood. Most of the time it is OK but you have to be intelligent about it. Don't leave food out, carry bear spray, stay away from bear as much as possible, etc.

    Also, there are plenty of great outdoor places you can go that don't have bear. Not saying they're risk free, almost nowhere is risk free. But there are "safer" parks, etc. (not "safe", just "safer").

    I would never want to be only stuck inside. There's too much amazing to see outside.

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  • [–] 7 points 2 years ago (5 children)

    Bear balls! That's what my wife and I use (along with bear spray and a 10mm). Little jingly balls you hook into your backpack. Now just walking makes a continuous noise.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Do bears not like bells? Wouldn't it draw them to you (like a dinner bell)?

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  • [–] 13 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Most wild animals don't want random interactions with strange noises. They will avoid as much as possible. Grizzlies and black bears don't usually "hunt". I'm unsure how effective it would be with polar bears or if it would draw them in. But your prep for going to an area with polar bears should be not going to the area with polar bears.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

    What's the difference between black and brown bear poop?

    spoilerOne has fruit stones in it, the other one contains bear bells.

    Edit: it makes sense to make oneself heard, the worst thing that can happen is quietly walking around a corner and there's a bear with two cubs close by.

    Bear bells are a bit annoying and clapping or just talking to each other also works. Humans are not considered bait for bears and they will usually try to avoid you.

    There are good books about avoiding bear attacks when in the backcountry.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (8 children)

    Do you spray it directly at the bear? Or is it a kind of repellent that you spray on yourself/your tent? ETA: Thanks for your answers!

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  • [–] 6 points 2 years ago (4 children)

    Never. Ever. Spray bear spray around your camp. There's been plenty of incidents where that's what drew them in and got people hurt/killed. It's like cooking around your tent, they have to investigate the smells.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    Really? Got a link for info about that?

    I wouldn't think you'd want to spray pepper spray anytime you're not using it for defense. It usually blows around and there's a good chance you'll get some on yourself.

    I would only spray it if I had to.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 years ago*

    a shotgun is probably the only thing that would've saved them. or, just choosing not to hike in bear country at this time of year. This is when the more desperate bears will eat anything that moves. They aren't picky, and playing dead will not save you if a bear is extremely hungry, as they are in drought conditions. just a tragic reminder that bears can and will kill, and eat you under certain circumstances.

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