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Not really. I've spent many hours, days, weeks at a time in the wilderness in the Canadian Rockies and West Coast, with some of the densest population of all 3

Not really. I've spent many hours, days, weeks at a time in the wilderness in the Canadian Rockies and West Coast, with some of the densest population of all 3 of these predators, and it's pretty damn easy to avoid them. No need for guns down here either (maybe in the Arctic, Polar bears are actually aggressive).

jessaustin 7y ago
Guns in the wilderness are like guns in everyday life. A real inconvenience 99.9% of the time. The rest of the time, they aren't inconvenient. Actually I compare guns to bicycle helmets. I only consider using either one of them in very specific and uncommon situations.
quadcore 7y ago
Can you elaborate please? How do you avoid a grizzly?
- Avshalom 7y ago
  They generally avoid you. Humans don't look like food to all but a couple animals in the world and most animals being basically sensible assume that unless the 'not-prey' decides to be aggressive they have more to lose than gain from interacting with us.
- Mikeb85 7y ago
  The easiest and most obvious way is to travel in groups and be noisy. Bears are opportunistic more than they're predatory, meaning they're risk averse and avoid confrontation. Next is to avoid their feeding areas - so don't stick around next to carrion, pass through their favourite meadows carefully but quickly, and don't hang around their berry bushes or obvious dens. Obviously stay away from cubs. If you do encounter them, back away slowly (don't turn your back), they'll pretty much always also go the other way. I've encountered plenty in the backcountry, usually at fairly long distances and they always move on. Also note that this applies mainly to BC, Alberta, and south of US. They do get slightly more aggressive up north due to having less easy food sources. Also, black bears are a different story, as are polar bears.
  - saalweachter 7y ago
    It's kind of hilarious that when you think of a fictional woodsman, their ability to move through the forests silently is a major, salient feature. But for most of us for most of our uses of the woods, we're better off learning to be kind of noisy kind of constantly.
- longerthoughts 7y ago
  Be loud, watch for tracks and scat, avoid known feeding areas (rangers can help with this).
LgWoodenBadger 7y ago
I don't know how accurate your statement is. From what I've read, it's not a matter of avoiding, it's of escaping. Coincidentally, I read the following study which only considered the use of pistols, and only incidents that were reported, in the defense from a bear attack. 37 incidents since 1987. https://www.ammoland.com/2018/02/defense-against-bears-with-pistols-97-success-rate-37-incidents-by-caliber/ https://www.ammoland.com/2018/02/defense-against-bears-with-...
- Mikeb85 7y ago
  37 incidents in 32 years across the whole US... And that's with a reckless gun-toting population (human). Conversely 15ish people die from avalanches every year in Canada. Bears... Dunno, maybe one every 3-4 years? Also, the US has more hunters. Hunters are more likely to be attacked since they often are sneaking up on bears. Bears really aren't dangerous. There's tons of sightings and encounters around here, almost no attacks. For the few attacks that happen, bear spray is pretty effective. Guns are overkill and aren't even allowed in the parks around here.

jessaustin 7y ago

Guns in the wilderness are like guns in everyday life. A real inconvenience 99.9% of the time. The rest of the time, they aren't inconvenient. Actually I compare guns to bicycle helmets. I only consider using either one of them in very specific and uncommon situations.

quadcore 7y ago

Can you elaborate please? How do you avoid a grizzly?

Avshalom 7y ago
They generally avoid you. Humans don't look like food to all but a couple animals in the world and most animals being basically sensible assume that unless the 'not-prey' decides to be aggressive they have more to lose than gain from interacting with us.
Mikeb85 7y ago
The easiest and most obvious way is to travel in groups and be noisy. Bears are opportunistic more than they're predatory, meaning they're risk averse and avoid confrontation. Next is to avoid their feeding areas - so don't stick around next to carrion, pass through their favourite meadows carefully but quickly, and don't hang around their berry bushes or obvious dens. Obviously stay away from cubs. If you do encounter them, back away slowly (don't turn your back), they'll pretty much always also go the other way. I've encountered plenty in the backcountry, usually at fairly long distances and they always move on. Also note that this applies mainly to BC, Alberta, and south of US. They do get slightly more aggressive up north due to having less easy food sources. Also, black bears are a different story, as are polar bears.
- saalweachter 7y ago
  It's kind of hilarious that when you think of a fictional woodsman, their ability to move through the forests silently is a major, salient feature. But for most of us for most of our uses of the woods, we're better off learning to be kind of noisy kind of constantly.
longerthoughts 7y ago
Be loud, watch for tracks and scat, avoid known feeding areas (rangers can help with this).

LgWoodenBadger 7y ago

I don't know how accurate your statement is. From what I've read, it's not a matter of avoiding, it's of escaping. Coincidentally, I read the following study which only considered the use of pistols, and only incidents that were reported, in the defense from a bear attack. 37 incidents since 1987. https://www.ammoland.com/2018/02/defense-against-bears-with-pistols-97-success-rate-37-incidents-by-caliber/ https://www.ammoland.com/2018/02/defense-against-bears-with-...

Mikeb85 7y ago
37 incidents in 32 years across the whole US... And that's with a reckless gun-toting population (human). Conversely 15ish people die from avalanches every year in Canada. Bears... Dunno, maybe one every 3-4 years? Also, the US has more hunters. Hunters are more likely to be attacked since they often are sneaking up on bears. Bears really aren't dangerous. There's tons of sightings and encounters around here, almost no attacks. For the few attacks that happen, bear spray is pretty effective. Guns are overkill and aren't even allowed in the parks around here.