Bear in CNY

pro2860 wrote

BLACK BEAR LIVES MATTER

campgottagopee wrote

Too bad this guy didn't stay in the woods.

campgottagopee wrote

Agree. By it's tracking collar they could tell this guy had been removed from 3 other towns.

Stephen Herrero wrote

Most daytime grizzly bear attacks are defensive, and most daytime, persistent black bear attacks are predatory. “     One rule of thumb, no matter which species of bear is attacking, “If an attack cannot be deterred and is defensive, play dead; if predatory, fight back.

In discussing the high number of recorded injuries from black bear attacks, Herrero notes several important caveats:   First,   “ there are at least ten times as many black bears in North America as there are grizzlies.[15]   Second, the “typical black bear-inflicted injury… is minor and usually involves only a few scratches or light bites…” [16]  (This is a very different result from the hospitalization and surgery and likely to follow injurious contact with a grizzly bear!) Third, most of these minor black bear injuries occurred in national parks, “typically happening in campgrounds … or along roadsides where … black bears begged for food.”

Ethan Snow wrote

campgottagopee wrote

Too bad this guy didn't stay in the woods.

 
When you say "guy," do you mean the bear?

 

Ethan Snow wrote

campgottagopee wrote

Too bad this guy didn't stay in the woods.

 

I guess this would be a surprise for Syracuse, but we get bears in Oneonta all the time. Not so much in the busy parts, but in the residential neighborhoods surrounded by forest, bears come looking for food all the time. They really are nothing to be scared of.

Sick Bird Rider wrote

It is pretty simple: if you live in bear habitat, you should expect to see bears, conduct yourself accordingly and teach your kids about what to if they encounter a bear. The chance of a kid getting mauled? Pretty slim, unless he is walking around with trout in his pockets, petting the cute cub or meets up with the very rare predatory bear. (the trout incident actually happened, though the kid was older. Did not end well)
 

Sick Bird Rider wrote

Here is a relevant quote from the author, who is considered one of the world's leading authorities on bear behavior. He outlines the distinction between instances of grizzly versus black bear predation:   :

Stephen Herrero wrote

One rule of thumb, no matter which species of bear is attacking, “If an attack cannot be deterred and is defensive, play dead; if predatory, fight back.

billyymc wrote

How exactly do we determine the bear's motivation? Do we ask?

billyymc wrote

How exactly do we determine the bear's motivation? Do we ask? If it's a female bear we're probably supposed to just know.

Algonquin Park wrote

Encountering a Black Bear

If you encounter a Black Bear it is likely to react in one of four ways.

    Fleeing Bear
    Habituated Bear
    Defensive Bear
    Predatory Bear

1. Fleeing Bear

In most cases, a bear will hear or smell you before you are aware of it. Even if you surprise a bear, it will most often flee the area. Reacting to a fleeing bear... Enjoy the fleeting sight of a wild Black Bear.

2. Habituated Bear

Some bears lose their fear of humans from frequent human contact or from being rewarded with human food or garbage. These bears may not respond to our attempts to dissuade them and may react defensively. Reacting to an Habituated Bear... Stay calm and determine if the bear is aware of you. If the bear is unaware of you, move away quietly. However, if the bear is aware of you, talk to the bear in a low tone, wave your arms, back away, and leave the area. If you are near a building or car, get inside as a precaution. If the bear was attracted to food or garbage, remove it after the bear leaves to discourage the bear from returning.

3. Defensive Bear

A defensive bear will respond in a defensive manner if it perceives you as a threat or if it is defending a food source. It may use vocalizations such as huffing, blowing air loudly through nostrils, exhaling loudly and "popping" of teeth, and may swat the ground with its fore paws, lowering its head, and drawing back the ears. As well, a defensive bear may resort to bluff charges. The bear is feeling threatened by your presence and is trying to get you to back off. Reacting to a Defensive Bear... Stop and face the bear. If you are with others, stay together and act as a group. Make sure the bear has a clear escape route. Slowly back away while watching the bear and wait for it to leave. Use a whistle or airhorn, or bear spray if you have them. Do not turn and run - this may trigger a predatory response in the bear. Do not climb a tree - bears are excellent climbers.

4. Predatory Black Bear

On EXTREMELY RARE occasions, a bear will attack humans with the intent to kill. Predatory bears seldom make huffing or "popping" sounds, nor do they swat the ground with their forepaws, or bluff charge as defensive bears sometimes do. Instead, they silently stalk, or press closer and closer to their intended prey, apparently assessing whether it is safe to attack. Reacting to a Predatory Bear... Leave the area in your canoe or car if you can, but never turn and run. If you cannot leave, confront the bear. Do everything in your power to make the bear think twice about attacking you. Be aggressive, yell, throw rocks, hit the bear with sticks, and use your whistle, airhorn, or bear spray if you have them. If a predatory bear does make contact with you, do not play dead. Fighting back with everything you have is the best way to persuade a predatory Black Bear to halt its attack.

billyymc wrote

Dang you guys are a serious bunch.