Surviving Bear Encounters: Expert Tips from a 22-Year Canadian Rockies Wildlife Videographer
In this informative and essential video, 22-year Canadian Rockies resident and wildlife videographer Les McDonald shares his expert tips and strategies for staying safe in bear country. With years of experience filming and observing these majestic creatures, Les offers practical advice for hikers, campers, and anyone exploring the wilderness of Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, and Yoho National Parks. From understanding bear behavior and communication, this video covers everything you need to know to avoid dangerous encounters and enjoy the great outdoors safely. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a first-time visitor to the Canadian Rockies, this video is a must-watch for anyone looking to stay safe and respect the wildlife of these beautiful Canadian Rockies destinations. Don't miss out on these valuable insights from a wildlife videography expert!
Informative Links:
Parks Canada Bear Safety Guide: parks.canada.ca/pn-np/mtn/our...
Canadian Rockies Travel Planner: insiderstravelguidecanada.com/
Bear attacks are sooo rare, proceeds to tell the story of a bear charging at him 3 times in one event. I think I would crap in my pants, then die of a heart attack.
LOL. In the moment you'll be surprised how calm you can remain when your life depends on it. Panic would have likely made this situation a deadly one. Thankfully, we both found a peaceful exit.
@@InsidersTravelGuideCanada I am glad you've kept your calm.
I live in bear country but had not heard all your tips before. I made sure to place them first and foremost in my memory. Thank you.
I'm glad you found some helpful information in here. :) And thank you.
God bless this family.
You answered all the questions I had. Thank you so much for making this video. Very informative 😊
I'm glad it was helpful. I hope it makes you feel safer and more at ease in the Rockies if you go there.
@@InsidersTravelGuideCanada I don't have any plans to visit currently but I would love to when I have the money and for the record yes, I feel much safer doing so with the knowledge from your video.
This is beyond good - it's fabulous. I live in bear country and this video is The Most succinct and professional advice I've ever heard on bear safety. Well done!
Wow I'll take that as a big compliment thank you!!!
Merci pour le partage de vos expériences. Cela me sera fort utile pour mes randonnées au mois d août prochain sur le Brazeau loop et à Glacier National Park. Thanks a lot !....
Great PResentation! Thank you!
Why thank you! I hope it was helpful and informative.
Remember the bear safety rhyme if it decides to attack: “If it's brown, lay down." "If it's black, fight back." "If it's white, say goodnight"
If it's brown, my pants will turn brown.
Thank you.
Nice video. I'm surprised you didn't talk about bear spray.
Bear spray? Do your homework. Ha ha! Do you know how many idiots have been attacked or killed in bear country?
This is great tips indeed though I read many incidents that hikers, campers, even hunters got eaten by either black and grizzly bears due to their predatory behavior. Very scary
Oh that's just terrible that you have been mislead by these completely invalid representations about bear behavior. They are omnivors, with the majority of thier diet being vegetarian. Can you site these articles so we can look into who wrote these stories? It's terrible to see these magnificent, peaceful and wild creatures being painted in the wrong light. They deserve so much more respect, as do you. These sorts of stories absolutely insult your intelligence.
@@InsidersTravelGuideCanadaAlthough bear attacks are rare, there have certainly been maulings and fatalities - many of them unprovoked. I realize you spend a lot of time in the back country, but I find your advice to be over simplified. Perhaps you are catering to city people. Two friends of my husband’s were killed by a grizzly while field dressing an elk they had shot. We just spent 2 weeks in Banff and Jasper, and the park information advises hikers to carry bear spray and know how to use it. If you are in bear country, you should carry bear spray at the very least as well as a knife, as it is always best to be prepared. There were two bad maulings where each man survived because he had a knife - both grizzlies - one near Bella Coola, and one in the Alberta foothills. My husband has hunted and fished in the back country his whole life and never had a problem with a bear, but he takes it very seriously and is always prepared.
Thanks!!!
You are more than welcome. I hope it was helpful.
Great advice!
Great tips on bear safety. It’s important to always be aware while out on the trail.
Absolutely!
I wouldn't put myself in bear country at all! I can watch videos of other idiots wandering in bear country. I want to live!
Good stuff!
Did I miss something? I heard nothing about bear spray or carrying a large caliber revolver. I never hike in bear country without them.
Can you do a video about cougars. I live in Cochrane and heard one about 200 meters away from me and I was also in a ring of animals being chased by one (it could of also been a black bear) but since that they’ve been my worse fear along with other large predators
If you're in a bar or bowling alley, for example, and cougars start bothering you, just say no and that you're happily married. She'll wander off and bother someone else.
Alain, that is a great idea. This is a completely understandable fear, and worthy of a video to help with those fears.
@@321southtube 😂Like it, hilarious. Thank you. You made my day
I wouldn't put myself in bear country at all! I can watch videos of other idiots wandering in bear country. I want to live!
I am used to black bear encounters, but grizzly it’s an other cup of tea, there’s no grizzly in Quebec. I’m about to solo trek the Donjek route in Yukon and I’m learning about grizzly behavior for eventual encounters. Thanks for this very informative video
Be careful, not only is Brown Bear behaviour different from Black Bear behavior - a distinction this video totally fails to make, but Brown Bears in the Yukon may behave significantly differently from Brown Bears in more densely populated areas, and most of the advice you will find is optimized for Grizzlies in areas like Jasper, Banff, and Yellowstone, where the bears get used to occasionally seeing people, consequently being less likely to act in surprised and nervous ways during an encounter. Since surprise and stress are the main factors that tend to make an encounter with a Grizzly dangerous, in a remote area like Yukon, it is even more important to diligently take all the usual precautions, doing all you can to avoid surprises, and staying as far away from Grizzlies as possible in case you see any.
Please dont learn about it, just stay away.
@@DeeShee-eo1up trek is done. I survived.
@@TheCanadian888 Glad to hear that, hiking in the Yukon must be an awesome experience. On the other hand, i guess nobody is surprised that you survived. There isn't anything wrong with hiking in grizzly territory, in particular when you do your homework in advance to educate yourself and behave properly. The advice of "just stay away" feels more geared towards polar bears than towards grizzlies.
Gee, let's see ... no one could get me in bear country.
Glad to hear fighting back is an option. Might not prevail, but that bear is getting 10 years of martial arts experience on his nose.
Do you take bear spray into the wild with you? Would you use it when a bear charges you? We all take bearspray when we go out hiking or mountainbiking, never used though and had a few close bear encounters here in the kootenays
I wouldn't go into bear country at all!
yes yes, of course ANTI-BEAST SPRAY... .... when you are in a situation where you already need to somehow PROTECT yourself FROM AN ANIMAL - SAVING A LIFE - then the SPRAY helps 100%, but only AFTER THE BEAR BREAKS YOUR NECK...
Nice video 👍 les
very nice and useful video, thank you. is there any guideline as to which foods to bring on your hike? Is there any sort of food or snack that would not be recommended to carry?
Thank you. Hmm. Sounds like another video! I would bring trail mix (nuts and raisins), granola bars, beef jerky on occasion. Make sure you have lots of water and don't eat snacks that are too salty or full of sugar like chips or candy. Dates and almonds are a wicked couple of snacks to have and good energy with nutritional value for sure. (Don't bring fish snacks like sardines) That being said, when mountain biking for distance, I'd bring a pop tart with me (I know, no nutritional value LOL) for some quick and slow release energy in case I felt myself losing steam. i.e. Rundle loop from Banff to Canmore, up to Spray Lakes, and then back to Banff, all in a wonderful loop around Mount Rundle. I'd always have my camel back for that because it was a lot of easy to access water in a small backpack. Make sure your foods are all in resealable bags so you aren't creating too much food odor or making your pack smell like a buffet hee hee.
Your question sounds as if you wonder whether you can select your food such that it is less attractive to bears. No, that is not going to work. Whatever food you bring must always be stored safely overnight - either in bearproof containers provided by the campside or by hanging if from a bearpole or, failing all that, by *properly* hanging it from tree(s). Bears may eat anything from tree bark, some kinds of leaves, roots, tubers, flowers, berries and fruits, nuts, grubs, fish, small mammals, carrion (no matter whether it's fresh or seriously rotten and full of maggots) and they rarely get sick from whatever they eat, even when it's badly rotten. A bear will like almost anything that a human might consider acceptable, and much more besides. That talk about avoiding bear attractants applies to what you plant in your garden, not to which food to take on a hike. In a nutshell, if you live in Canmore, do not plant an apple tree in your backward (because that would attract bears into town for the harvest) - but taking an apple along for your hike? Sure, no problem with that, just store it properly.
@@IngoSchwarze thank both of you for your answers. I was not clear, we’d only be doing day hikes, so no camping or cooking, then no need for bearproof containers. I just wanted to see if there would be any food that should be avoided to take, but I understand that bears would gladly eat anything we eat.
How did you feel with your first encounter? I am terrified to go in the woods these days
I wouldn't put myself in bear country at all! I can watch videos of other idiots wandering in bear country. I want to live!
Hi there. Very clear video. Thanks. I like the whistle idea. You didn't mention bear spray, lots of guides say to have it, is it really necessary?
Hey thanks so much. I'm glad the video was clear. I may do a video specifically on Bear Spray. The jury is out on how effective this is and if you even need it. After 22 years in the back country I can tell you that I never used it and I'm still here. I'd say if you really want to spend the money on it, that I'd only take it into the real backcountry where you are further away from other humans. On most marked trails there's no point as there are enough humans to keep bears away. But personally, I think it doesn't matter either way. If it makes you feel better by all means carry it. Just make sure you are really clear on how to use it and understand how dangerous it can be if you don't.
I know of at least one bear attack (hunter) where spray was discharged on a charging Griz at about 10 feet, the hunter got hit and mauled, but within the first couple of seconds the effects kicked in and grizzly got mad and disappeared - the guy survived. Have also see it work in multiple videos on curious bears. Won't stop every bear in every circumstance and isn't needed in most encounters (if you have the confidence to put on a show of strength), but when a bear is in locked onto you in predator mode (admittedly very rare), nothing short of spray or lead has a chance of stopping it@@InsidersTravelGuideCanada
good job
im pulling my smith and wesson 10mm beforeI play dead Im not laying down NO WAY
“If it’s black fight back, if it’s brown lay down, if it’s white goodnight “
I think this only applies for bear attacks, not encounters, the difference could mean life or death. You certainly don’t want to go charging into battle if you see a black bear and it’s not attacking yet.
This didn’t work well. I still got shot.
Hugh Glass was lying down and he was filleted like a fish.
@@neinsager3236and he miraculously survived 🤕
It's it black you're on crack. If its brown flush it down. If its white its right. If its yellow let it mellow. If it blue screw you. If its red you're dead. Etc...
Outstanding video. Can you talk a little bit about bear spray and a .44 magnum?
yes yes, of course ANTI-BEAST SPRAY... .... when you are in a situation where you already need to somehow PROTECT yourself FROM AN ANIMAL - SAVING A LIFE - then the SPRAY helps 100%, but only AFTER THE BEAR BREAKS YOUR NECK...
Thanks Les for good tips, what about the Bear spray, does it work? I have watched so many videos and they recommend to carry bear spray just in case. 🙃
Hey Nadeem, bear spray is something I'll talk about in another video. I don't think you'll ever need bear spray if you follow these tips. 22 Years in the Rockies and I never carried bear spray. There are many opinions as to whether it works or not.
I aint taking no chances going into bear country. What's the point?
yes yes, of course ANTI-BEAST SPRAY... .... when you are in a situation where you already need to somehow PROTECT yourself FROM AN ANIMAL - SAVING A LIFE - then the SPRAY helps 100%, but only AFTER THE BEAR BREAKS YOUR NECK...
@@susiearviso3032 The point is that bear country also happens to be some of the most incredibly beautiful country you'll ever experience in your life. Your chances of getting killed in a car crash on the way to bear country FAR, FAR exceed your chances of being killed by a bear once you get there.
Would you recommend cowbells or such for solo hiker. Especially if hiking early in the morning
I'd say it can't hurt but these bells aren't as good as a good "Whoop whoop!" But if it makes you feel comfortable, and you can handle the constant jingle go for it. I never used them personally. However, it does let other hikers know you are coming around the corner!
😂Park rangers are advising hikers and campers in national parks to be alert for bears and take extra precautions to avoid an encounter. They advise park visitors to wear little bells on their clothes so they make noise when hiking. The bell noise allows bears to hear them coming from a distance, so they won’t be startled by a hiker accidentally sneaking up on them, which might cause a bear to charge. Visitors are told they should also carry a pepper spray can just in case they encounter a bear. Spraying the pepper into the air will irritate the bear’s sensitive nose and it will run away. It is also a good idea to keep an eye out for fresh bear droppings so you have an idea if bears are in the area. People should be able to recognise the difference between black bear and grizzly bear scat. Black bear droppings are smaller and often contain berries, leaves, and possibly bits of fur. Grizzly bear droppings tend to contain small bells and smell of pepper.
@@janice8925 Rocks that have been freshly turned over are another sign of bears. They look for worms, grubs, insects, and the like.
Oh my. If you are hiking alone, do you think music through just a phone or a small travel speaker would help?
the only time I was close to a black bear was one sniffing around my back door at 7 am in October 2015. It was also the only time ever I was carrying two pails of honey to deliver to a friend. How lucky. Anyway my wife and I watched it from our verandah as it stood up to check out the bird feeders. I said “hi, bear” and it turned and loped away. A positive encounter I’d say.
That was “the king of grizzlies” at 2:13 I think. King Brutus.
Is there any issue using bear spray?
I hear they like their human flesh spicy so - no.
I'm surprised you didn't mention bear spray. Is it not worth anything?
Good question and a common one. I never carried bear spray. I feel like if you take the right precautions you'll never need it. But that being said, I plan to do a video on bear spray.
Can we blow whistle as we walk along signs bear path. Thanks
Yes you can!
Really rare for bear encounter , well , not for me , three -four time a year from where i live . North of Canada .
Step one, unholster bear mace. Step two, remove safety tab. Step three, repeat with second bear mace. Step four, "BAD BEAR!" and spray
Ya bad bear always works,also your not getting your cookies tonight works as well.
Great video, but I don’t think you mentioned bear spray, is that not effective?
I'm actually working on a video about bear spray. Personally, I never used it or needed it after 22 years in the National Parks. There are varying oppinions about it's effectiveness. However, my main intention in my video was to show how to avoid negative bear encounters so you don't need bear spray. Or think you need it. I think without it, you tend to act with even more waryness and with it, you tend to not take as much action as you could to reduce the risks. I say it's a lot easier to practice fire safety and not have a fire, than to have to try and put out a forest fire after you start it.
I've seen videos of people using bear spray and all it did was piss the bear off.
What about commercial campgrounds like KOA in the States? I mean, there are over 50 pitches and everyone is cooking over an open fire. That must attract every bear in the area
Surving a mauling is still a horrendous experience. One I don't want my loved ones or I to go through. I will always have bear spray and a firearm in bear country (wear firearms are legal to carry).
"If you do see a bear, you have to ask yourself 2 questions." 1. What have I done to my live-in mother-in-law to deserve this? 2. Did I put down the toilet seat before I left the house?
LOL!
What about loud continuous whooshing noises, like twirling a long nylon sock with a weight in the end over your head like a helo rotor? I heard that years ago. Maybe it’s for wolves. PS you didn’t mention bear or pepper spray : is that ineffective?
Bear spray isn't always effective.
Do you fight if a Grizzly keeps attacking?
No never, say time out.
Probably yes. Last choice. Preferably you have a knife. Go for the eyes. There's a true story of a mauled hiker who stabbed a grizzly many times & got badly hurt, but he got both eyes. The grizzly bled to death & was located ~1km from the attack as it staggered around blind. The hiker survived & was interviewed on the CBC; he was lucky to survive.
If it's a predatory attack, just make sure of one thing, That your faster than the slowest person in your group!!!!!!!!
I’m Australian. I live in the country and spend a tonne of time outdoors doing photography and hiking. I’m coming to the Rockies. I’m terrified of bears, cougars, wolves, coyotes, etc, etc, etc. I’m in my 50s. I’ve only ever seen a shark at the beach once, but it was way out and the lifeguards evacuated the water. I’ve never seen a deadly snake in the wild, or a deadly spider. And, if I did, there’s no need to whip out a spray or consider if it’s going to attack. Snakes and spiders here don’t chase you. There’s no need to stand your ground or anything like that. If you do see a snake, you just walk away, give it space and all is good. There’s nothing like your big deadly animals here. Snakes don’t somedays decide they’re going to attack you instead. You have to really interfere with or deliberately attack the snake yourself before it will lunge at you. We can camp without worry. Hike without worry. Enjoy the outdoors and fishing and photography without worry. As I said, no need for any sprays or all that. I don’t get why people from Canada and USA focus on Australia when the animals they have are way more frightening in the wild and way more likely to engage in a threatening encounter with humans.
You forgot Saltwater Crocodiles or maybe a big pack of starving dingoes!!!
@@jamespmullin21753 only dingo I ever saw outside a zoo was domesticated as a pet. Never seen one in the wild. Fraser Island apparently has a few but they are more likely to attack humans that are careless. They’re not huge though. Maybe like a coyote. Estuarine crocodiles (that’s the correct name rather than salt water as they can be in either fresh or salt water in the coastal rivers) don’t really bother you unless you’re doing something foolish. We lived ten years in the far north of Australia (that’s the only area where they are and we don’t see them in the wild below the Tropic of Capricorn) and only ever saw them when we went on viewing tours. You just know that there are places to avoid at certain times of the year, and things you just don’t do or places you don’t swim. Dingos and crocodiles hardly compare to the range of bears, wolves, cougars/mountain lions/panthers /cougars and charging bison in the USA, especially because dingos and crocodiles are in specific areas of Australia. A pack of starving dingos… never seen such a thing in my life. Dingos are actually very shy animals. Like all animals, don’t be stupid around them and they will leave you alone. I still argue though that we have nothing as dangerous as America and Canada when it comes to huge animals that can chase you down without warning.
Don't have to worry about wolves, coyotes or cougars. They will avoid you. Bears on the other hand will eat you alive. They don't kill before starting to eat. Make noise, store food properly and away from you, and if you have bear spray, don't spray it around your camp site. It will just attract them. Happy camping.
I didn’t know that, thanks. I’ve been afraid of bears since I watched at age 13 the movie “Grizzly” in ‘76 but it never stopped me from hiking in a national park, at least in and east of Eastern Ontario. I make sure to have a jingle bell on my wrist, whistle a tune etc. and hope the bear isn’t deaf.
Stay away from bear country, idiots.
Can bears smell food in canned goods that aren't opened yet? (Like canned tuna fish)?
All this is great info but why or how someone could go into bear country (especially grizzly country) without bear spray I have no idea. Some people will say "Well it's just a deterrent and it's no guarantee it will work" well neither are seat belts but I would sure rather have mine on in an accident. I think it should be a huge fine if you are caught in grizzly country without a current (not expired) bear spray. Not for your life, if you are stupid enough to walk into their home without it you take your chances but I think it's unfair they have to put down a bear when simple bear spray could have saved both of your lives. Be smart for both you and the amazing bears.....carry bear spray always!!!
I was in the home of these bears for over 22 years and it worked out pretty well. I find that using my brains, common sense and respectful behavior helped me to avoid negative encounters, and helped me walk away from a surprise encounter unscathed. And many, many people I know who spent even more time than me in the backcountry had the same experience.
yes yes, of course ANTI-BEAST SPRAY... .... when you are in a situation where you already need to somehow PROTECT yourself FROM AN ANIMAL - SAVING A LIFE - then the SPRAY helps 100%, but only AFTER THE BEAR BREAKS YOUR NECK...
Not everyone has 22 years of experience, which it would take much of it to really know what to do if a person hasn't been in a bear encounter. Bear spray is mandatory by all park rangers in Yellowstone and they know what they are doing also. I have backpacked into bear country, but would never recommend to anyone to not carry bear spray. @@InsidersTravelGuideCanada
You failed to mention "Carry Bear Spray with you" and know how to use it. Bear spray is your best defence if a bear continues to approach after you have tried talking it down. Much better than playing dead.
Bear spray is not your best defense period! A 12 gauge with slugs is your best defense. But of course guns are very bad.
@@matthewcauthorn9731 Firearms and hunting are not permitted in national parks. Even bear bangers are restricted in Banff National Park.
what about bear spray? I have heard conflicting information on this
bear spray is a non-lethal bear deterrent to be used before threat escalation comparable to CS gas usage, if you becomes its prey and you want to survive, you better have a plan B ready to execute kzhead.info/sun/h75ueK6AkWqDma8/bejne.html and if you are not certain, just stay away from potential area
yes yes, of course ANTI-BEAST SPRAY... .... when you are in a situation where you already need to somehow PROTECT yourself FROM AN ANIMAL - SAVING A LIFE - then the SPRAY helps 100%, but only AFTER THE BEAR BREAKS YOUR NECK...
I'll always carry a rifle accompanied by 2 Volkodav dogs.
Not in Banff or Jasper National Park you won't LOL.
@@InsidersTravelGuideCanada then I don't go there hahah
Thanks for the Tip. But next time I am goig to bring with me Spray & a Loud Hornet.
No use of bear spray?
Thanks for the video. However, it is very important to highlight how to act according to the bear's species (e.g. you do not want to play dead with a black bear).
MaVerick, you make a good point and there's a very good reason I have not included that distinction in this video. After 22 years in the Rockies I always used the analogy, Brown lie down, black fight back. However, Parks Canada has officially changed direction on this advice and I'm inclined to agree with their messaging. For new visitors especially, it's much more important to understand Bear Behavior than get mixed up about what to do with what color of bear. Most people hear this poem and can't remember if it's lie down for the brown, or the black, or whatever. It's a lot easier to remember and react to behavior and circumstances than anything.
@@InsidersTravelGuideCanada Besides, distinguishing the two species is much harder than many people think. Yes, sometimes one single property, e.g. the shoulder hump or the long claws, can be clearly seen, and that single property alone may then allow a positive identification, but often enough, it's not that obvious on first sight and you need to look for the face profile (which can be hard to judge from the front), the length and shape of the ears (which can be misleading when the fur is wet), or colour contrasts between the fur just above the paws and near the shoulders (if the lower part of the leg is significantly darker than the shoulders, that hints at a Brown Bear). In such cases, it is sometimes necessary to combine multiple properties for the identification, and even then, in some cases, especially with young bears, your experience may simply not be sufficient for a correct identification. Consequently, i will only follow advice for black bears when i'm absolutely sure it definitely is a black bear, and default to advice for brown bears in case of doubt. Misidentifying a brown bear as black is significantly more dangerous than the other way round. The only situation where misidentifying a black blear as brown might be dangerous is when it keeps actively stalking you - and not only is that exceedingly rare, but you are also very likely to sooner or later realize your mistake simply because a brown bear won't show that kind of behaviour in the first place. All that said, i still think that in those cases where i am very sure regarding the species, slightly adapting my response reduces risk. For example, when it's very clearly a black bear but doesn't react to my initial retreat by also turning away, i'll change tack relatively early to behave assertively like waving my arms and yelling at it, hence not encouraging it to approach any closer when defusing the situation by retreating doesn't work right away. On the other hand, when i'm sure it's a brown bear, i'll skip the part about waving arms and yelling (which can go badly wrong with a Grizzly if it is in a bad mood) and go straight from retreating and talking in a calm, soothing voice to using my bear spray at the optimal distance, if it keeps approaching. Either way, these are details, and learning the basics about bear behaviour that apply to both species must come first, no doubt about that.
This is great except it does not mention bear spray and also I've always been told never to play dead with a black bear. The year I lived in Jasper the only animal that ever charged me was a wapiti. My boyfriend had antagonised during rutting season then took and left me to face incoming antlers. I applied bear safety because no one had taught me any elk safety beyond don't antagonize them during rutting season. But talking calmly and standing my ground worked well. It stopped just short of impaling me then wandered off. Afterward my boyfriend told me I was crazy for standing up to a charging elk. But I had no choice, my fleeing boyfriend had backed me up into a fence.
You are right about the black bear advice. I'm making this more behavior oriented so people don't get mixed up but our "Locals Mantra" is Brown lay down and Black fight back.
You have to differentiate between black and brown bears. The human reactions to each bear are different.
Don't punch a brown bear. Don't fight for your life. Play dead.
I used to think exactly the same thing but Parks Canada, and the advice has evolved. The most important thing to do is read the situation. I agree that there is a big difference between how Grizzly bears and black bears behave but I'm inclined to agree with how Parks Canada has decided to educate on this. This is especially important to keep simple for new visitors so that they don't get themselves confused. Thank you for sharing your wisdom though I agree. But at the end of the day, black or brown, if you play dead and the attack becomes predatory, the only thing you have left to do is fight for your life rather than just give it up. At least that's my feeling.
Bear advice experts just haven't been eaten yet.
always carry a small plastic bag because the bear will be more distracted by it than it will be of you. cautionary note don't stick around and watch the bear eat the plastic bag this is something that you don't want to see.
You do that I will carry a firearm
And you would shoot the bear like a moron ?
Does anyone actually know someone who has successfully used the play dead option with a grizzly?
For your bear encounter story; did you have bear spray with you?
No. I never carry bear spray.
If the attacks are so rare, why do we see attacks all the time
We don't see attacks all of the time. We just don't. Heck, 22 years in the Rockies, actually in the backcountry, I would know. Don't let rumors ruin the reality. :)
If car accidents are rare, why are there so many videos of them? Well duh, videos of people driving safely are kind of boring. In the same way the news media doesn't feature stories about people who didn't see a bear. It's called selection bias.
2:18 The "no eye contact" has been refuted by Dr. Tom Smith, wildlife biologist. kzhead.info/sun/ZK-Qg65rp5uJmYU/bejne.html (starts at 26:05)
My dad always told my brother and I to wear saggy jeans tied up below our butts and to never tie our shoes in bear country but now I'm questioning the reasoning behind that advice
LOL. The general rule is just be faster than the person behind you! But I jest. Follow my advice in the video, and follow your instincts. Trust them.
Don't disagree with anything you say . . . . . . . but I doubt I could stay calm in the case of encountering an aggressive bear.
Nicholas you would be surprised but when you are in the situation your better instincts take over. As long as you know what to do. I was amazed at how I was able to remain calm. (But I was terrified!)
Be safe bears
Lay down...slather some mayo on yourself and place a heaping serving of potato salad next to you. If he starts eating you... don't scream as this makes for a bad dining experience for the bear. Good advice...
😅😅😅
Never walk alone ,always walk with another person in bear country ,that way when you see a bear 🐻, you dont have to out run the bear ,you just have to outrun the other person
Did you have bear spray on you?
Actually no. I never carried it. But that's just a personal choice. I don't think it's necessary. But that's my personal choice again. If it makes you feel safer it can't hurt.
Just carry bear spray. Can’t believe he didn’t mentioned that.
Bear spray?
And I'm giving one more important tips that's never ever try to visit these bear country instead go to visit 1000 of places in the beautiful world
NEVER play dead with a black bear! If you play dead with a black bear you soon won’t be playing anymore. Playing dead works with a startled or threatened brown (Grizzly) bear, once they feel that the threat has been neutralized, they will likely leave. Of course, if they see you as a food source, you’re pretty much toast….but fight anyway because you just might be the exception!!
Is this an april fools video?
I'm not stupid enough to travel on foot in bear country. I can watch videos.
NEXT CHATTER: ...give a lecture to the bear And after listening to it, he will turn around and go “home” to work on his homework....
Only rare if it doesn't happen to you. Only rare if you hike in town... in Illinois.
This advice goes against what professional biologists who have studied bear behavior and past bear attacks for decades. Look at some of the training available by organizations like NOLS and wildlife biologists at places like BYU. Good luck and happy hiking.
The only thing I see that is "rare" about a bear encounter is the way he likes to eat his human!
Damn, I cannot imagine to play dead.
Bear safety, do not walk where bears walk. The bear is looking for food and your it
LOL. Where's the fun in that? :)
Bears rarely hunt people. They act on instinct, and we don't look or sound like deer. They might see us as a kind of bear, and they tend to avoid each other. If you act like prey they will treat you like prey.
Highest body counts? Conservative hunters or Liberal hikers?
This is why I'm saying in Jamaica. No dangerous alligator is our only dangerous animal and most Jamaicans have never seen one
I think that's terrible advice. Bear spay....flash bangers???
The safer way when you go hiking in bear territory is to carry bear spray or a gun with you.
Sucks to not have the second amendment. I’d rather shoot than sit there and try to fist fight a bear 🐻
Well, then a National Park is probably not for you. There's plenty of places you can pack your pistol, but thankfully, our Canadian National Parks will never be one of them.
@@InsidersTravelGuideCanada lmfao I don’t plan on visiting communist Canadian national parks, you go ahead and play dead while getting mauled- I’ll pack my pistol 🤣 let’s see which one of us is dinner
Yes guns are very,very bad
Carry on crown land which is the majority of land. Bear spray is not 100%. My uncle was mauled to death my a grizzly on the 80s. Always carried both bear spray and his 30-06. Used the bear spray on the bear and didn't deter it one bit. The bear began charging and he put 6 shots in it of 220 grain with his 30-06 and he was a good shot. Killed his fair share of brown bears. Still after 6 shots the bear still killed him. I always tell ppl if they're going to pack in grizzly country to pack "enough gun" 30-06 sure has killed grizzly but is not enough gun. It isn't a stopping caliber. You want at minimum a 300. I'd say you want at least a 338 win mag. A 338 win mag because that cartridge was designed specifically to take down big bears brown beats kodiak and polar. With 4000 ft pounds of energy at the muzzle with a 250 grain projectile.
Bear do not understand English.
Keep your Joe Biden poster at the ready to flash and intimidate the bear ''w
Big and aggressive toward the black bear but not grizzly.
That's pretty much it. I have a poem, "Black fight back, Brown lay down." Thankfully never had to try it out, but I was close that one day.