Re: Bear Warning

That was good!!! It started out so seriously.

Excellent post I have heard of the bear bells, i might try wearing those next time I hike to ostrander lake - i wasnt paying much attention while walking and when i looked up i saw a nice full grown bear about 40 feet away on the trail. I think I read somewhere that the bear spray isn't allowed in yosemite for some reason - could anyone confirm this?

From Backpacker magazine:


http://www.backpacker.com/ask_a_bear_do_bear_bells_work/blogs/1889

Please for the love of Chick-on ... you do not need bear bells in Yosemite.
Find out how many people have been attacked and/or killed by black bears
in Yosemite. (hint: it's < 1)

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chick-on
Please for the love of Chick-on ... you do not need bear bells in Yosemite.
Find out how many people have been attacked and/or killed by black bears
in Yosemite. (hint: it's < 1)

Yes, but you might need those bells for the killer deer!

I once hiked up the Yosemite Falls trail behind a woman with a stupid bear bell on her pack. No matter how hard I tried to get away from her she'd take similar breaks or hike the same pace and I'd always hear that stupid bell. I wanted to rip it off her pack and chuck it over the falls.

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calipidder
I wanted to rip it off her pack and chuck it over the falls.

But that would be littering!

How long has this bear bells/pepper spray gag been around (at least 20 years in my experience)? I wonder who first told it.

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The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.
-- Carl Sagan

Bear spray is illegal, but people still carry it. They also carry bear bells. Neither of those is useful in any way unless you enjoy intentionally annoying other hikers or carrying extra weight around.

Bear spray is illegal?

I was surprised by this too.

It is prohibited in Yosemite: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/weapons.htm

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The possession, use, or discharge of pepper spray (including bear spray), pellet guns, and BB guns in Yosemite National Park is prohibited.

Apparently it's disallowed by federal regulations, but park superintendents can overrule the regulation and allow it: http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2009/04/national-park-superintendents-have-authority-allow-bear-spray

If you read the actual federal regulations - it's classified as a weapon, and those are illegal to have in the park. (Unless you have the paperwork necessary to carry a gun legally - in which case you can legally possess the firearm but it's illegal to use it.)

I'd personally bring the bear spray for use on any group carrying the bear bells.

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mbear
I'd personally bring the bear spray for use on any group carrying the bear bells.

Doesn't it just increase the noise level?

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eeek

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mbear
I'd personally bring the bear spray for use on any group carrying the bear bells.

Doesn't it just increase the noise level?

Maybe temporarily, but it would give one some time to get way ahead of the bells for the rest of the day.

So, wait... next you're going to tell me banging two sticks together won't keep the mountain lions away?

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itchbay
So, wait... next you're going to tell me banging two sticks together won't keep the mountain lions away?

I'm just glad you sent us to the original version.

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itchbay
So, wait... next you're going to tell me banging two sticks together won't keep the mountain lions away?

I always liked that movie. Much better than the remake.

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parklover

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itchbay
So, wait... next you're going to tell me banging two sticks together won't keep the mountain lions away?

I always liked that movie. Much better than the remake.

Had a crush on Mills back when it came out.

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parklover

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itchbay
So, wait... next you're going to tell me banging two sticks together won't keep the mountain lions away?

I always liked that movie. Much better than the remake.

I actually enjoy both versions a lot. Each version has it good points. But who would have ever thought that Lindsay Lohan would turn out the way she did after watching her star in the remake (her major motion picture debut).
.

I can't decide if he was so hungry he was willing to risk attacking a human,
or if he was used to being fed by humans and thought he was getting a handout.

It looked like he kept going after the same thing, maybe the camera? Was the camera being held out like food?

Way too habituated, not the least bit afraid of humans. Where was this taken? ok, northern B.C., and there's a quick clip of some buildings, but I can't tell how remote it is.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/2012 11:15PM by qumqats.

Nor does talking to a yote prevent it from trying to take a bite.






Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/2012 03:17PM by eeek.