How to Get Rid of Bears

Since bear and man live in the same world and often occupy the same space, man-bear encounters are not uncommon. When you pit a man against a bear, the latter would surely win unless the man is armed with a weapon.

Due to the changing environment, bears are either losing their habitat or the sources of their food. In that case, bears, being highly adaptive, search for other sources of food - the food or even garbage that humans make. Bears are naturally shy and would avoid being seen by man, but when their survival is at stake, they get over their people-shyness and attempt to steal some snacks from humans. There are two common man-bear scenarios:

Scenario 1:

* You live in either in Canada, the United States, or any place where bears such as brown, grizzly, or black bears are native.

* The season is temperate, somewhere between spring and fall.

* You are either having a barbecue cookout or you store a lot of aromatic food in your home.

* Your house is located near the woods or some forest.

Scenario 2:

* You decide to go camping in the woods or in the forest.

* You have a lot of food that is good for several days.

* You cook the food (of course, out in the open).

In Case of Bears...

These are just two of the most common scenarios where bears show themselves to humans. If you do see a bear, you should not be afraid. They are just hungry creatures looking for food. It is only very rare that these bears attack people. Bears only attack people when you get in the way of their food or their cubs.

When you do see a bear, you don't need to panic. In cold climates, bears usually appear between May and October, so be alert. Make sure you, your children, and your pets stay clear of bears.

Since bears are shy and timid creatures, they can be easily scared away by shouting, banging pans, waving, or any loud noises. Those that are used to being around humans won't be easily scared off, though. Some brave people may even try to fake a chase of the bear so that it would flee. If you try scaring a bear off, make sure it is not cornered and it has a clear escape route. When attempting to fake a rush towards a bear, never go nearer than 15 feet. These scare tactics are very effective when there are many people; otherwise, it is better to stay at a safe distance and simply make loud sounds to scare it off.

There are some bears that are not easily scared off, though. If you live in an area that is frequented by bears, it is better to have bear repellant like Capsaicin, a natural chemical found in most peppers. When sprayed directly into the eyes of a bear, it will cause the animal to flee. This repellent causes eye irritation that last for several minutes, but does not have permanent and damaging effects on the bear's eyes.

If the bear seems to be aggressive or threatening, never attempt to scare it away. Instead, contact a wildlife conservation office and report the incident. They will be the ones who will deal with the bear by either relocating it or destroying it if it fights against capture.

Bear No-No's

Even though bears are timid creatures, when cornered or provoked, they can be very dangerous. Bears can seriously injure or even kill even a strong man. That is why you must be very careful when dealing with bears. There are certain things you should not do when you are confronted by a bear in your backyard or at a campsite. Here are some bear no-no's:

* Never feed a bear - No matter how cute or how gentle it may look, you should never feed a bear. Doing so is very dangerous. Bears are very strong animals, so when you attempt to feed them, you may risk getting scratched, bitten, or thrown away by a powerful swing.

* Never leave food unattended - If you will be having a cookout, or when you're camping, never leave your food unattended. Clean up the mess right away and store foodstuff in bear-proof containers. Garbage bins are also a favorite of bears, so make sure your garbage bins are bear-proof too.

Why Bears Come

Bears are naturally shy, but when survival is at stake, they have no other choice but to overcome their nature. When bears come to humans, most of the time, they are just searching or attracted to food, but there are several reasons behind them coming out in the open.

The number one reason is because of us humans. The changes in the environment directly or indirectly caused by man makes the food supply of these bears scarce. They are also attracted to the smell of food. Since bears need large quantities of food for the winter, they will get as much food as possible in order to survive the punishing weather ahead.

Bears also have a keen sense of smell, so they seek out the source of the food they detect. They can open doors, garbage bins, backpacks, or even cars just to get the food. Since they also have good memory, they will remember the taste of the food and the location where they got the meal and remember it for a long time.

Younger male bears are also usually not tolerated by adult bears, forcing them to search for new territories. Mother bears may also flee to nearby human homes along with their cubs because adult male bears usually kill other bear cubs.

When there is a shortage of food, usually when the winter season nears, bears become desperate, so they seek out human settlements to hunt for something to eat. Also, when bears are too old, injured, or sick, and foraging for food becomes difficult, they go for easy targets such as the food that people eat.

Avoiding Bear Contact

Bear attacks are very rare, but still, they do happen. It is only safe to make sure that bears would not wander into your yard or campgrounds.

If you are on going camping, be aware of your environment. Stay clear of bear paths. Signs that bears may be near are their droppings or leftovers of food. If there are fruit-bearing trees around, don't set camp there. After cooking and eating, make sure you clean up the mess right away. Throw leftovers in a faraway place instead of burying them near your campsite.

At home, keep foodstuff indoors. Make sure your garbage is sealed in bear-proof garbage bins. If you have fruit-bearing trees in your yard, pick them and don't allow the fruit to fall on the ground. If you have beehives, set them higher, at least two feet above the ground, so that they are out of reach for the bears.

Bears are wonderful and graceful creatures, in spite of their size. It is nice to watch them from afar, but can bring panic to you when they come too close. With these necessary steps, you can "get rid" of bears and avoid further confrontations with them.

Want to know more? You can read more tips on How to get rid of Bears, plus information to get rid of practically anything else that ails you - from bad breath to telemarketers to cellulite - at http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com

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