How to reduce the likleyhood of an attack while cycle-touring in the Rocky Mountains. Written by Randy Miller
Where are the bears?
Bears are large animals with large territories and can be found just about anywhere in Western Canada or the United States. Although any bear can be dangerous, the Grizzly Bear is generally larger and more aggressive than the Black Bear, making it more dangerous to us humans. Note that even experts have difficulty distinguishing between the two species, so if you see a bear assume it is a Grizzly until you know otherwise! In general, Grizzly Bears prefer the high mountains, in particular the Rockies, but Black Bears can be found anywhere from the mountains to the coast. There are no Grizzly Bears on Vancouver Island, but there is a high population of Black Bears and Cougars, which can also be very dangerous.
How to avoid bears while camping
First, and most important, keep a clean camp! This means that your food, toiletries, and anything else that smells, should be hung in a tree at least 100 metres from your tent. We used a small stuff sack tied to strong cord for this purpose. We could put rocks in the stuff sack to weight it, then toss it over a branch. Then we would pull the cord through, attach our daypacks with food and other smellies to the other end, and hoist it up into the tree. Note that it is important to get the hanging food away from the main tree trunk and also well below the branch it is hanging from. Obviously, the food needs to be well above the ground also. Unfortunately, because of the downward sloping of the branches, many times it is impossible to hang food. In these cases, we would try to wrap it as good as possible (to reduce the smell), and hide it under a rock or other hard to reach place. The important thing is to get it away from your tent! They also recommend cooking your food away from your tent, to avoid absorption of the food odours into the tent fabric. Any clothes you wear while cooking can also be stashed along with your food. We also thought it was important to avoid cooking "bear-type" food, like fish, meat, etc. We stuck mostly to pasta and grains while in bear country.
Wild camping or commercial campgrounds?
This a fun subject to discuss. Of course, the National Park service recommends staying in designated campgrounds since wild camping in National Parks is illegal. In fact, wild camping is illegal almost everywhere so there is little official support for it. There is also a legitimate argument that there is safety in numbers and a better chance of scaring off a bear with a large group of people. But wild camping has the advantage that you have more control over the campsite. You don't have to worry about your neighbors leaving a half-eaten can of tuna on the bench if you're the only one there! I suppose it is a personal decision, and there is probably no right answer. Our choice was to wild camp where possible.
How to avoid bears while cycling
On our trip, we saw many bears - by the road, on the trails, luckily not in camp though! The most dangerous bear is a surprised bear, especially a mother bear with cubs. The highest probablity of attack is the scenario where a surprised bear finds a person between herself and her cubs. To avoid this situation, many mountain bikers in Canada wear "bear bells" on their bicycles, which can be purchased at any bike shop or outdoor store. If a bear hears noise it will usually move away to avoid a confrontation. Talking or singing are other good ways to alert bears to your presence. Some cyclists also carry bear spray, a potent pepper-spray in a can which is meant to disable the bear and allow the victim to escape. This spray should only be used in the event of an actual attack. Do not use bear spray to chase away a bear as it may aggravate him and trigger an attack. Note that this spray is expensive and cannot be legally transported out of the country, so we did not use it. Bears are also intimidated by groups of people. I read somewhere that there has never been a bear attack when the group has contained more than 6 people.
Signs that a bear may attack
The first sign a bear may attack is when it stands on its hind legs and sniffs the air, this is when it is trying to work out who or what you are and if you are a threat. At this point, several evasive manuevers should be taken immediately or sooner to defuse the situation:
Stay calm! Do not panic or make any sudden movements.
If there are other people in your party, group together. If you are sure the bear is a Black Bear, make yourself appear large by slowly putting your arms in the air.
Back away slowly. Do not turn your back on the bear, the bear can interpret this as fear which may trigger an attack.
If the bear charges, do not run. This is because the charge may be a bluff (this is common). But if you run, the bluff may become an actual attack. Also, you do not have any chance of outrunning a bear anyways.
If a bear attacks at night
This type of attack is very rare, especially if you have kept a clean camp. However, if it happens this is what you should do:
Fight back using any available rocks, sticks, fists, etc
Try to escape. Climb a tree, get on top (or under?) a car or truck, etc.
Use bear spray if you have it. This is what you paid the big bucks for, get your moneys worth!
If a bear attacks after you surprise it
This type of attack is more common, but still unlikely if you have followed the precautions above. However, if it happens this is what you should do :
Use bear spray if you have it. This is what you paid the big bucks for, get your moneys worth!
If the bear is a Black Bear, fight back.
If the bear is a Grizzly Bear or you are unsure what type of bear it is, drop to the ground in a fetal position. Protect your head with your arms and your stomach with your legs. Play dead. Bear attacks usually last only a few minutes. If the attack last longer than this, consider fighting back and/or trying to escape.
Helpful Links
The Bear Denhas links to all the best bear articles
