Hello, ETSers! I was one of those anonymous lurkers. I trust the info I get from here. Mr. DR & forum posters seem to be the only ones generating new info or proving past survival advice by testing rather than just repeating old wives tales.
I was recently watching a show about bear attacks. They mentioned that at night, a bear is hunting for food. If you get attacked in your tent, the bear is trying to drag you out so he can eat you. The narrator said that you should fight back. He did not say how. If you use a knife on the bear as a last resort, what is likely to happen? Will a vigorous defense & wounds to the bear really [censored] him off or will he go look for a meal elsewhere ? Although Davey Crockett killed a bear when he was only 3?, It doesn't seem to me that you could do enough damage to a bear with a knife to kill it or wound it so much that it could not continue to attack.

They say there is a big difference between grizzlies and black bears, and different strategies in dealing with the two types, but in Canada, I saw a blackie as big as any grizzly. I would definitely fight a black bear, and if I didn't even have so much as a knife, I would try to bite its eye out or its nose off or something like that. I think I would play dead with a grizzly, even if I thought it was hungry, until I was certain that it would eat me, then I would take as much of its eye or nose with me as I could. Don't put yourself in a position to where you have nothing to defend yourself!!! Rifle, shotgun, handgun, pistol, pepperspray, knife, firecrackers, whatever works, carry what you believe to be most effective. Research, read, study, talk to those with first hand experience, and prepare, prepare, prepare !!! Go in ready, stay aware at all times, expecting the worst, and sleep with one eye open.

I was also wondering the same thing. I carry a 7" blade with my when hiking, and if I was ever attacked, I wonder how effective it would really be. I guess the best thing to do would be to attempt to stab it in the face/neck. If I was able to get a good stab in, it would probably do quite a bit of damage, but it probably wouldn't be the easiest thing to do in the heat of the moment.

I would find a road flare more valuable than a knife, I think. But you usually have to scrape them on the pavement to light them. I'd rather have a kind that you just rip the head cover off and it ignites. Is there anything like that out there?

Sue

Here's a couple of recent posts about bears I found by using the search tool:

ETS Bear Post 1
ETS Bear Post 2
ETS Bear Post 3

I think the consensus is that bears have their own personalities and some respond differently than others. Supposedly black bears are more predatory and grizzlies are more defensive in nature. Either type might bluff charge if you startle them, attack if they perceive you as a threat to cubs, or decide you'll make a tasty snack if they're really hungry.

UDAP makes the "Pepper Power" bear spray and has some tips on their web site: www.udap.com/safety.htm

Most camp attacks occur because the bears KNOW where the designated or heavily used camps are. I'm breaking rules, but I NEVER sleep in designated campgrounds in bear country. I justify this breach with zero impact camping. You can also assemble a poor man's perimeter wire by stringing light cordage with hanging tin cans.The noise will alert you and possibly spook Old Ephraim. Bear attacks are relatively rare. If you read the sensationalist accounts of those few, a few simple precautionary steps become obvious.

What should I do as to not alarm the individual who set up the "can parameter" if I accidentally activate the can alarm?

I am thinking along the lines of ; the universal signal for distress is three of something. What is the universal indicator for ?Never mind?, ?O.K?, ?All clear??

<img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Well unless you sleepwalk, or got lost on a midnight visit to the great Milky Way illuminated bathroom I'd suggest the universal "Hello the Camp" and freezing very still with arms in plain sight. I'll probably be armed with a very hot, very overbrewed enamel pot of coffee ( pepper spray and training- pushaww <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />) Some of the other folks on this forum will probably lay down a suppressing cover fire while looking for their flashlight and bifocals. I'd suggest dropping immediately and still yelling the salutation. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Chris

Two or three years ago there was an article in one of the hunting rags about a 15-16 year old kid who killed an attacking sow bear with a knife, a Buck 110 I believe. If I remember right he was a pretty good sized kid. I'm sure there have been other people who have done it. About 15 years ago at one of the reservoir campgrounds near here a blackie grabbed a sleeping eight year old girl out of her tent and carried her off. Her grandfather chased it down beating it with a mag-lite until it dropped her and ran off. It was later tracked down and shot. The girl survived but was horribly mauled. At least with black bears I guess it pays to fight back with whatever you have at hand, because if you give up you are dead. Bear attacks are exceedingly rare, but that is small comfort if one is biting you. At minimum I carry a .357 revolver and a 5-1/2" knife. They are handy for other critters as well. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />