I have encountered bears a few time in their natural habitat and I
consider my self lucky that I saw them. Generally they were headed
rapidly in the ohter direction. That said, I would worry about the
false sense of security that one might get from a questionable product.
Poison ivy on the other hand is a real menace ;-).
On a different topic I would be sure that I was familiar with the use of
a map and compass before I relied on a GPS. I have never managed to ge
so lost that I couldn't find myself on the map (but then again I have
never hiked in a topographically featureless region as I expect the
Fla swamps might be). Remember batteries burn out.
-Todd
Something else you might consider adding to your pack, particularly for
long outings, is a little bottle of water purification tablets.
Kimberly Mako wrote:
> Before you guys go all gung ho on this bear guard, maybe you should
> pick up a back issue of Backpacker magazine, or hit up their website.
> They did a review on it a few months ago, and found that none of it
> works to deter bears, all it actually did was make them angry before
> they attacked.
Bear guard..
10 messages in this thread |
Started on 2001-07-11
Bear guard..
From: Kimberly Mako (MartianShark@msn.com) |
Date: 2001-07-11 16:50:48 UTC-04:00
Before you guys go all gung ho on this bear guard, maybe you should pick up a back issue of Backpacker magazine, or hit up their website. They did a review on it a few months ago, and found that none of it works to deter bears, all it actually did was make them angry before they attacked. And think of this as well. An angry bear is charging at you, and you're thinking enough to grab the bear spray, did you check to see if you're downwind? So now you can't see, and there's still that bear? I've never had a bear attack me, so I'm not an authority. I have woken up while backpacking and one was sniffing my tent. I was right up against the mesh lining, so all I saw was a bear nose in front of my face. I just waiting and it left, I didn't have anything it wanted. I've seen plenty of bears while hiking, and have always had them run the other way. I've even had them walk through my camp and stare up at my food hanging from a tree, while I was sitting there. I've always left them alone and they go away. I've heard that if they chase you you've done something to their young or you have something that smells fantastic on you. If it's the first, then you deserve it, if it's the latter, give the food to them! Knowledge will help you more than bear spray. I'm not saying there is one specific thing that you should do, because all cases are not the same. But I just think there's something else you should depend on, not the spray. Save that for the humans :)
Kimberly
aka MartianMaggot
----- Original Message -----From: cowpostSent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 9:46 AMTo: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.comSubject: Re: [LbNA] What's in your packGreat tip--I did not even KONOW there was bear guard! That was my main
reason for carrying pepper spray with me in the northwoods--there are a lot
of black bears up there. I did not really have a lot of faith in the pepper
spray working on bears, but it was all I could think of (not owning a gun).
Cowpost (off to look for bear guard)
----- Original Message -----
From: Eric Mings <elm@letterboxing.com>
To: <letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 8:31 AM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] What's in your pack
> If you are going to bother carrying pepper spray, I would suggest
> something like bear guard or one of the other sprays marketed for
> protection against bears. Hopefully no one will have to find out how
> effective they are in that regard, but they are the strongest pepper
> sprays available to the public and certainly would work quite well on
> any other human or animal attacker. You can usually find these types
> at sporting goods stores. I always carry a canister because I often
> hike in remote areas alone where firearms are not allowed. Down in
> Florida we have black bears, but I usually worry more about stumbling
> upon wild boars or gators in marshy areas.
> --
> Regards,
>
> Eric Mings
>
> Letterboxing International: http://www.letterboxing.com
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Re: [LbNA] Bear guard..
From: Todd Lane (tlane@princeton.edu) |
Date: 2001-07-11 19:12:00 UTC-04:00
Re: [LbNA] Bear guard..
From: (AK4X4ing@aol.com) |
Date: 2001-07-11 21:16:49 UTC-04:00
Okay so we weren't having to protect ourselves from bears - BUT the first box
we found had been chewed on by a bear and the second outting we heard 2 bears
letting us know they were there. We also saw 4 moose. Gotta love Alaska! :o)
Happy Searching!
D&J in AK
P2F2
we found had been chewed on by a bear and the second outting we heard 2 bears
letting us know they were there. We also saw 4 moose. Gotta love Alaska! :o)
Happy Searching!
D&J in AK
P2F2
Re: [LbNA] Bear guard..
From: Eric Mings (elm@letterboxing.com) |
Date: 2001-07-12 09:49:35 UTC-04:00
Kimerbly wrote:
Before you guys go all gung ho on this bear guard, maybe you should
pick up a back issue of Backpacker magazine, or hit up their website.
They did a review on it a few months ago, and found that none of it
works to deter bears, all it actually did was make them angry before
they attacked.
----
Kimberly
Actually if you are referring to their Sept 2000 article that is
_not_ what it says. I originally learned about bear spray from an
earlier backpacker article. In part the Sept 2000 article says:
****
Dr. Herrero, a noted researcher of bear behavior and attacks, along
with Andrew Higgins, a university colleague, examined 66 field cases
in which various brands of spray were used on black and grizzly bears
that displayed behavior ranging from overly curious to actively
aggressive toward humans. They concluded that, "while we don't know
how these encounters would have ended in the absence of spray, the
use...appears to have prevented injury in most cases," Dr. Herrero
says.
****
As they note in the article it is a last resort when you really feel
you are in danger of being mauled, not just for curious bears. My
point is if you are going to carry a weapon (and spray is a weapon
though not lethal) it is best to carry the most powerful available.
Hopefully you won't ever need it for a bear, much more likely a
human. If it came down to it and I was charged by an aggressive bear
(or boar, gator, human etc..) I would rather have the most powerful
spray available than only my hands. No false security for me, just a
last resort if it came to that.
--
Regards,
Eric Mings
Letterboxing International: http://www.letterboxing.com
Find everything letterboxing at your fingertips!
Before you guys go all gung ho on this bear guard, maybe you should
pick up a back issue of Backpacker magazine, or hit up their website.
They did a review on it a few months ago, and found that none of it
works to deter bears, all it actually did was make them angry before
they attacked.
----
Kimberly
Actually if you are referring to their Sept 2000 article that is
_not_ what it says. I originally learned about bear spray from an
earlier backpacker article. In part the Sept 2000 article says:
****
Dr. Herrero, a noted researcher of bear behavior and attacks, along
with Andrew Higgins, a university colleague, examined 66 field cases
in which various brands of spray were used on black and grizzly bears
that displayed behavior ranging from overly curious to actively
aggressive toward humans. They concluded that, "while we don't know
how these encounters would have ended in the absence of spray, the
use...appears to have prevented injury in most cases," Dr. Herrero
says.
****
As they note in the article it is a last resort when you really feel
you are in danger of being mauled, not just for curious bears. My
point is if you are going to carry a weapon (and spray is a weapon
though not lethal) it is best to carry the most powerful available.
Hopefully you won't ever need it for a bear, much more likely a
human. If it came down to it and I was charged by an aggressive bear
(or boar, gator, human etc..) I would rather have the most powerful
spray available than only my hands. No false security for me, just a
last resort if it came to that.
--
Regards,
Eric Mings
Letterboxing International: http://www.letterboxing.com
Find everything letterboxing at your fingertips!
Re: [LbNA] Bear guard..
From: Jay Chamberlain (ae4mk@1bigred.com) |
Date: 2001-07-12 10:42:27 UTC-04:00
This may sound strange, but as
a Federal law enforcement officer, in order to be "qualified" to carry and use
"pepper spray" we must be sprayed with it. I am so glad they don't use the
same premises about carrying my issued handgun.
The reason behind this
training is to know just how you will react when coming in contact with the
stuff.
As a human voice of experience, it is not fun stuff to encounter
and the effects stays with you for a long time (hours).
My point is, ANY pepper spray
or chemical agent must be handled with caution. It is very indiscriminant.
It is just as easy to be on the receiving end of a dose intended for an animal
if you are not aware of whether it has a stream or a mist and how far it will
carry and take into account the wind. As a rule, unless you are in a VERY
active bear area, and have had some kind of "training" with the spray, I
wouldn't carry it. I have had two, day time eastern Black bear encounters
while hiking and back packing. In both, the bears were in a very big hurry to
get away from me. I also take the required precaution while backpacking to hang
a bear bag at night, at least 100 - 150 feet from my tent, for ALL
food items including things like cooking pots and pans, Chap Stick, tooth past,
cloths items with spilled food on it. ANYTHING that a four legged friend might
think smells like food. Also I cook away from my sleeping area and place my
backpack 20-30 feet away from the tent too.
I would also check with your
local hiking and outdoor adventure, equipment store. The guys who know
their local area and get their recommendations....
My two cents.....
Re: [LbNA] Bear guard..
From: chip goss (kancamangusdabull@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2001-07-12 10:28:44 UTC-07:00
HI Gang,
With so much concern for bears... I am sure that most
of you live in bear country... It's big news when a
bear wanders southeastern New Wngland... I suggest you
read Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods." Yes it is a
little comical, you find yourself laughing most of the
time, but he deals handily with the subject of bears,
bear deterance and avoidance. He also has a list of
books written by people who have either studied bears
or survived bear attacks. It may not be what you want
to do, but it is really great reading in any case...
Chip
=====
"Careful with that Axe, Eugene!"
P. Floyd 1967
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail
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With so much concern for bears... I am sure that most
of you live in bear country... It's big news when a
bear wanders southeastern New Wngland... I suggest you
read Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods." Yes it is a
little comical, you find yourself laughing most of the
time, but he deals handily with the subject of bears,
bear deterance and avoidance. He also has a list of
books written by people who have either studied bears
or survived bear attacks. It may not be what you want
to do, but it is really great reading in any case...
Chip
=====
"Careful with that Axe, Eugene!"
P. Floyd 1967
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
Re: [LbNA] Bear guard..
From: Eric Mings (elm@letterboxing.com) |
Date: 2001-07-12 15:15:54 UTC-04:00
OK, I have to come clean. It's not the bears that scare me enough to
carry my spray, it's all those hefalumps and woozles we have in the
woods down here ;-)
--
Regards,
Eric Mings
Letterboxing International: http://www.letterboxing.com
Find everything letterboxing at your fingertips!
carry my spray, it's all those hefalumps and woozles we have in the
woods down here ;-)
--
Regards,
Eric Mings
Letterboxing International: http://www.letterboxing.com
Find everything letterboxing at your fingertips!
RE: [LbNA] Bear guard..
From: A. Keith Eaton III (keith@ksdmsystems.com) |
Date: 2001-07-12 15:20:29 UTC-04:00
Yup, they come in ones and toozles!
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Mings [mailto:elm@letterboxing.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2001 3:16 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Bear guard..
OK, I have to come clean. It's not the bears that scare me enough to
carry my spray, it's all those hefalumps and woozles we have in the
woods down here ;-)
--
Regards,
Eric Mings
Letterboxing International: http://www.letterboxing.com
Find everything letterboxing at your fingertips!
To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Mings [mailto:elm@letterboxing.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2001 3:16 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Bear guard..
OK, I have to come clean. It's not the bears that scare me enough to
carry my spray, it's all those hefalumps and woozles we have in the
woods down here ;-)
--
Regards,
Eric Mings
Letterboxing International: http://www.letterboxing.com
Find everything letterboxing at your fingertips!
To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
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Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [LbNA] Bear guard..
From: (AK4X4ing@aol.com) |
Date: 2001-07-13 02:24:51 UTC-04:00
In a message dated 7/12/01 6:13:07 PM Alaskan Daylight Time,
keith@ksdmsystems.com writes:
And are very confuzels. . . . .
Help help pooh bear flash backs!
keith@ksdmsystems.com writes:
Yup, they come in ones and toozles!
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Mings [mailto:elm@letterboxing.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2001 3:16 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Bear guard..
OK, I have to come clean. It's not the bears that scare me enough to
carry my spray, it's all those hefalumps and woozles we have in the
woods down here ;-)
And are very confuzels. . . . .
Help help pooh bear flash backs!
Re: [LbNA] Bear guard..
From: Nancy Harms (nharms@lisco.com) |
Date: 2001-07-14 12:46:18 UTC-07:00
Also comes as an audio. Best entertainment while on the road--and some
things to learn, too.
-----Original Message-----
From: chip goss
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, July 12, 2001 10:29 AM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Bear guard..
>HI Gang,
>
>With so much concern for bears... I am sure that most
>of you live in bear country... It's big news when a
>bear wanders southeastern New Wngland... I suggest you
>read Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods." Yes it is a
>little comical, you find yourself laughing most of the
>time, but he deals handily with the subject of bears,
>bear deterance and avoidance. He also has a list of
>books written by people who have either studied bears
>or survived bear attacks. It may not be what you want
>to do, but it is really great reading in any case...
>
>
>
>Chip
>
>=====
>"Careful with that Axe, Eugene!"
>
>P. Floyd 1967
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail
>http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
>
>To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>List info, archives, etc: http://www.letterboxing.org/list.html
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
things to learn, too.
-----Original Message-----
From: chip goss
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, July 12, 2001 10:29 AM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Bear guard..
>HI Gang,
>
>With so much concern for bears... I am sure that most
>of you live in bear country... It's big news when a
>bear wanders southeastern New Wngland... I suggest you
>read Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods." Yes it is a
>little comical, you find yourself laughing most of the
>time, but he deals handily with the subject of bears,
>bear deterance and avoidance. He also has a list of
>books written by people who have either studied bears
>or survived bear attacks. It may not be what you want
>to do, but it is really great reading in any case...
>
>
>
>Chip
>
>=====
>"Careful with that Axe, Eugene!"
>
>P. Floyd 1967
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail
>http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
>
>To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>List info, archives, etc: http://www.letterboxing.org/list.html
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>