Vaporware
Many are theorizing that lack of moisture (hence lack of natural food) is a contributing factor for the significant increase in bear attacks upon people we’re noting this year. However, significant increases in bear populations, along with injurious bear/human contacts, are no coincidence in states where bears may no longer be legally hunted.
National parks and BLM land, in the USA and Canada, have witnessed this spike, as have many other remote areas, particularly those popular with hikers and primitive campers. And as noted above, we’re now registering multiple “bear sightings” even within populated suburban neighborhoods in places like Boulder, CO!
In what data is available, we’re noting is that verbal commands shouted at aggressive bears, when not backed-up with lethal force, are little more than “suggestions,” therefore only “symbolic barriers.” However, as F&G officers correctly point-out, such symbolic barriers still function adequately in dissuading “the majority” of bears.
But of course, it’s “the minority” of bears who will brazenly call your bluff, and it’s that “minority” that should scare all of us! It’s this “minority” of bears who are impressed with neither “posturing,” nor yelling, nor “bear-bells,” any more than wolves are dissuaded when they hear pitiable bleating from terrified sheep! A hungry predator who has decided that you are lunch is a motivated predator, and apex predators are pretty accustomed to getting their way!
And, creatures who make their living from chasing, attacking, and eating their victims have exceptional strength, claws, teeth, as well as being dead-set on cheerfully consuming you, one bite at a time!
Apex predators thus show-up well-equipped, well prepared, and willingly disposed to make short-work of you.
Why? Because that’s what they do.
Welcome to Planet Earth!
Like verbal challenges, bear-spray “works,” and has dissuaded aggressive bears on many occasions. Having it on-hand is a good idea any time inadvertent/unintended contact with bears is a genuine possibility.
But as Elmer Keith warned us, bear behavior is as fickle as the weather, utterly unpredictable. Self-proclaimed “prophets,” who naively claim they can accurately “read bears,” are not destined for long life!
Tasers, used by LEOs to immobilize violent suspects, “usually work,” as advertised. In the same way, bear-spray “usually works” when applied to aggressive bears.
But, when Tasers are deployed by officers, a second officer always stands-by with “lethal back-up” at the ready, just in case this is “one of those occasions” where Tasers, along with all other “less-lethal alternatives,” can be described as “vaporware!”
Likewise, “lethal back-up” is always highly recommended when dealing with bears, no matter what other dissuasive methods are employed.
Consequences of posturing, verbal challenges, “bear-bells,” even bear-spray precipitously “not working” are catastrophic!
“Like a ‘chocolate’ in a box, looking well-behaved and perfect in place, all the while harboring a secret center!”
Deb Caletti
/John
