Charged by a bear!

[Black Dog]

So I've lived in north west Montana for about a year and one week exactly, and I've done quite a bit of hiking and stuff throughout that time. Last night it was about 8:30 in the evening, and I was walking along this short trail (couple hundred yards) to this gorge where a river is funneled into a real narrow spot and there are huge rock cliffs on each side. It was late enough that it was starting to get kind of dark and the forest is pretty dense right there. As I'm walking down this trail, to my left something big comes crashing through the woods towards me. I started clapping my hands and shouting and it stopped. I listened for a second and heard an exhale sound like "PHFFFF" and then a few more large foot steps. I jumped up and down and waved my arms and shouted some more, and it ran away in the other direction. That was the end of my hike and I headed back to my jeep pretty quickly.

That spot is a good place to see moose, so it may have been a moose that charged me. But I think it was probably a bear, I couldn't see because the woods were thick and the sun was going down. I'm guessing that since it was so easy to get it to run off, it was probably just a lone bear and not a momma with a baby or two. If it was a momma chances are she would have mauled me and left me in a bloody pulp. So what I think happened is that I was being too quiet on the trail and it didn't realize I was there until I was really close. That was probably about the most excitement I've had in a while, it was a huge adrenaline rush knowing that I was just charged by a big animal and lived to tell about it. Now I know why lots of guys around here skip the bear spray (which I wasn't carrying with me, I will now!) and go with hand guns instead.

[Gear]

Interesting event. Glad to hear you are OK. Any thoughts on a Bear Bell. I use one on my mountain bike and it does a good job at letting hikers know I am coming down the trail.

[timh]

Sounds like an exciting hike! I haven't ever had any close encounters with wild animals so I can only imagine what that feels like. I did have a close encounter with someone I thought was breaking into my house so I bet it is a similar adrelanie rush...

[Black Dog]

I was always told that bear bells are really dinner bells to bears. They've associated the bell sound to humans and food.

Believe it or not I have always wondered what it would be like to be charged by a bear. I thought it would be one of those petrifying moments where your heart drops down into your gut and you are paralyzed in fear. But about a minute or two afterwords I was almost hyperactive from the adrenaline rush. The hole thing didn't last more than 10 seconds but it was awesome. My wife isn't too thrilled though.

[motochain]

I had this type of thing happen in Yosemite, except it was early daylight hours and we just happened to stumble upon eachother. Pretty spooky knowing it could kill you and you're a long ways from anyone.

Bear spray though, you'd be surprised what the bears reaction is once you blast them in the face with it... From what I've heard the bear wishes you would've had a gun also..

Glad to hear you came out of the woods intact!

[Black Dog]

I normally do carry bear spray, but all winter I haven't because there shouldn't be much need since the bears should be in hibernation. But they're awake now so its time to start remembering to bring it along.

[Lynn]

When I was in CO I was on a SAR team, and one of the guys told me he read a report in an AK SAR newsletter about bears and spray.

According to this (second-hand) report, bear spray initially ran the bear off, but later others would come in to check out the smell.

Seems bears are like humans, liking spices in small doses.

Moral was: use the bear spray then evacuate the area.

Anybody know of this study first-hand?

[Black Dog]

I've heard something like that. I guess some times when you spray the bear it will just stay there and lick the pepper spray off itself. I don't know whether that is true or not, if bear spray is anything like or stronger than OC spray carried by police and in womens purses it is some pretty powerful stuff.

[Lynn]

I should have mentioned that I'm glad you're OK, and got to have that unique experience.

The version I heard was that if the bear was sprayed directly, it worked, but other bears would be attracted by the over-spray.

[R_Lefebvre]

Now I know why lots of guys around here skip the bear spray (which I wasn't carrying with me, I will now!) and go with hand guns instead.

Why do you say that? You had a bear encounter that went as well as the vast majority do, so why would that make you want to carry a gun?

Yes, I've also heard that you should vacate the area after spraying.

Interesting event. Glad to hear you are OK. Any thoughts on a Bear Bell. I use one on my mountain bike and it does a good job at letting hikers know I am coming down the trail.

Thank you! I hate ninja bikers!

It's funny, I go to Ganaraska Forest a fair amount. It's a huge multi-use trail area. Motorized vehicles have to stick to the east and west sections, and non-motorized can use the center section. I'd actually prefer to hike with the ATV's and dirtbikes, as at least I can hear them coming!