I do drive in cars because I heard that 50,000 people a year die in car crashes in the US. I don't fly on airplanes because I heard that a couple crashed. And I obviously don't ever go swimming in the ocean because a girl was just eaten by a shark.

I don't enjoy living, because on a long enough time scale, everyone survival rate drops to zero.

I heard the food was stored in bear proof containers. Looks like they protected the wrong "food." =/

Sad, and sorry for the families...

It's my understanding that grizzlies (and polars) are the only bears that will, from time to time, prey on humans as food. I remember learning in a bear safety class that if a black bear enters your tent at night, it's generally because they smell food or are confused, and you need only do just enough to make them leave you alone -- the usual roll & cover the neck, etc.

However, if a grizzly enters your tent at night, you should fight for your life, because the bear is after you.

Maybe there's some remote philosophical value in understanding that there are parts of the natural world beyond our control?

Bear: "You're camping on my spot and it's totally disrupting my Feng Shui. My chi is getting very aggravated. Don't make me go get a mediator, because if the warden gets called into this, he's likely going to side with me, so it's a waste of your time and mine."

Man: "Whatever, talk to the hand. We were so obviously here first. Get over it, tubby."

Bear: "What did you just say?"

Woman: "That's right he called you tubby. But I'm gonna say you're looking F.A.T."

Bear: "Oh no you didn't..."

Man: "I've seen elephants with less girth. Your mama said you were so fat, they're gonna name a dorito flavor after you."

Bear: "Must... control... inner... rage...."

That was really funny.!

I've heard that screaming and yelling at some bears is enough to scare them away. The solution, I think, would be to arm yourself with a 400 db portable sound system w/ bullhorn that issues earth-shaking screams and hollers. You'd probably end up deaf yourself, but on a happy note, retain your limbs and head.

Banging some pots together works well. I should dig out my old boy scout manual and find the 'official boy scout' answer.

One time, on the Rogue River in southern Oregon, we had a black bear that followed us after lunch, swimming across the river to inspect our campsite. When rafting, unlike backpacking, you have far too much food for bear-bagging (hanging from a tree) to be a viable option. So the usual treatment is to take several metal coolers, bind them together tightly with straps, and maybe put some pans of ammonia on top to make an unpleasant smell.

Well, this bear was very persistent. He was just a little guy, maybe a "teenager", recently graduated to being on his own. He kept coming around the campsite. A few guys rotated being guard, & threw rocks at the bear, but the rocks would only keep him away for a few minutes. (The lower sections of the Rogue have a real problem with habituated bears.)

Finally the bear came right into camp. So my dad did the sensible thing -- he grabbed a wooden paddle and bopped the bear on the nose.

Amazingly enough, the bear took the hint, rambled off, and didn't come back.
Wouldn't try that with a grizzly, though.

Check with the parks service before going camping etc. They normally post bear warnings. Especially this time of year if there are cubs around.

I was confronted by 3 grizzlies with my friend while we were at the lake in Kananaskis. They never came closer than about 40 feet though. The mother bear knew we were there and had her back to us the entire time while the two year old cubs (that were probably 200 lbs already) were staring at us intently. We were making a ton of noise before we even noticed the bears fishing off to our left and behind us. They just happened to be between us and the cabin. The Kananaskis grizzlies actually are quite good in that they leave humans alone normally. They can walk thru a campground and not go near the tents. The babies were giant brown furballs. I'll have to dig up a photo we took when I get home.

One year my family camped in a tent in a national forest. The campsites were not close together. About 3 a.m. the first night, we heard a guy screaming. Trying not to alarm me and my sister, my dad says, "Lets take a drive and see if we can find some bears." We slept in the truck the rest of the night. The next day we found out that the guy just thought he heard a bear and was screaming to drive it away. We haven't primitive camped since then.

"If you're going to be a bear. Be a grizzly!"

Bears are soooo cute!

This is why I usually bring at least a rifle when I go camping, when I turn 21 I will probably have a .45 glock under my pillow... with the clip next to it of course...

Zach

No species of bear, including the Grizzly, preys on humans as food sources. Habituation to humans and their food sources is primarily responsible for bear-human encounters. If people don't know how to handle themselves in such situations, the bear may attack to neutralize the perceived threat - especially if cubs are part of the equation. Making loud noises to alert the bears to the presence of humans is strongly encouraged; hikers are also urged to purchase industrial strength pepper spray. If you're interested in Grizzly studies, you may want to pick up Craighead's Track of the Grizzly.