Are there brown bears in Northern most California forests? (club, eat)

[Hawk J]

Get some bear spray...

https://www.google.com/search?q=bear...w=1067&bih=441

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by freepelican

Yes, I've heard/read run, play dead, and make noise -- in fact, all three multiple times! That's why I'm confused. :-) My instinct would be to make as much noise as I could like banging rocks together but don't know if they would excite some bears even more???

What about cougars? My instinct would be to walk away slowly talking sweetly to the big cat. This is what I've always done when I encounter potentially dangerous mammals.

Catnip and a squeaky toy on a string.

My father used to cut a slit in the bottom of a paper grocery sack and slide his belt through from the back leaving the bag front open to our cat. Cat loved the game. Would dive into the bag time and again as Dad would slowly twitch it and withdraw into the dark hole. Maybe would work on a cougar. Would need a bigger bag though.

[Hawk J]

Originally Posted by freepelican

Yes, I've heard/read run, play dead, and make noise -- in fact, all three multiple times! That's why I'm confused. :-) My instinct would be to make as much noise as I could like banging rocks together but don't know if they would excite some bears even more???

What about cougars? My instinct would be to walk away slowly talking sweetly to the big cat. This is what I've always done when I encounter potentially dangerous mammals.

For noise some folks carry an aerosol can boat horn.
I always carry a walking stick.
I think Bear Spray would be the best thing available. If you shoot them & it doesn't kill them, you will really pi** them off.

I am armed when exploring the BLM forest, but have never had to shoot any animal.

[freepelican]

Originally Posted by Hawk J

Get some bear spray...

https://www.google.com/search?q=bear...w=1067&bih=441

I'd be a little afraid of bear pepper spray. I'd definitely need more info. Wikipedia says bear spray sometimes results in fatalities to both people and bears:

Bear spray - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It should also be noted that it is illegal in national parks.

[freepelican]

Originally Posted by Tulemutt

Catnip and a squeaky toy on a string.

My father used to cut a slit in the bottom of a paper grocery sack and slide his belt through from the back leaving the bag front open to our cat. Cat loved the game. Would dive into the bag time and again as Dad would slowly twitch it and withdraw into the dark hole. Maybe would work on a cougar. Would need a bigger bag though.

Funny.

I've seen lots of video of wild cats and they do play just like our little domestic friends.

[Hawk J]

Originally Posted by freepelican

I'd be a little afraid of bear pepper spray. I'd definitely need more info. Wikipedia says bear spray sometimes results in fatalities to both people and bears:

Bear spray - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It should also be noted that it is illegal in national parks.

I think you misread Wikipedia.

Wiki suggests you carry Bear Spray in Yellowstone National Park. They are even planning to rent cans of Bear Spray for $5.

Bear Mace is illegal.

Wiki says spray may save human & bear lives.

[freepelican]

Originally Posted by Hawk J

I think you misread Wikipedia.

Wiki suggests you carry Bear Spray in Yellowstone National Park. They are even planning to rent cans of Bear Spray for $5.

Bear Mace is illegal.

Wiki says spray may save human & bear lives.

Wiki states in the second sentence, "Generally, there are periodic injuries and sometimes fatalities to both bears and humans."

It was citing the reference: http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/bear_coug...prayAlaska.pdf

In the abstract of this reference, it states, "In 14% (10 of 71) of bear spray incidents, users reported the spray having had negative side effects upon themselves, ranging from minor irritation (11%, 8 of 71) to near incapacitation (3%, 2 of 71)."

I admit I have not studied this in detail but on a quick perusal, I saw other references to bear spray hurting those attempting to use it.

You are right that Wiki does say bear mace is banned in "some" but not all national parks. If someone actually wanted to take it into a national park, they probably ought to check with the rangers. Wiki, which is not an official reference of course, says "in the backcountry" for the usage in Yellowstone... it does not state in all of Yellowstone.

To me, the bottom line to all of this is that one should research things thoroughly if they are considering the use of bear spray.

[sourdough]

For a bear situation where you might be the slowest in the group. It's good to know a bears nose leads it just like a guided missile. Bring a tin of the stuff that has the pull ring, for obvious reasons. When a bear charges, just yell SARDINES, pop one open and throw it. The yell is not for the bear but a warning to every body else that the person jumping and running around has Sardines. You won't have to run much. Just get out of the way.

[freepelican]

Originally Posted by sourdough

For a bear situation where you might be the slowest in the group. It's good to know a bears nose leads it just like a guided missile. Bring a tin of the stuff that has the pull ring, for obvious reasons. When a bear charges, just yell SARDINES, pop one open and throw it. The yell is not for the bear but a warning to every body else that the person jumping and running around has Sardines. You won't have to run much. Just get out of the way.

You know I like the idea of packing in a can of sardines for a bear diversion. Simple and safe.

[Bulldogdad]

Originally Posted by freepelican

You know I like the idea of packing in a can of sardines for a bear diversion. Simple and safe.

You've never been outside the concrete jungle have you.