Another bear attack within two weeks (living, to eat, backyard)

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Classic Satch

Holy mackerel! Do you live right in Anchorage or in the outskirts?

South Anchorage, up on the Hillside...

I think the bears must somehow know we are talking about them here.

Looks like APD just bagged another one, doesn't specify exactly where in Anchorage though:

KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | Police kill black bear

[Classic Satch]

Originally Posted by AK_Photographer

South Anchorage, up on the Hillside...

I think the bears must somehow know we are talking about them here.

Looks like APD just bagged another one, doesn't specify exactly where in Anchorage though:

KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | Police kill black bear

Wow. Be careful and keep a potent firearm handy.

[MissingAll4Seasons]

I've been getting conflicting reports about bear safety, hope you all can clear it up. I've always heard that blackies will normally spook and try to avoid you, and that browns are the ones that you have to watch for because they are very territorial. But I recently heard that blackies are really the ones you have to watch out for because they are known to actually stalk and predate humans... so fight the blackies and be submissive to a brown during confrontation.

I've had experience coming up on both out hiking and camping and used the same technique for both in the past... stand my ground, keep talking and don't act like food (i.e. don't run). I've been bluff-charged by a brown (and had to change my pants afterwards!), but every blackie I've encountered has taken off into the brush the minute I started talking and waving my arms. But those blackies were down in the lower 48, so I don't know if they are more aggressive in AK or if they've somehow become more predatory recently.

I'd never take a bear encounter lightly, but I want to make sure that I react properly if one does occur. We'll be up shortly to look around our property, and we'll have the shotguns loaded with slugs... but I don't want to do the wrong thing since there are a lot of bears reported in that area (and everywhere it seems) this year.

[Rance]

Play dead if a brownie attacks. Fight for your life if a blackie attacks.

[MissingAll4Seasons]

Thanks Rance. What about before they actually make contact? If a blackie is charging at you, do you just assume it's going to attack... unlike brownies who are probably just bluffing the first time?

[arctichomesteader]

If a black bear isn't afraid of you and doesn't try to run away when it knows you're there (they have poor eyesight so making noise may be needed), and it walks towards you unafraid, or charges, figure you're in a fight for your life and act accordingly...

[Wanderer818]

I've always had faith the wife can handle her coach shotty here in the house, but am rethinking that thought and will have to get her on one of my combat rigged 870's. I've never even THOUGHT of arming her with a pistol of any calibre.

I keep my skills with up with my .45's. I also have an M29 with a 2" tube, that's a pain in the wrist to rapid fire and meant for out to 7yrds and closer. I think I may need a couple more M29's in 6 inch. Don't worry we won't be living in a neighborhood or intown.

But those have always been my back ups. Not my first choice. My SoCom-14 in 7.62 with ball ammo is great in most instances but in any kind of bear country, I prefer the 870 with an 18" tube, shoulder stock, quick sling, and a lot of slugs. When I'm hunting, well that's different. Either my Rem .308 or for the big-uns, .338 Lap. These are the ones that have never let me down and I'm kinda partial to em.

My 3 Eskie's will alert me to anything that comes near, I'm dang near deaf now and don't hear to well. My alert level is on high due to that, wherever I am. Without the dogs around me, I'd have a hard time going for a walk in the woods, even with the 870. Once we get there and the dogs start doing what dogs love to do, I'll keep as many as I'm 'allowed' to. Heck I just had 16 in the pack and now I'm down to three. Want the next litter to be Alaskan born.

I'm learning now instead of later, how to compensate for the loss of complete hearing I'm facing. Doc's say 2 more years and I'll be stone deaf. Friends have learned not to come up behind me because my reaction to that is rather unpleasant.

Just a matter of acclimation, and I'm big on that.

Thanks again for all the great info.

[DannyL]

Originally Posted by Wanderer818

I've always had faith the wife can handle her coach shotty here in the house, but am rethinking that thought and will have to get her on one of my combat rigged 870's. I've never even THOUGHT of arming her with a pistol of any calibre.

that's good thinking. It seems that everyone except those of us who live here preach about owning and carrying the largest caliber handgun you can buy. Right now the S&W .500 Alaskan seems to be everyone's choice.
I've seen them, dealt with them and seem to me to be very nice, expensive, heavy, multi shot deringers. Recovery time for the inexperienced after the first shot seems to be about a day and a half.
I keep saying this, but Pepper Spray is better than a pistol. It really works. Just try not to spray upwind..........

Now as far as bears go, others have a lot more experience than I do, but this is my take.
Brownies are lord of their domain. They're not afraid of crap. Surprise one and you're in trouble, which is why noise is your best friend. They will even stalk you if they're interested. If you see a mother and her cubs,,,,,back out of that zip code quickly and quietly.
Black bears are simply neurotic. They may attack or try to run up a tree or under a house. You just don't know what the hell they''l do.

You seem to have a nice collection, but in all honesty, my go-to firearms are really simple.
- 30-06 bolt gun (Savage) w/ 220 gr
- Marlin 45-70 loaded with 405 to 500 grain hammerheads
- winchester 12 guage 7 shot defender, loaded with slugs.

- and of course...pepper spray.

Good luck with your relocation and protecting what hearing you have left, I also am suffering from hearing loss, but only in my left ear.

Ray and Mal can go into much more detail than I.

[MissingAll4Seasons]

We'll stock up on pepper spray when we touch down -- Alaska Airlines allows it, but SeaTac airport security doesn't... grrrr.

I'd rather deter an animal than kill it if I'm not interested in eating it... but, heck if it looks interested in eating me, I'll shoot first and second-guess it's intentions later!

[DannyL]

Originally Posted by MissingAll4Seasons

We'll stock up on pepper spray when we touch down -- Alaska Airlines allows it, but SeaTac airport security doesn't... grrrr.

I'd rather deter an animal than kill it if I'm not interested in eating it... but, heck if it looks interested in eating me, I'll shoot first and second-guess it's intentions later!

don't worry about trying to fly with it. It is only a couple of bucks higher here than you would pay down south.
A lot is sold in alaska....