How to Scare off a Black Bear
The hard part about scaring off a black bear is mastering your own fear. This is especially true if you didn't grow up in a rural area or have little experience with the animals. While a black bear can look intimidating, you need to remind yourself of a few things. First, black bears tend to be timid unless starving or ill. Second, even cats can startle a black bear into running away.
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Instructions
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Alert anyone near you at the first sign of a black bear approaching. Make sure everyone stays calm.
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Tell everyone to remain motionless until everyone is ready to react together. Count to three and then have everyone jump up on their toes to appear as tall as possible. Wave your hands and make as much noise as possible.
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Move toward the bear slowly but leave it an avenue of escape. Bang pots and pans, use whistles, smack rocks together -- whatever you have to do to be loud and scary. Stand up tall with your hands over your head to appear bigger.
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Look to see if the bear is retreating. If not, persist in making as much noise as possible without stopping. Do not get close enough for the bear to strike you, but do not back off and let the bear know you are afraid.
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Wave a flaming stick or oven lighter at the bear. This can have the desired effect.
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Use bear pepper spray if someone in your party has a can. Using such spray creates a loud hiss that will startle the bear, and the red pepper should cause enough irritation to deter the bear's aggression.
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Tips & Warnings
Always carry a whistle or other noisemakers when camping.
Do not injure a bear unless you are prepared to kill it quickly. A wounded bear is incredibly dangerous.
Some of these techniques may not work with grizzly bears, which are much more dangerous animals.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Comments
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As far as scaring them off, how about you just whip out your pistol and shoot up in the air a couple of times or down in the ground..depending on where you are and both of you should know where you stand very shortly. I would bet the bear unasses the AO rapidly! Or you could booby trap the barn with pepper spray.
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Just finished repairing the bear damage to my barn. Broke through both doors, and splintered one inch cedar boards 6 to 18 inches wide like toothpicks. They were looking for food. That's about the 5 time they have damaged my barn. Didn't even go inside the barn. I have an unlimited kill permit but probably won't use it. We hate to kill them, unless it's hunting season and we can use the hides and meat. Just one of the challenges of living in bear country. Makes life a little more exciting!
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My Daughter in Millers falls Mass had a mother bear & 2 cubs. in her garage after bird seed & dog food tonight what to do.
