Thanks to all for the info on bears .. quite interesting to see all that
misinformation.
Here is the truth:
Camping, hiking or working in wild country can lead to close
encounters with bears, and because each species may react in a
different way, it is important to know how to tell them apart.
With the increase in bear attacks in recent years, Parks Canada
has come up with some strategies to keep you safe. Although you
don't want to startle a bear, you do want to let a bear know you
are in its vicinity. By tying a small bell to your jacket, the
gentle sound will be will heard and the bear will head in the
opposite direction. Just in case you still find yourself face to
face with a bear, also carry a can of pepper spray.
Under field conditions, bears are rarely in plain view; usually
they are partially hidden by shrubs, trees or rock. The next
strategy is to learn which bears are in the area you are
visiting, i.e. Black Bears or Grizzly Bears.
The foolproof way to tell, is to look for bear scats (droppings).
You can examine these scats to identify the foods consumed by the
bear. If the scats have a sweet fruity smell, and contains
berries, you can be sure it from a Black Bear.
If the dropping smell of pepper and contain tiny bells, you know
it's a Grizzly Bear.
{ Here's another way to tell Brown bears from Grizzly bears.
First, as soon as you see a bear, climb up the nearest tree.
If the bear climbs up the tree and attacks you - it's a Brown
bear.
If the bear pushes over the tree and attacks you - it's a
Grizzly bear. }
Norm
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