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On Bears (mander.xyz)

submitted 1 month ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] GoofSchmoofer@lemmy.world 46 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

This video while long does a great job teaching you how to act in active bear territory.

The TLDW is: -

In active bear territory carry bear spray and be ready to use it
You can't out run a bear don't try
bear bells don't work
playing dead makes it easier for the bear to maul you
when hiking with a group and encounter an aggressive bear stand shoulder to shoulder and prepare your bear spray
let the bear decide how they want to leave the encounter (if they are not attacking you)
outside of a momma bear, most "attacks" are bluffs but can be scary as shit.
guns work but you better be a good and quick shot cuz bears run fast and are very intimidating doing so
a gun shot can help scare away most bears

[-] onwardknave@lemmy.ml 27 points 1 month ago

My chance at pedantry! Also, some black bears are brown, and some grizzlies are black. If you live in overlapping territory, it may be easier to know them by shape... but if you're close enough to discern shape, you're already in a bad spot.

[-] ShurtBert@lemmy.zip 11 points 1 month ago

I've heard the best way to tell the difference is to check your pants. If you crapped your pants it's probably a grizzly.

[-] ThisIsAManWhoKnowsHowToGling@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 month ago

Ooh bear facts! My favorite bear fact is that there is no grizzly bear species. Sure, there's regional genetic variation, but they are all genetically brown bears.

What they are named for is the grey hairs on their pelt, which are caused by the stress of malnutrition. This is why they are so much more aggressive than the other bears: they are literally starving because there is not enough calories in their environment to keep so many land sharks happy and healthy.

[-] Xanis@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Part of me wonders if the gunshot helps whether it would be worth the trouble to carry an air horn.

[-] GoofSchmoofer@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Maybe, but really when you are in bear territory, and close to areas where bear congregate (rivers being one), just a few loud claps and a couple of loud "HEYS" is good enough to flush most bears.