Hiking & Camping In Black Bear Country

Above, a black bear at Yellowstone Bear World. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In view of my last post of a bear incident near Aspen, Colorado and that summer camping season is almost upon us, I thought it would be a good idea to post the following from the American Bear Association.

It is about hiking and camping while in bear country.

They begin with:

Hiking & Camping in Black Bear Country

Recreational use of parks and wilderness areas is increasing. Tolerance and an appreciation for the unpredictable nature of resident wildlife is increasingly important. Negative encounters are often a result of human carelessness rather than an aggressive act by the animal. This is especially true with bears. Most bear “attacks” are caused by surprising a bear and usually can be prevented. Understanding bear behavior and recognizing bear sign are important when hiking or camping in Bear Country. 

Before the Trip

Plan ahead – be prepared. Contact the local wildlife agency or park headquarters for information about the area wildlife, hiking/camping procedures and precautions as well as for any current bear activity areas.

• Familiarize yourself with bear behavior and signs.
• Avoid packing odorous food and nonfood (fragrant cosmetic, toiletries, etc.) items. Use bear-proof containers, doubled plastic bags or airtight canisters to seal in odors.
• Bring extra bags for leftovers and for packing out garbage, if necessary.
• Pack a flashlight and binoculars.
• Avoid taking a dog or keep it leashed.

 To read more (a lot more), go here.