Bear calls - yes or no?

imported
#1

When solo hiking in Yosemite and environs, do people usually make bear calls (yelling, clapping or whatever - by the way, those bear bells don’t work, they’re too quiet) every once in a while?

In the Canadian Rockies, I have always made bear calls. The bears are less habituated, and I have been less than 5 km from a bear mauling caused by a solo hiker surprising a grizzly (she just gave him a swat, but you know, bears are strong and all). Also, there are far fewer people (in our 3 day trip we saw 4 or 5 people total), so you’re not ruining anyone’s experience by hollering.

In Yosemite, it sounds like I’ll see people quite often. It also sounds like the bears are more habituated, so surprising them is not really the issue.

Anyone want to weigh in on “bear calls, to yell or not to yell”?

Sophie

Sophie

#2

I’ve never heard of this before. My impression is that bears in yosemite are largely nocturnal. It seems like I would be pretty hoarse at the end of the day if I was constantly “calling” to scare bears away.:smokin

striker

#3

Aloha Sophie,
At the Yosemite web site there is an excellent article on how to conduct yourself with the local Black Bears.
I think in campgrounds it works perfectly for the bears are use to the yelling and the clanging of pots and pans etc…

On the trail the advice is a little different, and if going at the time of the year when no one else will be around…singing…humming…talking out loud would help. Depends are where you are really, above the treeline not as many bears.

Most of the JMT is very crowded July thru Sept 15…I don’t think you will have any trouble.
At night if you have your bear canister and it is stored away from you…most report there are no problems.

We are traveling very late in the season(Oct)so we plan on talking or singing from time to time if we find ourselves in areas where any bears would be. Personally I hope to just see some, and not well its stealing my food either!!!

When I go solo next year in August…I will sing out:D

AlohaTink

#4

I usually whistle a tune or sing a ditty when I’m in dense undergrowth like some less-hiked trails of Shenandoah. In Yosemite, there was typically so much open ground, the bears must’ve seen us coming, that is if you believe they really exist in the Sierras. Or take a long a hiking partner that never shuts his trap, ahem, Jerm.

Cap’n

#5

Even in black bear country, like Yosemite, it’s not a good idea to surprise a bear. You never know if that bear will be a mother with cubs, or feeding on a prized something or other, or annoyed at being startled by the sudden approach of a human. The best way to avoid this, and a possible charge, is to yell regularly or sing.

Of course, in grizz country you’d be a damned fool to hike without making noise. You don’t want to surprise a grizz under any circumstances.

Fur

#6

Of course, if you’re hiking through open country and can see everything for a mile away, the above would not apply.

Fur

#7

bells will work fine if you tie one on each boot, it may drive you crazy, but it will work.

jgreene

#8

We were instructed by the rangers at Denali to regualarly call out (Yo Bear!) especially when in thick brush like alder. Out in the open it was easy to spot bears before you came up on them.

Tim

#9

Bears hate Rap Music.so don’t be singing no Rap to them.They may attack!Bears love songs from the 60’s,especially stuff by the Beatles,Peter,Paul &Mary.They become very mello and will not attack:pimp :happy

Old&in the Way

#10

My encounters with bears in Yosemite all happened at night, and especially at or nearby a heavy use area. Those west coast critters are clever and know exactly how to obtain food. The ranger advice was for me and my buddy to pile pine cones next to us and throw them at a bear if it approached whilst banging cooking pots etc. We were “bluff charged” by one bear but had no time what so ever to grab any cones. They know that they can’t open those bear canniters themselves so they just watch and wait for you to open it for them, then they charge at you to scare the crap out of you, you then drop the said cannister and the bear feasts. In my opinion you will not need a bear call if you avoid high use areas and hike during the day.

Cheers

Cheers