Bear
• Time: Bears can be nocturnal and become dangerously confident in the dark. Plan to be back onboard by dusk.
• Season: A 1400-pound male moose in the heat of the rut is a testosterone driven wrecking machine. Avoid.
• Place: A bear in a patch of ripened huckleberries or in a prime fishing spot is territorially defensive, thus best given wide berth.
• A surprised animal is a dangerous animal. Signal your presence. Wear bear bells and/or make periodic chatter to make clear your presence and direction of travel.
• Large or small, all animals in the wild are just that—wild. Respect their space. Give at least a 300-foot leeway to bears and moose, and always leave them with a clear escape route.
• Immediately retreat towards your outbound direction if you spot a bear cub or moose fawn.
• Immediately leave the area if you come across a fresh animal carcass or one covered by dirt, leaves, and branches. This is a bear or cougar cache and the proprietor is seldom far away.
• If confronted by a bear do not turn and run. Bears will often make a “mock charge.” Hold your ground. Make yourself look large by opening your coat or extending your arms. If in a group, do not huddle but spread out in a line with arms out. Back away slowly, avoiding direct eye contact.
• If an attack seems imminent, use your bear spray liberally. (Be sure it is within its use-by date.)
• If attacked, asses the nature of the confrontation—defensive or predatory, for this will determine your best response. For a defensive attack (usually the case with a grizzly bear or a bear with cubs present) roll onto your stomach presenting your backpack to the aggressor. Cover your head and neck with your arms and play dead. Do not fight back.
• If a black bear that has no cubs present and has not been obviously disturbed continues to approach, assume this is a predatory attack. You must fight back as aggressively as possible to deter the animal.
