Possible move to Maine husband is freaking out about bears lol (Washington: safety, moving to)

[G1..]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

LL Bean sells guns. They don't have guns or gun related items in their catalogs since they went the Lands End route. To buy a gun from LL Bean you have to actually go to the store in Freeport. I have been in a few LL Bean outlet stores. They do not sell hunting related items.

I have never seen bear spray for sale in Maine.

Not going to lie this post has me thinking .We were in ME last year in and around Freeport and loved it, we all so know a few people in ME and have visited a few times ,yes we are looking .I walk six miles every morning and the ME wildlife does make me wonder whether my early morning walks can continue if and when we move?

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by G1..

Not going to lie this post has me thinking .We were in ME last year in and around Freeport and loved it, we all so know a few people in ME and have visited a few times ,yes we are looking .I walk six miles every morning and the ME wildlife does make me wonder whether my early morning walks can continue if and when we move?

Freeport is located in a corner of the state that is the most densely populated urban region of the state. I hate seeing anyone try to use what they saw in Freeport to describe the rest of Maine.

If you enjoy taking walks, you can continue to enjoy your walks anywhere in Maine.

We have a parcel of land that is a mile deep with a jeep trail cut down the center of it. I enjoy walking the length of that trail. Occasionally I have came up onto a bear on my trail. When it happens we are usually both startled by the sight of each other. I turn around and walk away 100 yards. Then I turn around again and continue my original walk. But the second time I sing out loud. So the bear can hear me coming. Singing and making noise like that, the bear will be gone before I can return to the site.

[kevin5098]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

LL Bean sells guns. They don't have guns or gun related items in their catalogs since they went the Lands End route. To buy a gun from LL Bean you have to actually go to the store in Freeport. I have been in a few LL Bean outlet stores. They do not sell hunting related items.

I have never seen bear spray for sale in Maine.

I work at a big box outdoor store in Southern Maine. Bear spray is sold there and I have had many customers ask for it. I never felt the need for it in Maine, except perhaps in an urban environment. I feel safer in the woods day or night than in some of our downtown areas.

[G1..]

Originally Posted by Submariner

Freeport is located in a corner of the state that is the most densely populated urban region of the state. I hate seeing anyone try to use what they saw in Freeport to describe the rest of Maine.

If you enjoy taking walks, you can continue to enjoy your walks anywhere in Maine.

We have a parcel of land that is a mile deep with a jeep trail cut down the center of it. I enjoy walking the length of that trail. Occasionally I have came up onto a bear on my trail. When it happens we are usually both startled by the sight of each other. I turn around and walk away 100 yards. Then I turn around again and continue my original walk. But the second time I sing out loud. So the bear can hear me coming. Singing and making noise like that, the bear will be gone before I can return to the site.

Never said a word that I though Freeport was all of ME.It was the last place I was in ME,that's all.I have climbed Katahdin and come down knives edge ...pretty sure I realise all of ME is not like Freeport or visa versa.


Oh yeah, I sing like crap!

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by G1..

Never said a word that I though Freeport was all of ME.It was the last place I was in ME,that's all.I have climbed Katahdin and come down knives edge ...pretty sure I realise all of ME is not like Freeport or visa versa.


Oh yeah, I sing like crap!

Knife's Edge scares the crap out of me. I'd rather meet up with wildlife. I think you'd be just fine. Most of the wildlife wants to be as far away from you as possible. Some of the animals will watch you to figure out if you're a threat. There's rarely ever anything in the news about people being bothered. When it happens it's usually a rabid skunk, raccoon or fox with rabies. That can happen most anywhere.

[Maineac]

Originally Posted by kevin5098

I work at a big box outdoor store in Southern Maine. Bear spray is sold there and I have had many customers ask for it. I never felt the need for it in Maine, except perhaps in an urban environment. I feel safer in the woods day or night than in some of our downtown areas.

Reminded me of my Grandfather's bear repelling technique when I was a kid. Head out of the camp in your wife beater and tightie whities with a fry pan and a steel ladle and chase the bear out of the garbage can and back into the woods.

Got two bothering the bird feeder these days. The kid never should've left the suet on top of the 50# of birdseed in the covered steel trash can.

Bears won't bother you. I'm more concerned about skunks. In the dark.

[G1..]

Originally Posted by Maineac

Reminded me of my Grandfather's bear repelling technique when I was a kid. Head out of the camp in your wife beater and tightie whities with a fry pan and a steel ladle and chase the bear out of the garbage can and back into the woods.

Got two bothering the bird feeder these days. The kid never should've left the suet on top of the 50# of birdseed in the covered steel trash can.

Bears won't bother you. I'm more concerned about skunks. In the dark.

Are skunks a big problem?I know they are a problem on Martha's Vineyard.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by G1..

Are skunks a big problem?I know they are a problem on Martha's Vineyard.

They can be. Skunks have gotten into our chicken coops a few times. Our dog manages to get sprayed about once a year.

Our dog also gets into a tussle with a porcupine about once a year also.

[G1..]

Originally Posted by Submariner

They can be. Skunks have gotten into our chicken coops a few times. Our dog manages to get sprayed about once a year.

Our dog also gets into a tussle with a porcupine about once a year also.

So is the tomato juice thing true?

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by G1..

So is the tomato juice thing true?

It is my understanding that the spray is a protein, and to break out down you need to use either a weak acid or a weak base.

Mixing acids and bases does not work because they just neutralize themselves.

But you can alternate. Do one wash with an acid [like tomato juice or vinegar] and then a wash with a base [like baking soda].

It seems the best I can do is to get half of the smell off, each time.