Danielle Oyler, bear education coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, shows first graders how to warn off an approaching bear during her encounter training session at Seeley Lake Elementary School's Bear Academy May 4.
As the weather warms and recreationists venture into the woods, Be Bear Aware Campaign Director Chuck Bartlebaugh wants everyone to be informed on how to avoid confrontations with black and grizzly bears, the correct methods of using bear spray and protecting oneself if a bear attacks.
According to missoulabears.org, bears are omnivorous, have an excellent sense of smell and must gain enough weight during the warmer seasons to sustain them for four to seven months of winter. Bears are able to sniff out attractants like bird seed, garbage, livestock, toiletries and food through sealed containers. The availability of attractants increases the likelihood of conflicts between people and bears.
When people frequently feed bears, they can become habituated and can exhibit behaviors like walking onto porches and causing property damage. They are most dangerous when they are protecting their food or cubs.
Bartlebaugh said it is important to know the difference between black bears and grizzly bears before encountering them.
"Grizzly bears tend to be more aggressive, but that's a misnomer because when black bears are aggressive, they're extremely aggressive," Bartlebaugh said. "And they may be more predatory looking for food than a grizzly bear, which is trying to make sure you're not a threat."
Grizzly bears tend to have longer claws, short, rounded ears and a shoulder hump. Black bears have short claws, tall, pointed ears and no shoulder hump. Color and size can be misleading.
Due to the animal's unpredictability, recreationists should try to avoid encounters altogether. To avoid a confrontation, Bartlebaugh advises making one's presence known by speaking out loud in a non-threatening voice. Hikers should be on alert if they smell a "pungent odor" that might represent a bear or a dead animal.
When camping, one's sleeping area, tent and sleeping bag should be kept free of food and odors. Attractants such as food, game animals, pet food, personal hygiene items and garbage should be stored away from the sleeping area in bear-resistant containers, a "hard-sided" vehicle or suspended at least 10-15 feet above ground and at least four feet from top and side supports.
When recreating, Bartlebaugh recommends storing a spray can in a holster on one's hip or chest for immediate access rather than digging through a pack. He warns against cyclists using a chest holster should they fall on the can. Anytime he sees a bear, his spray instantly comes out of his holster even if there is not an immediate need.
"Bears can change from being passive to being aggressive to charging just in the blink of an eye," he said.
If a bear is roughly 60 feet away, Bartlebaugh recommends spraying a lengthy stream at about the halfway point or at a 45 degree angle. If a bear is 30 or 15 feet away Bartlebaugh recommends immediately spraying downward and preparing for impact. Users should continue spraying until the bear begins heading in the other direction or the can runs out.
The active ingredient in bear spray is capsaicin which overwhelms the predator's entire nasal passages including the throat, lungs, mouth, nose, ears and eyes. If the spray works, the bear should not be able to inhale or exhale deep enough to support its charge. The goal of the spray is to have the bear run into the cloud at ground level and to overwhelm its senses to the point where it begins heading into the other direction.
If a bear is not deterred and reaches the individual, he advises lying flat face down, protecting the back of one's head and continuing to disperse the spray until the bear leaves.
During a black bear attack, a victim should fight back with anything available and aim for sensitive areas like the bear's nose and eyes.
During a grizzly bear attack, a victim should play dead and resist being rolled over until the bear leaves the area. Do not play dead unless the bear is about to or has already made contact. If the attack becomes predatory then the victim should fight back aggressively.
Bartlebaugh believes that adult leaders traveling with children should carry two cans of spray just to be safe. He even recommends that people carry bear spray even in more civilized, but rural areas, such as downtown Seeley Lake.
According to Bartlebaugh, the Environmental Protection Agency does not test bear spray for effectiveness on charging or attacking bears. Instead, their focus is on ensuring that the spray does not greatly harm the ozone layer, humans or the bear.
He advises that consumers avoid "knock-off products" that may or may not be adequate for stopping a highly agitated charging bear. The types of spray one should look for are ones that shoot for seven seconds and travel at least 30 feet in a "well-automized cone shape cloud." He said knock-off sprays will only go for four seconds and will travel only 15 feet.
He said a less effective spray will produce a "stream-shaped cloud," which requires more precise aim and acts more similar to pepper spray, than bear spray. Optimal cans do not necessarily require the most accurate aim so long as the cloud is in the same direction as a bear.
Bartlebaugh does not recommend that users practice spraying with a can and then reusing the same can for later. He said the moment the can is put down, particles will begin leaking out through an open valve, making it less effective for future usage.
"If it's a quality bear spray you don't need to test it," he said.
He does not disagree with people using firearms to protect themselves, but the shooter must be familiar with their weapon and should be able to handle ammunition large enough to stop a bear. Accurate shooting under pressure can be a challenge.
He spoke with professional firearm instructors who said that it takes almost one second to aim. Bears can reach a top speed of 30 miles per hour. A highly agitated bear coming from 60 feet away has the ability to reach a person in 1.4 seconds or within three seconds if it has to maneuver.
One advantage to bear spray is that it still possesses the power to stop a bear even when going through thick brush. One disadvantage is that it is not as effective on cold and/or windy days. Bear spray is also effective on other predators like mountain lions, aggressive domestic dogs, wolves, coyotes and even moose.
Bartlebaugh shared a story about how he sprayed a 800-pound bear 10 feet away while he was in Alaska. After the bear had run away, he found out that a fisherman had been hand feeding it and it was becoming comfortable around humans.
"The unfortunate end to the story is the management agency came the next morning and killed it," he said. "It had approached children as well and it was just too habituated because of the inappropriate action of hand feeding a bear."
Those interested in learning more about bear spray and other forms of protection can visit the Be Bear Aware Campaign's website at https://bebearaware.org or their YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/bebearaware. "Bear Spray Scenarios & Demonstration" video can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ5HJHZ8Mfw&t=8s.
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