Yellowstone Vacations: Bears Do Eat in the Woods!
by Joe Dockter
Seeing bear thrilling experience many people taking Yellowstone vacations never forget. Both grizzly bears & black bears live Yellowstone National Park. If you are not familiar with the different species bears field guide or one the excellent park publications can be very helpful.
Generally speaking black bears are much more common Yellowstone than grizzly bears. Black bears tend to be smaller with males weighing about 300 pounds. They have somewhat shorter claws are suited for climbing trees where they forage for food. Black bears tend to be less aggressive & climb trees to escape threats or predators.
Between 300 & 600 grizzly bears live Yellowstone National Park. Grizzly bear males can range upward 700 pounds. They have longer straighter claws are designed for digging for food. They eat grasses shrubs wild plants like dandelion roots bulbs tubers & rodents like gophers. Grizzly bears also feed on elk & bison carcasses as well as their calves. In the summer they can be seen fishing for trout & just like the rest us they enjoy the late summer berries found the park.
To see bears on your Yellowstone vacation try visiting the park from March to November. Bears are generally active at dawn & dusk & during the night. They can be sighted along the roadside but are more likely to be observed open areas along the edges trees. In 2007 more than 2500 sightings bears were reported Yellowstone National Park.
Bears can be very dangerous. They are large & strong. Females are especially aggressive when protecting their cubs from perceived threats. Therefore very important to observe established safety rules when setting out to view bears. The first & most important rule to not feed the bears. It actually against the law to feed the wildlife Yellowstone National Park. It teaches the animals not to be afraid humans & turns them into beggars looking for handout. They then become even more aggressive about trying to get food from humans & eventually become pests have to be destroyed or relocated.
Many people enjoying their Yellowstone vacations stop the roadway & get out their vehicles to photograph bears they see. This also dangerous. Bears may feel threatened by this & charge. If you leave your vehicle you have little protection from all those big claws. Park officials recommend if you want to stop & look park only designated areas & remain your car. If you absolutely must get out stay at least 100 yards from any bears including cubs seem to be alone. Be assured Mom nearby watching your every move.
Other simple safety precautions when observing bears include avoiding sudden movements might be interpreted as aggression on your part not approaching or following the animals & not blocking the animals line travel. Again absolutely vital you do not feed the bears.
Many people planning Yellowstone vacations might wonder how likely bear attack might be. Park data shows for the period 1980 to 2002 there were more than 62 million visitors to the park with 32 bear-related injuries to humans. That makes the odds being attacked by bear about 1 1. 9 million. In all there are only five known bear-caused human deaths the park with one more possible & one known outside the park boundaries. There have more bear-human conflict the back country since the 1970s probably because more people are using this area than previously.
When hiking or camping best to go groups three or more. Hike during the late morning or early afternoon when bears are less active. To avoid sudden encounters remain on marked trails be alert for bears & make noise so they retreat into the brush. Bear Pepper Spray very effective for repelling bears but be sure you know how to use properly before you leave home. If you do come upon bear back away slowly then leave the area. Report your encounter to park staff. They like to know what the bears are up to. If bear charges at you stop & use your pepper spray. If attacked play dead. It works. Lie on your stomach with your arms over your neck & head. Keep your backpack on for extra protection. Once the bear realizes you are not threat she its often mom with cubs will call her babies & leave with them. Bears can run over 30 miles per hour so never run from bear. Try backing away or lie down & play dead until the bear leaves the area.
Bears like to eat & they like an easy meal so they are often attracted to campsites by the wonderful smells. Park rules require human food must be secured. See one the park publications for guidance or ask park staff for assistance bear-proofing your camp. Youll see all garbage cans the park are bear-proof & there are no garbage dumping allowed anywhere the park.
Bears will eat anything smells good & quite lot things do not so remember to secure anything odorous including food cooking supplies food storage items toiletries & garbage. The best place to keep supplies locked the trunk your car inside solid camping trailer an approved food storage box or suspended at least ten feet above the ground & at least four feet form trunk tree. The problem with suspending foodstuffs from tree limb bears know how to climb trees so use this only as last resort. Many experts recommend you sleep at least 100 feet away from your stored food supplies & you do not sleep the same clothes you cooked in.
Yellowstone vacations can be great fun for the whole family especially when wildlife like grizzly bears encountered. Remembering few simple rules for interacting with bears can keep you & your loved ones safe. Joe Dockter http://rockymountainvacation. blogspot. com http://yellowstonevacations. blogspot. com
About the Author:
Joe has BS Business Management/Marketing. Joe has twenty years federal service with the Department Veterans Affairs. Joe has traveled extensively & the father 2 Eagle Scouts.