[Spliff]

I'm terrified of bears, especially bears that come tearing through your tent at night because they've decided humans are tasty. I don't like tents because you can't see what's going on outside. You just hear the snuffling of various mammals as they sniff the tent. A snuffling skunk or raccoon sounds like a bear to me. Scares the crap out of me. It's even more terrifying if you're the only people in the campsite, especially a remote campsite. At least you've got a chance if there are other tents around. The bear might find the other campers to be more tasty.

Anyone here have any scary or amusing stories of wildlife encounters/attacks while camping?

Grizzly kills couple in Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Two people camping along the Hulahula River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge were killed by a grizzly bear, officials said.

Officials discovered the bodies and an unused firearm in a tent Saturday at a campsite near the river. They also shot and killed the animal.

The couple, whose names were not released, was believed to be in their late 50s or early 60s, North Slope Borough police said on Sunday. They were from Anchorage and had been on a recreational rafting trip down the river, Alaska State Troopers said.

The victims were in their tent when the attack occurred, according to Tim DeSpain, spokesman for Alaska State Troopers.

The campsite was clean, with food stored in bear-proof containers.

"The initial scene indicates that it was a predatory act by the bear," DeSpain said.

A rafter had seen the animal at the site and notified authorities.

The couple's injuries were consistent with a bear attack and there were no signs of foul play, said Kelly Alzaharna, a lieutenant with the North Slope Borough Police Department.

There were no other people at the campsite, which was about 12 miles up river from Kaktovik, a community of about 300 on Barter Island and the only village in the refuge.

Officials are not sure when the couple was killed.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/06/27/bea....ap/index.html

[JoshuaZ]

I do drive in cars because I heard that 50,000 people a year die in car crashes in the US. I don't fly on airplanes because I heard that a couple crashed. And I obviously don't ever go swimming in the ocean because a girl was just eaten by a shark.

I don't enjoy living, because on a long enough time scale, everyone survival rate drops to zero.

[Ghoser777]

I heard the food was stored in bear proof containers. Looks like they protected the wrong "food." =/

[Mithras]

Sad, and sorry for the families...

It's my understanding that grizzlies (and polars) are the only bears that will, from time to time, prey on humans as food. I remember learning in a bear safety class that if a black bear enters your tent at night, it's generally because they smell food or are confused, and you need only do just enough to make them leave you alone -- the usual roll & cover the neck, etc.

However, if a grizzly enters your tent at night, you should fight for your life, because the bear is after you.

Maybe there's some remote philosophical value in understanding that there are parts of the natural world beyond our control?

[AB^2=BCxAC]

Bear: "You're camping on my spot and it's totally disrupting my Feng Shui. My chi is getting very aggravated. Don't make me go get a mediator, because if the warden gets called into this, he's likely going to side with me, so it's a waste of your time and mine."

Man: "Whatever, talk to the hand. We were so obviously here first. Get over it, tubby."

Bear: "What did you just say?"

Woman: "That's right he called you tubby. But I'm gonna say you're looking F.A.T."

Bear: "Oh no you didn't..."

Man: "I've seen elephants with less girth. Your mama said you were so fat, they're gonna name a dorito flavor after you."

Bear: "Must... control... inner... rage...."

[historylme]

That was really funny.!

[BlueSky]

I've heard that screaming and yelling at some bears is enough to scare them away. The solution, I think, would be to arm yourself with a 400 db portable sound system w/ bullhorn that issues earth-shaking screams and hollers. You'd probably end up deaf yourself, but on a happy note, retain your limbs and head.

[JoshuaZ]

Banging some pots together works well. I should dig out my old boy scout manual and find the 'official boy scout' answer.

[Mithras]

One time, on the Rogue River in southern Oregon, we had a black bear that followed us after lunch, swimming across the river to inspect our campsite. When rafting, unlike backpacking, you have far too much food for bear-bagging (hanging from a tree) to be a viable option. So the usual treatment is to take several metal coolers, bind them together tightly with straps, and maybe put some pans of ammonia on top to make an unpleasant smell.

Well, this bear was very persistent. He was just a little guy, maybe a "teenager", recently graduated to being on his own. He kept coming around the campsite. A few guys rotated being guard, & threw rocks at the bear, but the rocks would only keep him away for a few minutes. (The lower sections of the Rogue have a real problem with habituated bears.)

Finally the bear came right into camp. So my dad did the sensible thing -- he grabbed a wooden paddle and bopped the bear on the nose.

Amazingly enough, the bear took the hint, rambled off, and didn't come back.
Wouldn't try that with a grizzly, though.

[t6hawk]

Check with the parks service before going camping etc. They normally post bear warnings. Especially this time of year if there are cubs around.

I was confronted by 3 grizzlies with my friend while we were at the lake in Kananaskis. They never came closer than about 40 feet though. The mother bear knew we were there and had her back to us the entire time while the two year old cubs (that were probably 200 lbs already) were staring at us intently. We were making a ton of noise before we even noticed the bears fishing off to our left and behind us. They just happened to be between us and the cabin. The Kananaskis grizzlies actually are quite good in that they leave humans alone normally. They can walk thru a campground and not go near the tents. The babies were giant brown furballs. I'll have to dig up a photo we took when I get home.

[Lava Lamp Freak]

One year my family camped in a tent in a national forest. The campsites were not close together. About 3 a.m. the first night, we heard a guy screaming. Trying not to alarm me and my sister, my dad says, "Lets take a drive and see if we can find some bears." We slept in the truck the rest of the night. The next day we found out that the guy just thought he heard a bear and was screaming to drive it away. We haven't primitive camped since then.

[Railroader]

"If you're going to be a bear. Be a grizzly!"

[Railroader]

Bears are soooo cute!

[phantomdragonz]

This is why I usually bring at least a rifle when I go camping, when I turn 21 I will probably have a .45 glock under my pillow... with the clip next to it of course...

Zach

[Big Mac]

No species of bear, including the Grizzly, preys on humans as food sources. Habituation to humans and their food sources is primarily responsible for bear-human encounters. If people don't know how to handle themselves in such situations, the bear may attack to neutralize the perceived threat - especially if cubs are part of the equation. Making loud noises to alert the bears to the presence of humans is strongly encouraged; hikers are also urged to purchase industrial strength pepper spray. If you're interested in Grizzly studies, you may want to pick up Craighead's Track of the Grizzly.