While the odds of a bear attack are slim even for those who spend a lot of time in bear country, it's good to be "bear aware". The last time we saw bear tracks in the snow by our house was May 15. We have had more problems with bears over the past several years because some numbskull had been baiting them--for several years--on a property 120 yards from us. A non resident, he was killing bears and probably deer over bait. Several bears were killed including tagged bears euthanized by CPW because of the baiting scheme.

To protect the house I put up an electric fence around the yard. We keep a 12 gauge loaded with rubber buckshot, rubber ball and magnum slugs in the kitchen.

Black bears are inclined to avoid people but you never know how they will behave when with cubs or when surprised. Just expect that Yogi will keep trying to snag that pic-a-nic basket.

Grizzly and coastal brown bears (Ursus horribilis) are not to be trifled with. I've encountered them a few dozen times and have been charged twice by coastal Alaskan brown bears. They will humble you.

I made a 101 mile canoe fishing trip in Katmai Alaska, through a series of lakes and rivers. Here's an immature brown bear that charged us when we were fishing nearby. (How fast can you back paddle?) It was believed that this bear consumed two kayakers a few days before. At the end of the journey I happened to have dinner with the US Secretary of Interior, James Watt. I told him of finding bloody clothing near our camp in Expedition Bay at Lake Naknek by the Savonoski River. I understand the NPS rangers put that bear down.


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