Bears! - Appalachian Trail

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#1

This is part of my campaign to ease hiker’s fear of black bears…

According to the Appalachian Trail Conference, about 43 people have been killed by black bears in North American recorded history. If we consider the last 100 years to be “recorded history,” that’s about .43 fatalities a year.

According to the National Safety Council, here is the approximate number of deaths caused annually by each of the following:
Transportation (Mostly Automobiles): 50,0000
Murder: 15,000
Falls: 13,000
Bicycle Riding: 800
Exposure to Cold: 600
Drowning in Bathtub: 320
Lightning: 65
Hornets, Wasps and Bees: 45
Dogs: 25
Bears: ½

Over 100 people have died on Mt. Washington alone, mostly from hypothermia, so hypothermia on the AT is something to be wary of, but if you’re prepared and use your head, it poses very little danger. Hitching into town requires some caution. Watch your footing too, because falls have killed plenty of people along the trail.

But bears? Your odds of being killed by a black bear are so low, it just doesn’t make sense to worry about it. Sleep soundly, and hope you are lucky enough to even see a bear.

Colter

#2

It’s being eaten on. Having pieces of my arms and chest eaten on like I was a $1.00 Big 'N Tasty. Most people attacked by bears live, but with bite marks or a pound or two of hamburger meat missing.

Bear Scared

#3

You are 100,000 times more likely to get mutilated in a traffic accident.

Know anyone mutilated by a bear? Neither do I. That’s because it’s incredibly rare, but you can bet that every single instance gets press. People often fear what they don’t understand.

For rational fears, real-world numbers should help. Stats probably won’t help irrational fears.

Colter

#4

It’s being so scared when a bear comes into camp, just hearing that huge stinky carnivour a few yards away and knowing he could amble over and rip me to pieces and have me for a Big 'N Tasty would literally take years off my life.

Bear Scared

#5

In 2000, March, A woman, who was car camping with her husband in the Smokies, was eaten to death by a black bear. It had to be shot and killed to get it to stop. Point of the story, all the bears are downtown where the dumpsters are or where the car campers are. I saw 4 bears in 2000 miles and they all ran away before I evan had a chance to open my mouth.

Chef

#6

They might have been car camping the night before but they were hiking that afternoon and weren’t near camp. And you’re right that bear killed her and when they found her body the momma and yearling were standing over her munching away and wouldn’t budge even with rocks thrown at them. The park service concluded it was a cold-blooded predatory attack. That momma was teaching her cub to kill people!

Bear Scared

#7

I hate to say it Bear Scared, but you’re right. I expect you WILL get horribly mauled by a black bear. Why risk it? Best to stay home.:tongue

Colter

#8

There was some evidence that the husband killed the women in the Smokies and fed her body to the bears. It actually went to a Grand Jury but they did not think there was enough for a conviction. Who knows what happened, animals often get blamed for many human mistakes.

Blue Jay

#9

… Bears know that the tastiest campers are the ones in the shelter.

Tenter

#10

If you are really that afraid of bears perhaps the AT isn’t the place for you. Think about it. Isn’t part of the joy of being on the AT the fact that you have to deal with the natural world on its level? Bears are an integral part of that world. Besides, you’d become a legend on the AT if you got chomped on by smokey!

Uncle Duke

#11

I agree with Uncle Duke and Colter. There is a high likelihood that you will encounter a bear while on the trail. Whether or not it occurs at camp while you are cooking or just happen to run in to one while hiking, it WILL most like happen. If you are not prepared to deal with this or feel that you cannot deal with this than the trail is probably not for you. I live in Jersey where I once saw five bears in one day between Pochuck Mountain shelter and Wildcat shelter. The last one of the day was at a shelter where he paced back and forth while other hikers and I prepared supper. After about a half hour he or she??? went away. If they have not gotten the food they can be chased away (probably), but once they have the food I think it best to let them keep it. This is just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Tribes

#12

Just to chime in the the bear debate…My husband and I counted 27 bears on our AT thruhike. All but one ran away from us (very quickly). The one that didn’t, went off into the bushes a short distance and watched us as we passed. He was in no way threatening. We found it enjoyable to watch big black bears scurring down from their perches 30-40 ft up in big oak trees with the speed and agility of a squirrel. They are amazing and beautiful creatures. And speaking on behalf of my husband who was very afraid of black bears before we began our hike, he found that they really are much more scared of humans that we are of them. He no longer scared of meeting black bears along the trail.

Budder Ball

#13

The second of July, '82 is a date I will remember – always. My love Peg and I had a late hike to High Top Mt. in Virginia. The tird was our date we’d met, and I had the ring in mi pocket, as it were.

We gathered wood, and made a late dinner of steak. We gathered up the food, placed in the pack, and used the pack as a pillow to read into the night, as was my practice, having ne’er growin’ up on the Chesapeake learned other, wiser ways.

I snuffed the lantern and drifted off after a hard hike, a good meal, a cold bear, and a warm embrace. A tightening grip on my arm woke me, and a whisper in my ear – what – is – it?. I swear those words echo in me, young sweet Peg new to the wild environs. I heard a snuff snuffing 'round the permimeter o the tent. I knew – at the same moment it was too late.

The violence of the attack is what I remember, with fabric werlin round like Ezekiel’s garment. The carnage unrelentin. I beat the bear back at first with a tent pole that did nothin. I could barely see him. I finally got some distance and began hurlin rocks – it has some rocks round like from a morraine, and twice as big as yer hand, less so big as yer brain. It would not leave, and I could bearly see it, moonless night.

But I caught the glint of its main. 'twas white. I tell you. Some time later, twenty minutes or two hours, found me stumblin down the mountain alone, under indifferent stars.

To this day, I bear the scar, rip wrapin’ down from my hairline to what remains of my abbreviated left eyebrow. A four inch scar. Some one once says to me, its a distinguishment of courage, or, at least, survival, but to me, this one lone four inch mark – well, I’ve smashed apart all the mirrors in my house. I’m brave 'nuff in the face of my own reflection.

In the 21 years since, I’ve had bearly a moment’s peace since that day. Some say it’s all for the loss of my bonnie Irish lass that my heart will be breakin forever. But I hunt these hills alone at night. Like you, I am amused by the run and hide of the black bar. But thars another bar, a rare white black bar, out thar.

If you find him, if you make it back, leave note of when and where. Vengeance is mine; I will repay.

Call me Ishmael

#14

Them bars are KILLERS!!!

Bear Scared

#15

Very excellent, although you got your pole stuck on the bear and were dragged down into the deep forest and Peg told the story. Otherwise I believe every word.

Blue Jay

#16

Very entertaining.

C-Giddy

#17

I’ve worked in the Adirondacks at a scout camp the last several summers, we have many black bears in the area. They are never a problem, and is one of the main drawing points for people coming to our camp. The only place we ever had any problem with them was at the dump several miles outside of camp… but they were just after a free meal of camp trash.

Eldwayno

#18

Before I did my hike I had very little experience in the woods. I was terrified of the prospect of meeting a bear and what would happen. My second night out at Justus Creek, it took me over an hour to convince myself to get out of the “safety” of my tent and go pee. I just knew that there were bears waiting out there for me.

But from experience most of my bear encounters were benign. They see you, they run the other way. After a while you become comfortable with your surroundings and with the fact that you share the woods with wild animals.

Bottom line Bear Scared…don’t worry about it and don’t let it stop you.

Ganj