Exactly...on the rare occasion black bears attack, it is generally predatory. As such, running away is exactly the thing you shouldn't do! What's recommended is to stand your ground and make yourself look as big and scary as possible to convince the bear you are not prey. Probably easier said than done, but may have prevented this man's death especially if the group had stayed together instead of scattering like they apparently did.

There was another death from a bear a week ago in Wyoming, and then another attack occured just a few miles from where I was staying in Dubois. Links: http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/u...HNEmKjEgmyYgXvg and http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/22/us-usa-grizzly-wyoming-idUSKCN0HH2R520140922

This is the time of the year bears are really trying to put on weight for the winter, and some have cubs, so situational awareness is a must. Stay in open spaces with a good line of sight and avoid brush or wooded areas. It goes without saying to not have food on your person. Everyone in my group carried bear spray and there were at least two people carrying firearms. Word had it from the locals that bear spray was considered generally more effective, and that firearms were more of a heavy-duty backup.

Bears are amazing animals, but we have to remember that without our smarts, they are much higher on the food chain than we are.


--M

If this Group of 5 had "Stayed Together" this encounter would not have made the news. I have never found a Reliable Encounter with a Group of less than 3 that has had lead to a fatal bear encounter (Either Black or Grizzly), i.e. Travel in a Group of 4 or More and Deaths Caused by a Bears Go to Zero. Even a group of 2 cuts your chances of a deadly encounter down greatly.

Remember that if a group either starts an encounter spread apart or breaks up as in this encounter then the Bear Encounter is 1-on-1.

Although this Grizzly Bear attack did not kill anyone, it resulted into 2 serious injuries that could of easily been life ending. It should be noted that this was a group of 7 that was attacked and really does away with the long held believe that a large groups may never be subject to a bear attack.

Summarizing:

• Avoid bear encounters by being situationally aware and making noise so that you give non-predatory bears an opportunity to hear you coming.
• Stay together.
• Look big and scary.
• Don't act like food. Food doesn't stand its ground, yell, talk to the bear, or make very loud noises with boomsticks (always be aware of your target and what is beyond).
• Deploy pepper spray if circumstances permit and call for same.
• Deploy firearms if necessary to preserve life.

Is that accurate and complete?

Actually, the NOLS bear attack probably doesn't disprove the belief that large groups probably won't be attacked. Bruce Zed's last statement is key.

A detailed analysis by NOLS after the event indicated that the students were walking up a creek, spread out, in single file. The first student had just rounded a rocky outcrop when he first saw the bear. At the time the bear hit the first student, it likely was not aware that there were more behind him. The bear probably initially only saw one student.

See New report details 2011 Alaska grizzly bear attack on outdoors school students (Part 1) , and How could NOLS students have avoided bear attack? (Part 2)

Well said and accurate. That is good advice while hiking.

While camping, the usual precautions regarding food apply. Don't even sleep in the clothing you wear while preparing dinner.

Or cook naked! And then bathe, of course.

That would work!

I've always heard the advice to not sleep in or with the clothes you wear but I've never practically figured out how to do that. Plus, barring the bathing option, the smell would still be on your skin and hair too wouldn't it?

I think the smell on the clothing has more to do with spills than aroma from the smoke. I could be wrong though.

As far as cooking naked, just don't try this cooking bacon.