MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS
“A problem for bears is not so much what we don’t know,
it’s what we think we know that isn’t true.”
Coexistence and deep understanding. A beautiful film.
Myth # 1 - Bears are unpredictable
Contrary to popular belief, many biologists who study bears and take the time to learn about their behaviour, find that bears can be quite predictable.
Contrary to popular belief, many biologists who study bears and take the time to learn about their behaviour, find that bears can be quite predictable.Bears use body language and vocalizations to show their intentions. Black bears may do any or all of the following when trying to warn you to back away:
Clacking/chomping their teeth.
Jaw popping
Huffing sound.
Blowing sound.
Make a low moaning sound (black bears do not growl).
Make a pulsing
Purse their lips.
Slap or paw the ground or a nearby object.
Do the stiff legged cowboy walk.
Display charge a few steps then come to a halt.
LISTEN TO BEAR SOUNDS
Myth #2 - If it’s black fight back, if it’s brown lie down
Your response to a bear attack should be based on the bear's behaviour, that is, defensive vs. predatory rather than its species or fur colour. Relying strictly on this catchphrase can be highly dangerous. If you drop to the ground for a brown phase black bear, or try to punch a black phase grizzly bear in the face, the results can be catastrophic. COMPLETE GUIDE TO STAYING SAFE IN BEAR COUNTRY
Playing Dead
A defensive encounter, the most likely situation being a MOTHER GRIZZLY protecting her cubs, is one of the few situations in which you should play dead, but only as a last resort. NEVER play dead with a black bear unless you are absolutely sure it is a defensive attack.
Myth #3 - Bear Bells are the best way to avoid an unwanted encounter
Bear bells do not identify you as a human being and mean nothing to a bear unless it has previously been rewarded with food from a pack with bells tied to it - in which case the sound may actually attract a bear. It’s best to call out loudly, “Hey, bear!”, clap your hands, sing or talk loudly and KNOW WHAT TO DO IN ORDER TO AVOID ENCOUNTERS.
Bear bells are NOT a bear deterrent
Some bears have learned to associate bear bells with a food reward. It's best to alert bears of your 'human' presence and avoid encounters by talking loudly or singing. Try to hike in a group, on established trails and during daylight hours.
Myth #4 - the most dangerous SITUATION is getting between a black bear and her cubs
Attacks on humans by mother black bears are very rare. While they may display fierce behaviour, there have been no records of fatal injuries in defence of cubs. However, 70% of fatal injuries by grizzly bears have occurred in encounters with a mother grizzly in defence of cubs. It does not matter if you are between or simply too near her cubs; if she decides you are a threat, she will react defensively. Unlike grizzlies who evolved in open habitat with few places for cubs to shelter for safety, black bears evolved as forest animals and as such, when fearful, cubs instinctually climb trees. When mom senses a threat, she emits concerned grunts and tongue clicks, signalling her cubs to climb the nearest tree. She may either stay on the ground and circle the base of the tree, or join her cubs. When bears are in a tree they often moan in distress. Please give them space by backing away and returning the way you came.
Myth #5 - A bear standing on its hind legs is a threat
When a bear stands on its hind legs it is simply trying to get a better sense of what as caught its attention. This is one of the many misconceptions that Hollywood has propagated; this is not a threatening gesture.
Photo Credit: Martin Davis
Myth #6 - Bears Attack when They Sense Fear
Almost everyone has some level of fear when encountering a bear in the wild; if bears attacked every time they sensed fear, there would be a LOT of dead or injured people! Instead of seeking out trouble with humans, bears would much rather avoid them.
Myth #7 - When Bears Lose Fear of People, They are more likely to Attack
Considering that most bear attacks are defensive, bears are less likely to attack people once they have become habituated and comfortable with their presence. This holds especially true in bear viewing areas, where experienced guides teach people how to be predictable and act respectfully in the presence of bears. However, in other circumstances, a bear’s loss of fear may occasionally allow it to get too close to people, who in turn may act inappropriately and cause the bear to react. A defensive diversionary ‘swat and run’ by the bear, perhaps causing only minor injury, is often deemed an “aggressive attack”, all hell breaks loose, the story gets into the media and the bear gets shot.
Myth #8 - bears attack women who are Menstruating
There has never been a proven or documented case of a bear attacking a woman on her period.
Myth #9 - bears have territories
Unlike wolves, bears do not have defined territories that they defend, instead they have overlapping home ranges. Each bear maintains and defends its own immediate, personal space, and depending on seasonal food abundance, bears may or may not tolerate being close to each other. Home ranges vary dramatically based on species, food availability, and sex, but they generally span anywhere from 10 to 500 square miles, but can be larger. Males typically have ranges four times larger than females and can include several female ranges. Interior populations, where food sources are sparser, require much larger areas than coastal ones.
Myth #10 - bears smell
Bears usually do not emanate odours, even from a very close distance. They lick themselves as well as their cubs clean and deposit scat and urine away from sleeping areas. “I witnessed a black bear accidentally stepping in fresh scat; when it raised its paw to check, I swear there was a look of absolute disgust on its face.” Evelyn Kirkaldy
Occasionally a bear may roll in rotten meat, and sometimes people have simply smelled carcasses or hunter’s bait piles where they saw bears. In mating season, you may detect a slight musky odour, this smell originates from the crown and back of the neck, parts that bears rub on trees for scent-marking. It is strongest on mature males but is not unpleasant. (source: Lynn Rogers)