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Message started by prouboy on Mar 16th, 2009 at 3:05am

Title: Re: Bear-proofing camp....Jacobson's references
Post by prouboy on Mar 23rd, 2009 at 11:09pm
He didn't mention bi-polar bears!  But he did ask the crowd, (standing room only) which is more dangerous:
1. a wild bear, never experienced with people
2. a hunted bear, one that has been shot at and knows that aspect of humans
3. a habituated bear, accustomed to people

almost everyone said # 3.  Jacobson said NO!  Jacobson said it's the wild bear...specifically, the YOUNG wild bear just kicked out by mama.  He equated this bear to a young teenager....their brains not quite fully formed. Very unpredictable.  No fear.  

How do you know what kind of bear you're looking at?  Circumstantial.  He said, if you see a bear in full daylight come into camp...be VERY wary...most habituated bears will sneak in at night.  The full daylight bear has no fear and you don't know what he/she will do.  Jacobson said in this case body language is very important.  Look big.  Put on your pack.  Look confident.  Get in a group if you have one.  Grab the little kids if they're around and put them on your shoulders.  Young bears like this are bullies, and if they think you're bigger, and not afraid, based on body language, they'll move off.  

I have a summary sheet...if I could figure out a way to put it in electronic form, I'd share it here.  

prouboy

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