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ind of attacker, bear, cougar or human.I do a quick check each time I put the pepper spray canister on my belt to make sure I remember exactly how to draw it. I look to make sure I understand how to pull off the safety clip. I check to notice which way the nozzle points when I pull the safety. It’s just like a firearm, you want to know exactly what you’re doing with it!After I prepare my defenses, I forget about them while I practice staying aware on the trail. It wouldn’t do to be walking around in a fog and trip trap right up on a black bear’s baby cub because I was hiking with my head up my butt. You can get lost in thought wondering about how Spider Man’s new suit is cheating because now he’s basically Iron Spider, so don’t even consider that while in the wilderness.Mind on task. This will prevent you from tripping over a root, from missing out on the great scenery, and from stepping on dog poop some uncouth dog owner didn’t pick up. And a side effect of situational awareness is, you might see the wildlife before it sees you.<h2 id="2da9">Bare Facts About Bears</h2>1. Bears have poor eyesight: this is not true. They have vision similar to our own, and better night vision than us. They can see you just fine2. A bear that rears up on its hind legs is about to attack: not true. A bear stands up to see a little farther and to scope things out. But it is intimidating!3. Bears can’t climb trees: untrue. Maybe once a bear grows so big that the tree can’t hold them up anymore, but then they can just knock the tree down. Hiding in a tree is a terrible idea–and most trees are really hard to climb for us humans, anyway.4. Bears are carnivores that need meat to survive: false. I see bears by the side of the road every spring, eating grass after they come out of hibernation. They are omnivorous, just like humans. In places with thick alfalfa or other rich crops planted by humans, bears will chow down on this stuff. However, they do like a side of meat with their veggies!5. Guns are better than Pepper Spray: definitely not true. According to statistics, your chance of injury doubles if you shoot at a bear with bullets instead of using pepper spray. That’s right, your gun can get you killed. Do you want a

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wounded, angry bear, or a bear that can’t see or breathe properly because he has pepper in his face? Which one will still be interested in fighting? Which one can you successfully run away from?6. Bears can’t run downhill: untrue. Bears can run well in any direction, and at about 60 kilometers per hour. Good luck outrunning a bear. If you have pepper spray, stand your ground and use it. If the bear isn’t charging (it is extremely unlikely to charge) then slowly back away and leave the area without running.7. If you are attacked, play dead: wrong move most of the time. Playing dead might work if a mother grizzly bear is defending her cubs. In any other circumstance, if a physical attack is made by a bear, you need to fight like a cornered badger! You need to punch, kick, yell, head butt, whatever you have in you! But you had your pepper spray ready to use, right? Did you already give the bear a blast in the face with the air horn? Why are you using fists when you have tools like these?If you are camping, hang your food at night. About the dumbest thing you could do is to sleep with your food. If a bear is coming around your campsite, he’s looking for a snack. Got some tasty hot dogs, bacon, oatmeal, coffee grounds, or whatever aromatic foods with you, and in your tent? You might get a visitor. This is common sense, right?<h2 id="332a">While Camping, Food Attracts Bears</h2>I like to cook any food at least 100 meters (yards) from where I sleep. Then I hang my food about 100 meters past that, where I can see it if possible. Any bear that comes around will be over there.So far, I’ve never had anything bother me at night other than a chip monk, which did startle me, but I thought I could probably take him if I had to. Luckily, he didn’t charge, although he did rear up on his hind legs more than once.And lastly, don’t feed bears. Feeding wildlife gets them really interested in you. Then they hang around like deadbeat relatives looking for handouts. Except instead of sleeping on your couch, drinking all your beer or asking to borrow your car, they might just reach out and try to take any remaining food you have. You don’t want a bear going into your pack for himself.Got any good bear stories? I would love to hear them!</article></body>

Believing These 7 Myths About Bears Might Lead To Your Doom

Goldilocks had a few facts wrong

The girl shoved open the door and went right in as if she belonged there. “Wow, what a mess. I thought this was a bear house, but it’s more like a pigsty!” Her long golden locks rubbed against the dirt ceiling of the den and she shuddered when she saw the cobwebs.

She approached the kitchen area and saw what she thought was porridge. Goldilocks took a whiff and decided it was more likely puke or something. She had been hungry, but not anymore. She could wait until she found the next McDummald’s.

There wasn’t a single chair in the entire joint. “WTF! Don’t bears ever sit down?” she exclaimed. This was the worst bed and breakfast ever.

She surveyed the sleeping area with disdain. With the scent of rotten bedding and mildew, it was very uninviting. None of it was just right. With a huff, Goldilocks left the bear’s den and went to find human lodgings. She would only give them one star in the review.

What Do You Know About Bears?

There are a lot of misconceptions about bears. If you are going where bears live, it’s a good idea to know a few things about them. I spend a lot of time hiking and running in their home territory, so I do the best I can to be prepared.

One thing I don’t do is wear stupid little bells when I go out on a trail. I personally find these super annoying and they ruin my day. The usefulness of them isn’t certain, no one can tell you for sure if they even work. Talking, singing or whistling will let the bear know just as well as some crappy little bell.

I know that if I hear a fellow hiker’s bells, I will do whatever I have to to avoid them. I will walk faster or slower, take a break to let them get ahead, or whatever I need to do to get away from that off-putting, stupid jingling. It ruins the natural ambiance.

There are two items I might carry: pepper spray, and an air horn. But they are only useful if you can quickly reach them! Not in your pack! Note: these are both useful against any kind of attacker, bear, cougar or human.

I do a quick check each time I put the pepper spray canister on my belt to make sure I remember exactly how to draw it. I look to make sure I understand how to pull off the safety clip. I check to notice which way the nozzle points when I pull the safety. It’s just like a firearm, you want to know exactly what you’re doing with it!

After I prepare my defenses, I forget about them while I practice staying aware on the trail. It wouldn’t do to be walking around in a fog and trip trap right up on a black bear’s baby cub because I was hiking with my head up my butt. You can get lost in thought wondering about how Spider Man’s new suit is cheating because now he’s basically Iron Spider, so don’t even consider that while in the wilderness.

Mind on task. This will prevent you from tripping over a root, from missing out on the great scenery, and from stepping on dog poop some uncouth dog owner didn’t pick up. And a side effect of situational awareness is, you might see the wildlife before it sees you.

Bare Facts About Bears

1. Bears have poor eyesight: this is not true. They have vision similar to our own, and better night vision than us. They can see you just fine

2. A bear that rears up on its hind legs is about to attack: not true. A bear stands up to see a little farther and to scope things out. But it is intimidating!

3. Bears can’t climb trees: untrue. Maybe once a bear grows so big that the tree can’t hold them up anymore, but then they can just knock the tree down. Hiding in a tree is a terrible idea–and most trees are really hard to climb for us humans, anyway.

4. Bears are carnivores that need meat to survive: false. I see bears by the side of the road every spring, eating grass after they come out of hibernation. They are omnivorous, just like humans. In places with thick alfalfa or other rich crops planted by humans, bears will chow down on this stuff. However, they do like a side of meat with their veggies!

5. Guns are better than Pepper Spray: definitely not true. According to statistics, your chance of injury doubles if you shoot at a bear with bullets instead of using pepper spray. That’s right, your gun can get you killed. Do you want a wounded, angry bear, or a bear that can’t see or breathe properly because he has pepper in his face? Which one will still be interested in fighting? Which one can you successfully run away from?

6. Bears can’t run downhill: untrue. Bears can run well in any direction, and at about 60 kilometers per hour. Good luck outrunning a bear. If you have pepper spray, stand your ground and use it. If the bear isn’t charging (it is extremely unlikely to charge) then slowly back away and leave the area without running.

7. If you are attacked, play dead: wrong move most of the time. Playing dead might work if a mother grizzly bear is defending her cubs. In any other circumstance, if a physical attack is made by a bear, you need to fight like a cornered badger! You need to punch, kick, yell, head butt, whatever you have in you! But you had your pepper spray ready to use, right? Did you already give the bear a blast in the face with the air horn? Why are you using fists when you have tools like these?

If you are camping, hang your food at night. About the dumbest thing you could do is to sleep with your food. If a bear is coming around your campsite, he’s looking for a snack. Got some tasty hot dogs, bacon, oatmeal, coffee grounds, or whatever aromatic foods with you, and in your tent? You might get a visitor. This is common sense, right?

While Camping, Food Attracts Bears

I like to cook any food at least 100 meters (yards) from where I sleep. Then I hang my food about 100 meters past that, where I can see it if possible. Any bear that comes around will be over there.

So far, I’ve never had anything bother me at night other than a chip monk, which did startle me, but I thought I could probably take him if I had to. Luckily, he didn’t charge, although he did rear up on his hind legs more than once.

And lastly, don’t feed bears. Feeding wildlife gets them really interested in you. Then they hang around like deadbeat relatives looking for handouts. Except instead of sleeping on your couch, drinking all your beer or asking to borrow your car, they might just reach out and try to take any remaining food you have. You don’t want a bear going into your pack for himself.

Got any good bear stories? I would love to hear them!