Black Bear Encounters
By: Dave Zeug
There’s something unsettling, visceral even, about a bear attacking a person. It’s not the way it should be. We’re supposed to be the top predator in the food chain, not the second link. Fortunately, events like this are rare which is why they attract people’s attention as they do.
Although there is at least a remnant black bear population in 44 states, the odds of getting attacked by a one are long, but the season when most encounters take place is coming soon.
The black bear’s mating season runs from mid May to late June in most states. This is when they can be on the move at all hours of the day, increasing the chances of an encounter. These can happen most anyplace, often with a sow and her cubs, but this isn’t the threat rural legend makes it out to be. Actually, this is one of the biggest misconceptions about black bears, although it’s always wise not to get between a sow and her cubs. While they’re unlikely to attack in defense of cubs, they may show harmless bluster to keep you away. A more likely behavior is the sow ushering her cubs up the nearest tree and then standing guard below it.
Only 19 people have been fatally attacked by black bears in North America since 2000. To put it into perspective, in the last 6 years there were about 200 people killed in dog attacks in the United States. Sure, there are a lot more dogs encountering people than bears, but the difference is still startling. One bear researcher who claims he feels much safer in the woods than elsewhere, said he figures he has a 60,000 times better chance of being murdered than killed by a bear.
That doesn’t mean we should take an encounter lightly. They normally aren’t aggressive by nature, but they are unpredictable. Instead of an attack, it’s not unusual to hear some jaw popping, huffing or foot stomping to intimidate intruders when they feel threatened and fleeing isn’t an option.
An example of this behavior occurred when I was trout fishing on a hot summer day a few years ago. I came around a bend in the stream and found a bear sitting armpit deep cooling off in a pool I planned to fish. The bear just glared at me, not one bit interested in leaving his refreshing afternoon spa. It was pretty much a standoff, with neither of us wanting to back down. He wouldn’t for obvious reasons related to cool water and me because the high banks along the stream’s ravine meant a long walk back downstream to where I could go around him. Our discussion about who was going to leave was a quiet, calm, and reasonable one on my part. He was more blunt with a few snorts, some huffing, and jaw popping, but eventually one of us backed off. Which one of us was it? Don’t put too much thought into this, just go with your instincts.
Up close and personal encounters with bears aren’t unusual, especially with their population spreading across the country. My latest “too close for comfort” encounter was during a turkey hunt in a tract of woods interspersed with agricultural fields. It wasn’t only good turkey country; it was good bear country too.
I’d been sitting along a brushy fence line cold calling to birds I knew were in the area. You might know the feeling you get when hunting and sense something’s behind you. Not wanting to move, I rolled by eyes as far to the right as I could and saw a black blob moving slowly toward me on the opposite side of the fence. This is usually a good sign when you’re turkey hunting, but not with a black blob this size. Suddenly I was nose to nose to a bear with only a few branches and a rusty strand of barbed wire between us. I never really felt threatened, but one tends to feel pretty secure when you’re holding a loaded 12-gauge shotgun. The encounter ended happily for both of us when he ambled off in search of a lady friend.
Although there are more injuries from black bear attacks than from grizzly bears, one must remember there are at least 10 times more black bears than grizzly bears in North America. Black bears, unlike grizzlies, also inhabit areas with a relatively high human population. Most black bear attacks result in minor injuries and often have one common denominator; human related food sources. These bears have become habituated, which means they’re used to humans and often don’t fear interactions with them.
A good tactic during an unexpected encounter is talking quietly, so the bear, whose ears and nose are much better than their vision, knows you’re close. The bear can recognize you’re not a prey animal then, but don’t run because you’ll never outrun a bear. In this way they’re like dogs, programed to chase anything that runs away. Another tactic to avoid is yelling, growling, or sudden movements that could initiate a defensive action from a bear that thinks it’s being threatened. Slowly moving away while keeping an eye on the bear is your best tactic.
An encounter with a wild black bear is something a person who cherishes unique outdoor experiences will remember for a lifetime. Even for those of us who spend most of their time in the woods, either working or playing, it’s something that doesn’t happen often. Enjoy it when it does, but remember to be cautious.
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