Lesson Learned- True Bear Story For Those Heading North in 2022

[USMCJS]

Three years ago we made a side trip off the Cassiar highway to Hyder, AK. for a Halibut dinner. On the way back to the Cassiar on 37A, at around 10 P.M. (still light) we stopped at a rest stop that had two vault toilets. No one else there so I parked very close to the facilities. I was approaching the vault toilet door and something caught my eye right next to the toilet. I was staring into some big brown eyes. I backed up and stupidly stood behind my car door to look closer. It was a large grizzly foraging next to the toilet. He was hidden by the tall grass. I got in the car and we just watched him for a spell. He then walked out in front of us and continued eating. Probably a 1000 lbs on him. Never displayed any aggression. But.......my point is NEVER EVER assume the tall grass in and around the rest stops are danger free......He could have had me in a second. I was literally 4 feet from those big eyes.... If you're headed into Canada and or Alaska this summer, please give this some thought. Take care and don't assume anything when it comes to bears unless it's to assume they are close...very close

[Sean Murry]

I do a lot of back country hiking and have come close to grizzly bears and black bears. A couple of years ago our group was charged by a momma grizzly while hiking into Mt. Assiniboine. We let off a couple of bear bangers and she finally stopped. Anytime I am in bear country I always yell out "Hey Yogi" to alert the bears. I always carry bear spray, bear horn and bear bangers. If you go with bear bangers spend some time practising with them first. They launch a pretty good distance and you don't want to let it go off behind the bear scaring him/her towards you.

[USMCJS]

Thanks. I intend to but some bangers. Do you know if Canada Border folks will allow them in ?

[Sean Murry]

I am not sure if they are allowed in or not, but my guess is they would be. They are not a fire arm, simply a pen looking device with a small charge you screw into the pen. All it does is go bang, so I can't see how they would have a problem with them.

[Sean Murry]

Just another note. Bear Bangers are prohibited for use n Canada's National Parks. They are allowed as far as I know in Provincial Parks. They are also banned in the City of Vancouver, but that makes total sense. You don't need a license or permit to buy them

[Sean Murry]

These air horns are very effective as well. Easier to use than a bear banger. Comes with a nice little holster you can attach to your belt or pack

https://kodiakcanada.com/collections/noisemakers

[Sean Murry]

The holster is a $3.00 option

[alanmalk]

Originally Posted by Sean Murry

These air horns are very effective as well. Easier to use than a bear banger. Comes with a nice little holster you can attach to your belt or pack

https://kodiakcanada.com/collections/noisemakers

In Big Bend - Chisos Basin - the campground hosts were issued air horns. The local bear (called Bart Simpson because of attitude issues) totally ignored sounds and any of the usual bear tricks. Even when I chased him with the campground truck - he just stepped of the road and gave me the finger.

What did work was tossing small branches and gravel. He ran for the nearest tree and prepared to climb it. Just to be clear - we were throwing small items so as to not hurt the bear. But my guess is that from the bear's perspective having things thrown is absolutely foreign; totally outside his experience.

Should this not work for you - have a plan "B".

[Sands]

I would no longer have needed the vault toilet after that encounter.