Bear Safety
Always remember when you are in camping, fishing, trailing or hunting in nature that you are in a bears home. If a bear wanders through your campsite, across your trail, or into a lake or river for a drink, that's --PERFECTLY OK--. However, you do not want the bear to stop and try to investigate your food. Any you definitely don't want a bear to attack you! Here are a list of tips to help you share God's wonderful creation with black bears. They are not necessarily applicable to other types of bears.
 
1. DO NOT leave your food, waste, or other scented objects IN THE OPEN.
Bears maybe somewhat blind and lacking in hearing but they can smell anything from far distances. Bears can be attracted to non-edible scents, bears have been known to taste gasoline, candles, and the grease remaining in a fire pit. Even if you think they can't smell the food like unopened pop corn or unopened gun in your pocket... think again. Wild bears don't like the smells of humans.
 
CAMPING -- Store foods and scented objects inside the vehicles Put waste in the designated garbage bin in the campground.
 
CAMPING WITH VEHICLES -- Store food and scented objects inside your car. Put waste in the designated garbage bins in the campground. Use the outhouses provided by the park.
 
BACKPACKING/CANOEING/TRUE CAMPING -- Store all food and scented objects at least 3 meters (9 feet) up, between two trees, at least 1 meter (3 feet) from each tree trunk (remember, black bears can climb)! Burn all combustible wastes. Bury the ashes at least 20 meters (60 feet) from the campsite. Place remaining wastes in a garbage bag and store with the food and scented objects. All non-combustible garbage must be "packed-out". Use outhouses provided by the park, or, if unavailable, dig a trench six inches deep at least 10 meters from the campsite, and fill it in before you leave.
 
2. NEVER, EVER FEED A BEAR.
 
3. Do NOT come between a mother and her cubs.
The mother will become scared for her cubs, and will attack if she fears they are in danger.
 
4. Due to their territorial nature, black bears, after leaving their mother in search for a new home, can prove to be nuisances.

5. Even if you have no food out whatsoever, you may still encounter a black bear wandering during its daily travels. Upon spotting a human, the naturally curious black bear will either a) run away, or b) stop and observe the human.
 
6. If a black bear does start coming uncomfortably close, or if it starts coming to you, slowly back up, keeping eye contact with the bear. Stay together with your friends and family. Numbers are intimidating. Speak in a quiet tone.
 
7. Do not run from a bear!
You cannot outrun it! A bear will normally make a fake charge, in which it turns away at the last moment. If you turn and run away the carge will be come more aggressive and lead to a more aggressive attack.
 
8. DO NOT PLAY DEAD WITH A BLACK BEAR.

9. Sometimes black bears will still approach, or even attack (VERY, VERY UNLIKELY). The next step is to fight back with everything you have. Throw your arms up in the air, yell and scream in a deep voice, throw something at it. Throw a pot at it, or a big rock. You want to show the bear that you are in control. This sounds futile, but it works. The black bear will get scared and run away. Keep in mind though, you don't want to kill the black bear... just scare it.
 
10. At all times be mindful of bears. Honor them by remember that you are in their home. Bears may look cute, but give them their space. If you leave them alone and stay composed they will do the same.

Fun Bear Facts
1. Black bears (Ursus Americanus) originated in Asia. They migrated to North America over time.
 
2. A person is more likely to get struck by lightning or killed by a bee sting then being attacked by a bear.
 
3. Bears live in virtually all areas in the temperate zones of the earth. (Temperate zones are the regions between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle, and between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).
 
4. Everyone knows that bears like honey... A report shows that a bear had nearly 2 liters of bees in it's stomach!! - Ouch!!
 
5. The bear populations, unlike deer and such species, do not have the ability to increase rapidly.
 
6. Biologists estimate (in 1992) that there may be up to 500,000 black bears left. A great deal of which can be seen in the zoos, game preserves and bear parks!
 
7. Each species of bear has a different temperament... Some bears are aggressive and some are timid and shy, while others have a natural curiosity. BUT NEVER try to get too friendly with a bear that seems nice.
 
8. The average sow (bear female) is 5 years old before she has cubs. The average boar (male) is 4 years old before he starts breeding.
 
9. Black Bear mothers have strong bonds with their cubs.
 
10. Bear cubs usually weigh a 1/2 pound at birth, and usually open their eyes 40 days after birth (round a weight of 4 pounds.
 
11. Mothers teach their young their food searching and selecting habits.
 
12. Black bears have been recorded running at speeds up to 30 mph.
 
13. Black Bears are very territorial.
 
14. Black bears do not hibernate during the winter, instead they remain dormant.
 
15. Black bears are carnivores, however they act like omnivores, with only one quarter of their diet being meat. Bears are opportunistic... they mostly eat plants and other vegetable matter that is readily available.
 
16. The largest known black bear weighed 802.5 pounds. The oldest known black bear was 30 years old. (1985)
 
17. Black bears are the smallest bears in North America. Average adults weigh 300-400 pounds, with 42 teeth, and good claws for climbing trees.

Bear Species
Asiatic Black Bears (Selenarctos Thibetanus)
Black Beast, Dog Bear, Formosa Bear, Giant Cat Bear (Japan)
 
American Black Bears (Ursus americanus)
American Black Bear, Cinnamon Bear, Kermode Bear, Glacier Bear, Florida Black Bear
 
Brown Bears (Ursus arctos)
Alaskan Brown Bear, Asiatic Brown Bear, European Brown Bear, Grizzly Bear, Himalayian Snow Bear, Kodiak Bear, Syrian Bear
 
Giant Panda (Ailuropoda Melanoleuca)
Bai Bao (White Leapord), Fiery Fox, Shi Ti Shou (Iron Eating Beast), Shining Cat, Cat Bear, Black and White Bear
 
Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus)
Ice Bear, Nanook, Polar Bear, Sea Bear, White Bear, Walking Bear
 
Sloth Bears (Melursus Ursinus)
Aswail, Baloo (Kipling), Honey Bear, Jungle Joker, Lip Bear
 
Spectacled Bears (Tremarctos Ornatus)
Short-Faced bear
 
Sun Bears (Ursus Malayanus)
Bruang (Sumatra name), Maylay Bear, Dog Bear (Thailand), Ape Man