Bear Mauling
How To Avoid A Bear Mauling
Bear mauling is possible, though extremely rare when the blatant population and attack statistics are revealed. Of all bear mauling incidents ever recorded in the United States, a reported 80% of them involved a mother bear with cubs. There are different triggers, and therefore different defense strategies, when dealing with each species of bear. Mauling could have been avoided in more than 75% of cases, experts estimate, if the victim had been prepared to properly avoid offending or threatening the bear. Bear mauling by the great grizzly had become an all too regular event in the western regions during the 1990’s, as reports were made of an average two human deaths per year. Since then, much information and understanding has dropped this number to maybe one occurrence per three years.
Bear mauling happens when a bear doesn’t understand you. It used to be that people felt in jogging or hiking straight through dense bear territory, even with headphones on. This brings us to rule number one: always be aware of your surroundings. Every noise, every movement around you can give vital clues at to what you may have just walked up on, or what may be coming up behind you. Bear mauling is never done for feeding purposes, though some cases have turned out that way in the long run. Most of the time, the human has done something to agitate or alarm the bear, and he can’t tell if you are intended harm or not. It’s up to you to convince him that you didn’t mean any harm.
To avoid bear mauling with a grizzly or brown bear, the rules are much different than those pertaining to smaller and not so aggressive black bear. The grizzly is much more high strung than is the black bear, and demands to know what you are and what you’re doing. If he is unsure, he may charge. First of all, you must be sure that you are not in the vicinity of a cub, as this will perpetuate certain protective measures from the mother. Experts suggest that you speak low and calm. The words don’t matter, but a soft soothing tone will help convince the bear that you have no bad intensions. Next, if you have a hat or something to toss slowly onto the ground, do so. Put your hands out and over your head, and begin backing up slowly while speaking softly. If the grizzly begins to charge, stand still until you are sure that it isn’t a fake charge. He may stop at the object which you left, getting a good sniff or fearing it.
Black bear mauling is yet lees likely, as these bears are generally frightened by humans and will run quickly away. Never underestimating the courage of a mother protecting her young, though, you should be prepared to fend off a stand off. Again, be sure that you do not stand between a mother and her cub(s). Yell louder and make yourself as big and scary as possible. Put your arms up and wave them, and if you are charged, fight back with everything you’ve got, sticks, fists, kicking, whatever.