Woods Journal

As bears and other wildlife move closer into town and hunting season gears up, encounters with dangerous animals are going to become more commonplace. Just recently a mountain lion was killed outside of Thompson Falls and a family of bears was seen ambling through town. It is important to stay “bear aware” and to know how to protect oneself from these animals in an environment like that of northwestern Montana.

Right now, bears are preparing for winter hibernation and need to put on as many calories as possible and they can get desperate. Kim Annis, a bear and wildlife management expert with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) out of Libby, says this is called hyperphagia. It is the time when a bear’s metabolism increases “to put on a heavy layer of fat in order to survive the winter.” This begins in the fall, and according to Annis, will continue until about Thanksgiving.

There are several ways bear encounters can happen during this time of year. It is not uncommon for grizzly bears in particular to listen for the sounds of gunshots and to investigate, with the goal of stealing the kill. Joggers and community members need to be cautious of bears in town. Moving into towns and going after the free lunch provided by the many trash cans and chickens is something bears cannot easily pass up. “The only way to secure chickens from a bear is electric fencing. Everything else is luck. The same goes for fruit trees,” according to Annis. She warned that bears are coming close to town in search of food left out by people. “It doesn’t matter what a bear finds near people. It’s learning, ‘If I go near people, I will find food.’” Bird feeders, cat food and anything else a bear can scavenge will convince it to return. “We don’t want those bears to be created by the public,” said Annis. She advised removing all food, especially during this time of year, and in some cases even picking fruit before it is ripe.

As for protection, there are many tools that can make the difference in the rare occasion a bear decides to test its metal against the most prolific critter on the planet. It is also important to know that these same tricks and tools can be used on anything else stomping in the woods, from mountain lions to moose. If it works on a bear, it should work with other animals as well.

Making noise and talking while out on a walk can be one of a person’s greatest tools. Doing so will give a bear time to move away, especially on high mountain trails where bears are busy munching on the last remaining berries. “Make noise before entering those areas,” said Annis, referring to areas such as switchbacks on trails and high mountain berry patches. She advises that people do this even while hunting. If a bear is seen it is a good idea to call to it and not to run. Most experts suggest loudly saying “hey bear,” which will also signal other people in the area that there may be a bear around.

Bears read body language, and most bear attacks against humans are caused by miscommunication. When a bear is spooked by a human walking silently, or if the bear perceives a threat and feels trapped, it can become aggressive, or defensive, as Annis prefers. She explains that bears will react to protect themselves, just as anything would. She recommends traveling in larger groups of three or more. She also advises against traveling at dawn or dusk, when the bears are most active. When a bear is seen, it is recommended to stay calm. Most bears are just foraging and are not actively aggressive toward humans.

It is recommended that a hunter, hiker or jogger carry with them some form of “hard protection” besides the soft kind which includes the aforementioned body language and noise. This harder protection can include bear spray or a firearm. As for the spray, it is the best option in a bear encounter and “there is very good data that says it is your best bet,” says Annis. Bear spray works on the principle of capsaicin oil, which is the chemical that gives peppers their spice. Capsaicin causes severe and dramatic reactions, triggering pain and burning. In human pepper spray, there can be about 1% or 2% capsaicin. In bear spray, that percentage can be more than three times as dense. Annis explained that it is often used in cases against polar bears, which do actively hunt people, and has been extremely effective. This means that it will cause even an angry/hungry bear to think twice. Spray also has an effect that forces a reaction from the bear which will buy a person time. Even a firearm, unless it is instantly fatal, will not have such a forced immediate reaction. A bear can push through pain, but capsaicin forces the eyes to close and the bear to rub them. Even bears can’t hunt what they can’t see.

To use bear spray, FWP suggests a person start by pointing the spray at the ground and spraying continuously, working up into the air in a zig-zag fashion, forming a cloud between the bear and the user. This is referred to as a wall. The average bear spray can contain about 20 seconds of continuous spray, so it must be used sparingly. Then, the user should aim low again, as the spray will float into the air. If the bear approaches, the person should walk backward, away from the wall of spray and fire downward toward the bear’s feet. The spray will float into the bear’s path as it approaches. Both bursts and continuous spray are recommended, and most cans can spray out over 20 feet. Bear spray should be used only on a bear that begins to act defensive. If the bear is just walking through, it will often continue on without incident. Defensive bears will bow up, stand, huff, puff and bark. According to Annis, they will moan and chuff, sway back and forth, drool, make hopping gestures toward their perceived threat and stomp their feet.

If a firearm is the choice, there are several options. It is recommended that the firearm be as powerful as possible. Bears have large heavy bones with thick hides and fat, especially in the fall. This means that rounds, even up to the .45 automatic or the .38 special cartridges, can bounce off the skull or fail to penetrate deep enough. For effective protection against all bears, many guides recommend a cartridge that is big, heavy and fast. These have the potential power to break the skull and work through the bear’s hide. Hunters should endeavor to carry something chambered, especially when hunting an animal in the backcountry where it may take some time, or multiple trips, to haul out. However, according to Annis and many other experts, “bear spray is your best bet to separate bear from person.” She cautions against relying on a firearm, especially when out with a partner. If they were to be attacked, using the spray would prevent injuring either party. She also argues that killing the bear is not always the best action.

Many experts will recommend both the spray and the firearm. When it comes to life or death, one can never have too much protection. For those in town, Annis recommends adding electric fencing and bear-proof containers. Both can be provided for free to interested parties by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. For more information, call Annis at (406) 291-1320.

Reach John Dowd at [email protected].