GSM National Park recommends you "stand your ground"

[Guest confidence]

Great Smoky Mountain National Park recommends you "stand your ground" when encountering a BLACK bear.

 

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/black-bears.htm

 

....Them racist park rangers at it again.

 

Black bears are dangerous and unpredictable wild animals.

 

If a bear persistently follows or approaches you, without vocalizing, or paw swatting, change your direction. If the bear continues to follow you, stand your ground. If the bear gets closer, talk loudly or shout at it. Act aggressively to intimidate the bear. Act together as a group if you have companions. Make yourselves look as large as possible (for example, move to higher ground). Throw non-food objects such as rocks at the bear. Use a deterrent such as a stout stick. Don't run and don't turn away from the bear. Don't leave food for the bear; this encourages further problems.

Edited August 1, 2013 by confidence

[broox]

Racists

[charlessummers]

Great... now I'm scared of bears.

 

Fight back aggressively? Really?? Is that all the advise you can give me? lol

[Guest confidence]

Here, this should comfort you a little!:

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America

 

:stalk:

 

See? Black bears don't attack people. Just grizzlies....Oh, wait....Never mind....

 

When I went to GSMNP, I open carried a pistol (not that it would help much) and bear spray. A number of people told me that was silly. I found online that the Abrams Falls trail I took has been closed multiple times in the past due to aggressive bear activity. Also, Google shows at least 2 major attacks. We saw a mama with her two cubs but they were about 60 yards away and didn't approach. Anyways, if I go there again I will definitely have bear spray with me, despite the naysayers.

Edited August 1, 2013 by confidence

[analog_kidd]

Public Notice from the GSMNP:

 

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park Service is advising hikers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and be alert for bears while in the field. ...We advise that outdoorsmen wear small bells on their clothing so as not to startle bears that aren't expecting them, and to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter....

 

It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear droppings. Black bear droppings are smaller and contain lots of berries and fur. Grizzly bear droppings have little bells in it and smell like pepper.

[rugerla1]

 Black bear droppings are smaller and contain lots of berries and fur. Grizzly bear droppings have little bells in it and smell like pepper.

 

LMAO!!!

[whitewolf001]

Here, this should comfort you a little!:

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America

 

:stalk:

 

See? Black bears don't attack people. Just grizzlies....Oh, wait....Never mind....

 

When I went to GSMNP, I open carried a pistol (not that it would help much) and bear spray. A number of people told me that was silly. I found online that the Abrams Falls trail I took has been closed multiple times in the past due to aggressive bear activity. Also, Google shows at least 2 major attacks. We saw a mama with her two cubs but they were about 60 yards away and didn't approach. Anyways, if I go there again I will definitely have bear spray with me, despite the naysayers.

 

You carried spray for good reasons, bears are actually quite evil.

[Guest TankerHC]

Here, this should comfort you a little!:

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America

 

:stalk:

 

See? Black bears don't attack people. Just grizzlies....Oh, wait....Never mind....

 

When I went to GSMNP, I open carried a pistol (not that it would help much) and bear spray. A number of people told me that was silly. I found online that the Abrams Falls trail I took has been closed multiple times in the past due to aggressive bear activity. Also, Google shows at least 2 major attacks. We saw a mama with her two cubs but they were about 60 yards away and didn't approach. Anyways, if I go there again I will definitely have bear spray with me, despite the naysayers.

 

 

I see a trend in this link of Bear attacks (deaths). The older you get....the more likely you are to be killed by a Bear.