These new laws are probably mere defiant gestures given they violate federal statutes — bear researchers have regardless decried them as harmful and counterproductive — but they have struck a chord with some who believe grizzlies should be hunted to curb their gradual re-emergence. On Thursday, state officials in Wyoming formally requested that the federal government remove the grizzly from the protected species list. His property, at the foot of a tree-ringed mountain, is now a sort of highway for grizzlies — he will often see several in one evening nosing through piles of hay or clawing at rotting logs.
Valiton will happily show off pictures he has taken from the safety of his porch; the animals retreat if he walks any closer.
He likes the animals, but feels they now need to know their place. Most grizzlies avoid any contact with people, and those deemed too interested in us can be trapped, darted and relocated. Some even become minor celebrities — a bear called Grizzly , an enduring presence in Wyoming who has her own Facebook page and Instagram account , is regularly stalked by dozens of wildfire photographers recording her every move.
Another, known colloquially as Felicia , is known to graze upon the clover on the roadside at Togwotee Pass, not far from Yellowstone, causing huge traffic jams of gawking onlookers. Still, the hulking presence of grizzlies can be unnerving to newcomers. A lot of them are just clueless.
The concept of coexistence has taken root with some established Montanans, however, with a growing number prepared to erect electric fences and remove dead animals to avoid having to resort to deadly retaliation. On the outskirts of Ovando, in the lush Blackfoot valley, a coalition of ranchers has taken to putting up barriers and switching practices to maintain a distance between the bears and their livestock.
Stone has installed four miles of electric fence to keep out grizzlies, and his son has welded a metal electrified plate beside the front gate for the same purpose. A close encounter is when you encounter a bear close enough to get both the bear's and your own heart beating at a rapid pace.
Here is where being able to identify the bear is very useful - because your actions will be different for each type of bear. During a close encounter with a black bear while you are walking down a trail, you should stop, stand your ground, and assess the situation.
If the bear does not instantly come towards you, it is best to slowly back away while keeping an eye on the bear to make sure it isn't following you. If a black bear starts to come towards you, make yourself as big as possible and in a stern voice tell it to go away. If the bear continues to come at you, use your bear spray when he is about feet away to deter it from coming any closer. In the case of a close encounter in your campsite and you know it is a black bear, try to convince it to leave.
Once you know the bear has a clear escape path where it won't encounter other humans, stand tall and look at the bear while saying "Get out of here bear" with a stern voice. Keep doing this until the bear leaves. Have bear spray or a strong stick with you in case the bear gets too close.
These will be used to deter the bear from an actual attack. If you have any close encounter with a grizzly bear, remember that they are much more aggressive than black bears and more difficult to discourage. Stand still, keep your eyes on the bear and wait for its reaction.
If the grizzly comes too close for comfort, you can try your bear spray to stop it from making contact with you. If it keeps its distance, slowly back away from it while keeping your eyes on the bear. Remember to never turn your back on or run from a bear. The National Park Service breaks bear attacks into two groups: 1 defensive attacks and 2 predatory attacks. Learning how to recognize what type of attack is happening will allow you to appropriately respond to the attack.
Also, they see your flight response as a fleeing animal and will chase you. Most bear attacks are defensive attacks. They are called defensive attacks because the bear is generally caught off guard by a human presence. With that surprise comes their instinct to defend themselves, their cubs, or their food.
Predatory bear attacks are rare for grizzly bears and black bears. Polar bears, on the other hand, have been known to track and attack humans. Defensive attacks are the most common type of bear attack. There are a few things to look for when a bear attack will be a defensive attack. Common bear actions in these types of attacks include: hop charges, a fake rush towards you, slapping at the ground, teeth clacking and huffs. This is the bear's way of saying, "I don't know what you are or what you're doing here but you are not welcome.
If the bear does not attack after these motions, slowly back away while facing the bear. Do not turn your back on or run from a frightened bear. If the bear makes physical contact with you in a defensive attack, it is best to play dead in an attempt to defuse the situation. Another commonly held myth is that bears are cuddly creatures that resemble the teddy bears we owned as kids.
It is important to dispel both myths — the one based on fear, and the other based on a misplaced belief that bears are tame cuddly animals.
Bears are intelligent and resourceful wild mammals that deserve our respect. A greater knowledge of the behaviour , ecology and habitat needs of bears is crucial if we are to learn to co-exist peacefully with these magnificent creatures. Fact: Bears use body language and vocalizations to show their intentions. Learning about bear behaviour can be beneficial to people who live or recreate in bear country. Fact: Bears can run more than 60 kilometers an hour, and they can do it up hills, down hills or along a slope.
In fact, a bear can outrun a racehorse over short distances but has little endurance. Fact: Actually, a bear standing on its hind legs is just trying to better identify what has caught its attention.
Fact: Bears prefer natural, wild food unless it is difficult to find and human food is too easy to get. Click here to learn more about how to become Bear Smart. Try to hike in a group, on established trails, during daylight hours. See our Play section for more information. Fact: Despite all their timidness on the ground, black bears seem to feel more courageous in trees.
Bears sometimes kill each other by throwing their opponents out of trees. The bear below has the advantage because the bear above cannot easily hang on and face downward to fight back.
Also the lower bear seems confident of these advantages and some bears have even come up trees after people who thought climbing was prudent. Note: The Manual does not condone hurting animals in the wild. Always do what you can to avoid such attacks in order to preserve your own life, as well as the lives of animals in the wild. Cougars — also known as mountain lions, pumas, etc. You can find them as far north as Canada and as far south as Patagonia, make the cougar a true, transcontinental American species.
According to the Mountain Lion Foundation , cougars tend to hunt their main prey at dusk or dawn. So, plan accordingly:. There you have it. If you encounter any of the above animals, keep your cool, remember these tips, and stay alive. Color Medium-to-dark brown Body shape Look for a hump of muscles in its upper back, a trademark of brown bears.
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