I just watched this short video.....

[recycled sixtie]

of a black bear stalking runners in the Fort Macmurray area of northern Alberta. I don't know how to set it up but go to MSN.ca and select the video Black bear stalks runners.... Yikes. Guy

[widebody911]

[herr_oberst]

What's up with da Bears? This guy was running around my neighborhood in NE Portland a few days ago.....

[stomachmonkey]

Looks like it wanted to play.

Bet people have been feeding it.

[oldE]

That video (or at least the first minute, I didn't watch the rest) could be entitled "What NOT to do When A Black Bear Approaches". Moving away makes you look like prey.
Get rocks and throw them, make lots of noise and threaten. Don't back away and plead with the darn thing to go away.

Best
Les

[recycled sixtie]

One oil worker in the Fort Mac area was killed by a bear about a month ago. She had no bear spray or firearm.

Apparently bears when they come out of hibernation are very hungry till about mid July. Those runners in the video should be carrying bear spray as a deterrent but obviously had nothing.

Usually black bears are not aggressive but I would think hunger would make them otherwise.

Recently in the Jasper area a car got between a female grizzly and a male grizzly.
The grizzly (I would think the male) saw it as competition and rammed the car. Damage was $5000!.
G.

[Jim Bremner]

My thought on the Bear's behavior was that it was seeing the people something that it didn't want in it's area. The first tree that it hit looked like it had scratched the bark off prior .

Why anyone would go into bear country with out a sidearm is beyond me.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by oldE

That video (or at least the first minute, I didn't watch the rest) could be entitled "What NOT to do When A Black Bear Approaches". Moving away makes you look like prey.
Get rocks and throw them, make lots of noise and threaten. Don't back away and plead with the darn thing to go away.

Best
Les

This.

When someone runs away from a bear, or any large wild animal, the animal's instinct kicks in -- something that runs away is prey/lunch.

Those people did the wrong thing - and as a result were in too close proximity to the bear for too long. Had they stopped and stood their ground, the bear likely would have moved on.

Then again, I haven't been in that situation. So I'm an arm-chair bear expert...but I did see a grizzly a stone's throw away when in Denali in Alaska (I was on a tour bus). Scary powerful animals.

-Z

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

My thought on the Bear's behavior was that it was seeing the people something that it didn't want in it's area. The first tree that it hit looked like it had scratched the bark off prior .

Why anyone would go into bear country with out a sidearm is beyond me.

Firearms are not legal in Canada except if you hunting. More than one oil worker has been killed by a bear in Alberta. If it was me and firearms were legal I would certainly carry a gun while hiking/camping.

Yes I agree OldE that confronting and facing the black bear is recommended but it does take guts to face off an aggressive black bear.

Cheers, G.

[Jim Bremner]

I would carry a hatchet.

[sand_man]

[DanielDudley]

I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to beat you.

[MT930]

Don't Jog in a suite made of Bacon !