AA^3: Black Bears

BEARS?!

Stella and I passed through the Smoky Mountains in December of 2012, and we saw a million signs for bears!  I've seriously never seen so many signs warning about bears. You also see signs for no food in camping areas, and picnics areas with bear proof trash cans.  We didn't really hike around too much because we had limited time so we didn't worry too much about the bears except when we were in the KOA cabin and it was pitch black outside, we were kinda worried about bears roaming around. We asked a lady at the near by grocery store about the bears, she said they don't hibernate around there but they usually aren't out and about at night because it gets cooler.  I wonder if this is still true for Spring?


Bear Proof trash cans

We aren't hunters but bear spray really works!

Chivo and I are prepping for a possible encounter with a bear.  We'd really like to come back in one piece!  I remember watching some reality tv a while ago that was in Alaska or something and those guys carried around pepper spray to ward of bears.  The bears are much larger in Alaska - lots of grizzlies - so if this pepper spray wards of grizzlies, I'm game to have it with us in case we run into a black bear.  I did some research about the pepper spray and I found that they have an actual Bear Spray in a pretty large spray can, you can even get a holster for it too.  It's kinda pricey, $45, but I purchased a lifetime REI membership for only $20, so I can return the bear spray if we don't use it.  I'm really hoping that we don't have to use it, because you should be about 20 to 25 feet from the bear, not thrilled about that but I'd rather having some sort of defense than nothing at all.  The guy at the register reminded us to make sure we are downwind from the spray if we have to use it, although I'm not sure I'll remember that if we encounter a bear that's coming at us. 

About $35 to $50

Only a $4 investment

We also bought a little bear bell.  Sites have said that if you make noise, or let the bear bell make noise, you probably won't encounter a bear because the noise let's them know that something is coming and the way away.  If you don't have a bear bell, just make sure you make some noise as you walk along, talk to your friends, say 'hey bear'.  This isn't the time to be sneaky.  Most attacks happen because the bear is spooked or because you are near it's young.  So steer clear of those cute little bear cubs!

Mama bear and her babies

Chivo and I went to the zoo a few weeks ago to check out the wildlife and see how big bears are in person.  We didn't see any black bears but we saw a grizzly bear.  They look so harmless at the zoo but I know from those "I survived an animal attack" shows, that they aren't always so harmless.  I'd rather be safe than sorry and I want to enjoy the outdoors.

Petunia and Chivo at the Houston Zoo

A video of a bear in the Smoky Mountains