No one wants to run into a bear while they're camping. But the truth is, if you spend enough time in bear country, the chances of an encounter are pretty good. Luckily, there are some things you can do to stay safe. Here are a few bear safety tips to keep in mind the next time you go camping.
1. Make noise when you're hiking.
Bears are more likely to surprise you if they don't know you're coming. So, sing a song, clap your hands, or carry a bell with you when you hike it will alert them, and give the bear time to move away long before you arrive.
2. Make sure you're aware of bear activity in the area before you go camping.
Check with the local ranger station or visitor center for any recent sightings or reports of bear activity. If there have been bears in the area, it's best to find another campsite.
3. Store your food properly in the BEAR-RESISTANT GARBAGE CAN CADDY
Bears have an incredible sense of smell, so they can easily sniff out food that's not properly stored. Be sure to hang your food and garbage up high, away from your campsite. And never leave food out in the open, not even for a minute!
4. Make sure to clean up any food residue from your dishes and utensils after every meal.
Bears are attracted to the smells of cooking oil and grease, so it's important to remove any traces of food from your dishes before you put them away.
5. Always carry BEAR SPRAY!
BEAR SPRAY is a specific aerosol spray bear deterrent, active ingredients are highly irritant capsaicin and related capsaicinoids, which are used to deter aggressive or charging bears.
6. Don't run if you see a bear.
It might be your first instinct, but running away from a bear will only trigger their natural chase instincts. If you do find yourself face-to-face with a bear, stand still and don't make any sudden movements. Then slowly back away from the situation and give the bear plenty of space to move away on its own.
7. NEVER EVER FEED A BEAR!!!!
If you feed a bear then that all but guarantees that the bear will come back and make it unsafe for everyone where you are camping, and it also puts the bear at risk because if it keeps coming back for food the Rangers might have to put the bear down so DO NOT FEED THEM so humans and bears stay safe!!
Pro tip on how- to know if it's a grizzly bear or a black bear!
The most distinguishable feature is a grizzly will have a hump on his back, and a black bear doesn't have one and they are usually smaller than a grizzly bear!
Keep these tips in mind next time you go camping, and hopefully, you'll never have an unwanted encounter with a bear!!
But if you do find yourself face-to-face with one of these majestic creatures, remember to stay calm and back away slowly. With a little bit of preparation and common sense when camping in bear country, hopefully, you won’t have any encounters at all! Have fun on your next outdoor adventure and stay safe with bears by following these tips!
Looking for additional camping essentials check out our other articles?
Karie
Karie
Karie
