Posted: 10/10/2011 1:03:38 AM EDT
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Yesterday morning, while I was walking my dogs, a good size young adult black bear came meandering towards us from the woods about a 100 feet away. Being my first, non-zoo, bear encounter I immediately looked around for cubs, and started to back away slowly. He/She kept walking towards us, making some snorting (can't think of how else to describe it) sound. At this point my dogs, a 45 lb mutt and a 30 lb cocker (no goliaths by any stretch) were going nuts, and the bear seemed to lose interest and peeled off the road and up a neighbors driveway. I walked the 300 yards back to my house, and started to let the neighbors know.
I don't have my pistol permit, although this experiance has certainly made me more motivated to begin the process, so aside from that what I'm looking for are suggestions so I don't get caught with my pants down again. It has really made me rethink my "safety", which I often take for granted because of where I live. I know I can't go for a strole with my 12 gauge, and I'm not looking to do some crazy Conan charge with spear in hand the next time I see a bear. However, I feel like if the bear hadn't turned around and decided it wanted to charge, I was definately unprepared....and would have been f'd. Bear spray? Air horn? Are those my only "bear defense" options in a residential neighborhood? |
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The bear was bluffing you, the sound you heard is referred to as a "huff" and chances are the bear was as concerned as you.
What you really have to worry about is when the bear huffs and then starts snapping it's jaws repeatedly. Never RUN always back away and lift your arms over your head to make yourself look larger. Wear small bells on uour jacket or attach them to the dogs leash, and carry pepperspray. (If this doesn't work before you get your pistol we will know we found your body because the bear poop will have little bells in it and smell like pepperspray!) 
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Until you get your permit.... http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41YsP5x%2BnPL._SL500_AA300_.jpg Works on "other" critters too! |
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Quoted: Quoted: Until you get your permit.... http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41YsP5x%2BnPL._SL500_AA300_.jpg Works on "other" critters too! Just make sure you have Aimless on speed dial. |
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Odds are your bear merely suprised himself by dropping it's guard and stumbling into your presence. They're usually pretty darn reclusive (unless they've been accostomed to garbage can dining).
The dogs are usually more than enough to keep bears away. Natural enemies and the bear usually flees. Adk1 is right, when you get jaw popping/clicking noises is when the bear is trouble. The other vocalizations aren't anything to worry about. That's certainly time to back the hell out. Don't run, that just triggers their prey clobbering instinct.
Seriously, bears in NY are nothing like the western counterparts but don't take them for granted either, they're still big and capable of messing you up. |
Direct eye contact ( black bears ONLY). Guy who studies bears put it to the test. He figured it out by accident, I couldn't believe it (testing said theory took balls). Its the opposite of a dog. Guy tried it with wild bears ( no human contact ), dump bears, bears in mating season, bears here there and everywhere old and young. Freak' n amazing. I've used the arms up and yell theory. They always ran......thank god The snorting and huffing you saw is common. Its typically a warning/insecurity vocalization. A bit surprised it continued your way. Just putting the guys theory to the test, if you were glancing down from time to time (at your dogs that were going nuts) this may have shown lack of dominance. The bear guy was between a male and female (in heat ) with no place to go when he noticed this very thing. He would look down and the male would charge. Look up at the charging male, and the bear stopped. This happened a couple times when he realized he might be on to something. His test showed he was right. Any one here notice this to be the case? To be honest, I've seen how fast and powerful they are. If it wants you , you it will have. Walking up on any animal / person that doesn't expect you will cause a moment of surprise......don't scare the bears . A hand gun would be best but that seems to be out of the question. Like someone said the bear probably has more rights. Even a walking stick to beat branches or hit the ground and wave around would be better than nothing. I don't think I would worry to much either way but then again the bear wound be chewing on me
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| With all honesty, mind tricks are good to know, but you should consider a less-then-lethal alternative until you can get a carry permit. I suggest a bear spray known as Guard Alaska. It is supposed to be guaranteed against any species of bear up to and including grizzly and polar bear.. |
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With all honesty, mind tricks are good to know, but you should consider a less-then-lethal alternative until you can get a carry permit. I suggest a bear spray known as Guard Alaska. It is supposed to be guaranteed against any species of bear up to and including grizzly and polar bear.. Already ordered. I did not intend for my above post to read that I was just going to stare at the next one I see. I really appreciate all the suggestions. |
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Until you get your permit.... http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41YsP5x%2BnPL._SL500_AA300_.jpg Works on "other" critters too! Just make sure you have Aimless on speed dial.
Feets don't fail me now. |
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BEAR SPRAY JUST ADDS FLAVOR FOR THE BEAR ––––-TASTE LIKE HUMAN CHICKENS
THE ONLY BLACK BEARS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SMELLED REAL BAD AND THAT IS WHAT TOLD ME SOMETHING WAS WRONG THE SOW ALSO MADE HISSING NOISES AND WE BACKED AWAY STARING AT THE BEAR ––-SHE DID NOT CHARGE , WALKED AWAY TOWARD HER TWO CUBS. MOST BLACK BEARS ARE NOT THAT LARGE THAT I HAVE SEEN . BUT ALSO DID NOT ONE FOLLOW A DOG INTO A HOUSE AND MESS UP THE PERSON ???RECENTLY |
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Harsh words, if that doesn't work get butt naked. Animals shy away from naked humans. Does this work on the police during traffic stops  Yes, yes it does. Getting butt naked works in all encounters where a fight or flight response is triggered outside of sexual assault encounters. |