How do you defend yourself against wildlife when hiking or approaching a climb?

After running into a black bear a few days ago, I've started to be a bit more spooked about going on some of my favorite trails. The feeling stays with me for a while until I do enough trails without incident that it (the feeling) goes away, and then I just don't give any trail a second thought anymore after that...that is, until the next animal encounter happens. They don't happen that often, but they do happen. Moose, black-bears and rattle-snakes are what I worry about the most. I've accidentally kicked a few rattle-snakes many miles from my car! Never seen a mountain lion, but I believe I've seen their tracks in the snow.

Anyhow... If a moose or bear were to attack/charge, what would you do? Bear spray? Moose spray? Do any of you carry a gun while hiking? I'm timid about carrying any sort of fire-arm. Shoot a few rounds into the air? How about a rattle-snake bite? Carry any anti-venom? Only doctors can administer that, right?

Spencer,

The crítters are more scared of you than you should be of them.

For approaches, wear boots and gaiters,
carry a music supply on your phone, or such
And a camera.

Stand near a fire so that your cloths smell, or smoke something.

Wear Deet, spray your cloths with Raid or the like,
'cause it is the Tics you should be most worried about.

Crank the tunes, and sing along,
Sing loud. Free Bird works good,
as do lots of anthem, arena rock songs,
even opera if that is your thing,
just let the creatures out there know
you are out there too.

Airhorn

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You can plan for every kind of encounter if you want, but sometimes you just have to roll with it. If you're accidentally kicking rattle snakes, that's a good indication that you need to be paying more attention to your surroundings. Try to spot snakes on or near the trail, and walk around them. Don't kick them, that's mean.

If you're making noise on the trail, lions, bears and moose will typically avoid you. If you see one, try to make a big detour. If a bear approaches, slowly back away, keep an eye on the bear don't turn your back but don't make eye contact, don't run. If it charges, stand your ground and try not to seem scared. If you stand tall, raise your hands, or hold your jacket or pack above your head to appear larger, and talk calmly and assertively, the bear will most likely stop and leave you alone.

Same thing with a mountain lion, act calmly and slowly back away but keep it in sight. But if it starts approaching like it's going to attack make eye contact, make loud noises, smile (show your teeth), get some rocks to throw at it, sticks to poke its face with if you don't have mace or a knife/gun. Mountain lions are more likely to attack than bears.

If a moose charges, run.

If you're still uneasy, buy and carry bear mace. Please don't buy or carry a firearm. Especially if it makes you nervous. You'll just end up hurting someone or yourself.

spencerparkin wrote:If a moose or bear were to attack/charge, what would you do? Bear spray? Moose spray?

Try Beta Spray, clears gyms and crags effectively.

Guns are only useful if you spend so much time practicing with them that drawing, aiming, and firing becomes more natural than freezing up and/or wetting yourself. If you can't afford/justify the time and expense necessary for that, then if you have a gun, you're probably better off throwing it.

Bear spray is pretty effective against all predators in the lower 48. Still, don't surprise anything if you can avoid it. If you encounter a fresh kill, put distance between you and it as smoothly as possible. That is, keep your voice calm and even in tone, don't make any sudden movements, but back up.

With moose, just don't sneak up on them. Bells, singing, etc, will be just fine.

Bull moose, in general, are pretty mellow if they're not in the middle of the rut. If you are, try not to look, smell, or act too moosey. Bull moose in the rut are interested in fighting and fucking. Don't give them cause to consider either with you.

Cow moose with calves are scary as hell. They've got lousy eyesight and a hair trigger. Advertise your presence so that mama-moose knows that you are here well before she feels you're a threat to her calf.

Jon Zucco wrote:If you're accidentally kicking rattle snakes, that's a good indication that you need to be paying more attention to your surroundings. Try to spot snakes on or near the trail, and walk around them.

I live in an area where snake encounters are few and far between and usual of the non-venomous sort. I've had two encounters, both times with my dog. Both times my dog missed the snake. The second encounter, I was in a party of five plus two dogs. The three people and two dogs passed over a huge copperhead without noticing it. When I saw it it scared the shit outta me. More so that others had missed it. I feel like in certain areas, specifically around CT, when I am hiking I get in this snake-hunt mode. Inspecting every leaf, etc. which really takes away from the experience of being outdoors. I can easily see how one could not be so alert and bump into one of them.

Two weeks ago, I met a climber who had a .40 Glock with him. I've always been anti-gun (maybe apathetic would be a better word), but I've always wanted something for camping backcountry. Now I have thoughts of getting a handgun for that scenario. Just seems like a huge liability though, especially for little return. In which percentage of black-bear encounters would a handgun actually be advantageous???

Tom Sherman wrote: In which percentage of black-bear encounters would a handgun actually be advantageous???

If it's a .44 mag and you know how to use it, 100%. But be prepared for hearing loss.

Throw the bear a poodle snack.
Or, just leave the poodle tied at the base of a nearby multi-pitch climb. The outraged crying from all the offended MP'ers will scare any and all wildlife far away.

Jon Zucco wrote:But be prepared for hearing loss.

Shot the .40 cal 'Weaver Stance'. First shot I thought my left ear exploded.

I strongly recommend "bear flares" rather than mace. Any flares which ignight with a pull string from the back.
Mace is only effective if the wind is blowing in the right direction, useless in strong winds and disastrous if it blows toward you.
A flare does a better job scaring it away and deesn't compromise the bears senses (or yours) like mace does.
With over 5000 bear encounters over the last 13 years including a handful of charges, or what were actually bluff charges (we own a fly out bear viewing company in Alaska) flares are all that the other guides or myself cary along on our tours. Where we guarantee a bear encounter, and usually way more than 1.
But being careful and exercising common sense is always your first line of defence.
+1 they are usually more afraid of you or just not looking for trouble weather they are afraid of you or not.

• disclaimer*

I have never had to deploy a flare myself, witnessed it done twice, and mace used once. The deterent worked all 3 times.

Was backpacking with my kid on my back, wife with second on hers, bear on trail 20m ahead.

Gave me pause for a lot of thought. When it was just me, would never have considers a gun. Seriously thinking about it now.

Also, where I live there are wolves. One can of bear spray does not cut it in that type of encounter...

Each person has to think for them self and make the best decision. Although 95% of the time you don't need any defense, the ramifications of that 5% and what I could foresee happening have me thinking heavily about this subject.

Have done a lot of backcountry backpacking and haven't seen anything except deer and turkey! Read somewhere that a whistle is the best defense? I have a crazy loud whistle on my pack at all times. Heard that mace is a waste of time as it is too precise to use effectively.

Was backpacking last year in the cats for three nights and on night two was woken by the sound of something making what can only be described as 'deathly'. Something was being killed somewhere close.

Going out next weekend for three nights ... Now I'm scared, but hey, at least I have my whistle.

Seriously? I thought this thread was a joke.
Let's all carry a gun and start blasting away at all the scary predators out there.

I never leave home without my mad Ninjutsu skills.

Forget the gun, likely to get you in more trouble.

Jeff. That's what I was getting at in a round about way. When you look at the stats, as I have done, wildlife does not attack. Not like we picture it at least. As stated above. Make noise. Let the wild know your there. Keep the food out of your tent. And you'll be lucky to catch a glimpse of beautiful nature.

Jeff G. wrote:Seriously? I thought this thread was a joke. Let's all carry a gun and start blasting away at all the scary predators out there.

Seriously, doesn't sound like you have actually experienced the dangerous side of the wild.

The best defense is not sneaking up on any wild critter much bigger than a squirrel. (That includes skunks.) Noise is very definitely your friend, especially if you're near running water which could cover up the sound of your approach.

Running away is usually a bad idea: whatever you're running from is a helluva lot faster than you are. Predators are used to lunch trying to run away; their instinctive response is to give chase. You lose.

Avoiding bull moose during rut (hell, buck deer, too) is a really sound idea. Avoiding mama anythings is an even better policy. You may see Junior and not Mama, but she's not far away and doesn't take prisoners.

Wolves? Unless they're starving, you're in no danger. I live in an area that has them all over the place. When we're out climbing on our land, honestly, we never worry about them. We see their tracks and scat all the time, and spot them out-and-about often enough to enjoy it.

Gun? As mentioned, you'd better make that first shot.

Thick boots, gaiters and alertness are great against snakes.

And yeah, you probably have more to worry about from ticks than just about anything else. Basically, not a lot of critters really want anything to do with us. They'd be happiest if we just went away.

Have fun out there. (?)

Pete Spri wrote:Also, where I live there are wolves.

Step 1: don't be an elk.
Step 2: don't be alone.
Step 3: don't be a fucking elk.

You are more likely to get lovingly caressed by a grizzly bear (that's not sarcasm, I mean petting your hair and stuff) than to be attacked by wolves. Since 1915, there have been fewer than 100 wolf attacks on the entire continent. Most of those were by rabid wolves, and most of what's left were by habituated wolves.

Wolves are NOT a threat to people.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_…

Glock 36.