Bears in Glacier National Park
 

Our family of 3 is going to do a 1st time trip from Wisconsin to Mt.Rushmore/Badlands to Grand Teton/Yellowstone National Park and then up Glacier National Park in a midsized rented one-piece RV. We will be on this circuit for approx the first 3 weeks of September '13.

Any general tips would be appreciated, but our main concern is bears at that time of the year. Any danger in that arena if we keep closely to the rules of the parks? We want to enjoy and relax at these places, not be always looking around at the prospect of danger.

Thanks for your help.

Sept is a great time to be in Glacier - you should see lots of Bald Eagles on the river. But you do have to be alert to grizzly bear especially when taking hikes - even just short ones. I spent a summer as a naturalist in the park years ago and quickly learned that hiking in bear country is different and requires a little extra effort and vigilance.

Many folks like to purchase bear spray - I'd recommend it if you plan to do a good deal of hiking. Wearing small bells on your boots is not an effective deterrent. Clap your hands loudly, sing and yell regularly as you hike.

I spent practically every day hiking the backcountry while I was there (for 4 months) without a single grizz sighting (much to my disappointment). But saw several grizzlies in Yellowstone; one on my 2nd day there! So you will most likely have no problem but be sure to make noise and clap your hands a lot to warn the bear of your presence. Have a great time! Glacier is so beautiful.

Certainly could see Grizzlies and/or Black Bears at Yellowstone and Tetons too. Buy Bear Spray. I even go so far as to buy 2 cans. You can hike in Ranger-Led tours. Far less likely to be attacked with numbers and the rangers almost always carry bear spray.

A family of three?
You have nothing to worry about.
There has NEVER been a fatal bear attack in the Lower 48 when three or more people are together. EVER. The sight of such a "large animal" (bears have excellent smell and hearing, but bad eyesight) apparently scares off even the most aggressive bear.

Lone hikers and campers have died from bear attacks in Glacier and in Yellowstone.
But it's NEVER happened for a group of people together. EVER.
Practice "Bear Aware" tips and you'll reduce the odds of even an attack to (pretty much) zero.

You're in FAR more danger while driving than from bear attacks. Indeed, statistically, the most dangerous mammal you'll face in the great outdoors is a human hunter -- they kill far more people than do bears.

Good luck on seeing a bear in the wild -- it's been a thrill for me, each of the twenty or so times I've been so blessed as to see one!

There have been several near-fatal bear attacks in Glacier with 3 or more hiking. I've seen the piece on Roscoe Black(former owner of St. Mary's Lodge) several times on tv and there was 2 other people with him. 2 of them spent several weeks in the hospital

Here is a blog about all the non-fatal attacks in Glacier.

http://glacier.nationalparkschat.com...pic.php?t=3625

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ica#Black_bear

Maybe there hasn't been a fatal bear attack while 3 people have been hiking but several while "3 people are together"

Fishing, Camping

Sharondi gives great advice. My husband and I have been miles out on a trail and never saw another person or bear and we've also hiked other busy trails and seen a bear 50 feet from the parking lot - so you just never know. Always carry bear spray and know how to use it and make sure you clap and shout out a lot.

http://www.hikinginglacier.com/glaci...park-bears.htm

You also mentioned you're driving an RV on your trip. The Going to the Sun Road which connects the east and west side of the park - and one of the most scenic drives in the country - has size restrictions on vehicles that can drive the road. If yours is too big, you should consider taking the red bus tours or the park shuttles so you don't miss one of the most beautiful parts of the park.

http://www.hikinginglacier.com/glaci...e-sun-road.htm

It's not so much the number of people as it is the size of the group....a single mother with 2 small children doesn't look nearly as imposing as 3 full-grown adult men.

And even with 3 people, they need to stay close together. It's very easy for one person to get ahead just a little bit and surprise a bear coming around a blind corner. That's really all it takes, even 20 feet apart is too much when there's limited sight lines.

So the advice about hiking in a group of 3 is valid as long as OP understands that they must remain in close enough proximity to each other so as to constitute a single large entity. And if a bear charges, they must stick together, make themselves look as big as possible by raising their arms, waving jackets, etc...if one person runs they are in trouble.

TO PAULRABE:

Have you heard or read "The Night of the Grizzlies"??

Bookmarking.

I've watched a bit from The Night of Grizzlies on Youtube.

Was there more than 3 people inthje one attack!!!!

holy crap people!

I thought that was 2 different attacks on the same night. The first deaths in Glacier?

2 different attacks, one of which involved a group of campers (4-5) I think. I believe that's the point John was trying to make, larger groups aren't immune to being attacked. Although that attack occurred at night with the people in their separate tents...but it was unusual because the bear was right outside their campsite for hours and hours, apparently waiting for the right moment.

Very strange. I guess the people had no idea the grizzlies were outside. Otherwise they would have made a lot of noise to alert and scare them off.

In general we are not grizzly's food. An attack would be rare unless the grizzly is surprised or a mother with cubs.

Remember the young female trail guide, who warded off a grizzly attacking one of her young riders,, who was on horseback?? The grizzly spooked all the horses, then was singling out one young boy who was losing his seat on horseback. The guide made her huge horse charge the grizzly (miraculous that he did it for her). The grizzly circled around, came back for the boy, and the guide and her horse charged him again. The bear finally ran off.

Just to say, grizzly bears are notoriously unpredictable.

John,

I'm flying into Calgary in 2 weeks. Spending my first day in Waterton and not doing any hiking. After I cross the border, where is the best place to buy bear spray? Assuming that having it a border crossing might present a problem. I plan on hiking Hidden Lake trail. Probably hike to Fishercap(we are staying at Many Glacier), maybe a couple of other short hikes. Then hiking Iceberg Lake on ranger-led tour. Not sure I really need it, but will have some just in case. The bad part, my wife is allergic to Capsacin(she cannot eat anything spicy-joints swell and rash-never been hospitalized with it, but close-it took us almost 4 years to figure out).

Coming in from Canada, I'm pretty sure the camp store at Many Glacier would be your first opportunity to purchase. Otherwise, all visitor's center sell it in the book store section. Of course it is much cheaper in Kalispell, Whitefish or Hungry Horse but what you spend on gas to get there would off set the difference ☺ Probably wouldn't need it at Hidden Lake at Logan Pass but DEFINETLY carry and know how to use it at Iceberg Lake trail and most all trails in the Many Glacier area.
Happy trails!!

TO SPIROBULLDOG Forgot to mention: Counter Assault spray, which is the most popular spray, contains 2% Capsacin!!

spiro,
You are allowed to carry bear spray across the border as long as it's clearly labeled.

I bought my spray last summer at the general store in Babb. It's right on the main street thru the town. It's called Thronson's.

Fishercap lake is a very short hike. The trail starts at the far end of the lower (main) parking lot at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn.

The Iceberg Lake trail starts at the upper parking area at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. We didn't take the ranger-led hike as my daughter wanted to sleep an hour longer. We left 9:30 (the ranger-led hike leaves at 8"30) and we caught up to them after a while. They stop often. Partly for the slower people and partly because the ranger will give a lot of explanations.

On the way back the Iceberg Lake we saw a grizzly about 10 yards above us walking parallel to us. We took some quick pictures and stopped to let it go. Instead he came down onto our trail, walked a few yards, turned towards us and sat down to splash in a little stream and cool off. This lasted about 20 minutes until he got up and ran up the hill.

For the Grinnell Glacier hike going with the ranger is a good idea as the boat ride knocks off a couple of miles. This hike is shorter than Iceberg but quite a bit steeper. Tougher on old knees.

I also found Hidden lake a bit of an issue. A good part of the trail is on a boardwalk and there are a lot of stairs.

The hardest hike we did was in Waterton Lakes. Bear's Hump. Not that long but STEEP. A lot of high earth, rock and railway tie stairs.

The area with the cable on Highline wasn't a problem. That would usually freak me out. It's quite a bit wider than I thought it would be.

Also, I was quite surprised at how nice St Mary and Virginia Falls are.

spiro,
I forgot to mention. From the airport you'll loop over and around the airport onto Rt 2 (Deerfoot Trail). This is the road that goes all the way down to the border and to Glacier NP.

To go to Waterton Lakes you'll probably veer onto Rt 6 at Fort MacLeod.

Just below the Calgary airport in the back of the Deerfoot Mall (you can't see it from the front. you have to drive around back) is a Walmart Supercenter. You can pick up all of you supplies there.

To get there you go down Rt 2 (it's actually parallel to the airport so the exit is very soon) and get off at 64th Ave NE. The mall is on the Southeast corner.

The only things you really can't take across the border are citrus and raw meat. Pretty much anything else.

In fact, I didn't realize that my daughter had actually bought some citrus and the agent at the border just laughed and told her not to sell it.

John -- I've read the book, as well as Stephen Herrero's book; which is THE book on bear attacks. In the Glacier Park attack
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Ha..._the_Grizzlies
discussed in the former book:
1) Roy Ducat and Julie Hegelson were BY THEMSELVES -- foolishly, IMHO, because they had repeatedly warned that bears were roaming the area looking for human food (garbage dumping was ended soon after this 1967 attack) -- when mauled.
2) Jerry Koons was sleeping by himself at night, when a group of five people spent the night in an area THEY KNEW to have an aggressive bear in it. They were NOT huddled together during the day, which was my advice. If you want me to add "during the day" to my statement, I'd be glad to.
I think it is safe to assume this family will not be camping in area known to have an aggressive bear in it.

If they stay together during the day, don't ignore signs stating, "Trail closed due to bear activity," and practice Bear Aware techniques; they'll be fine.

It will ALWAYS be more likely that they will be hurt by a drunk driver while driving to Glacier NP than by a bear while in it. The problem is, people who die in a car wreck aren't the lead story on CNN when it happens, so people think bears are more dangerous than drivers. But people killed in a car accident are just as dead as those mauled by a bear.

The advice to be bear aware is very good! The bears here are getting more and more used to human interaction and are not always afraid. More and more they are right in towns on the east side. The advice to make yourself appear large if in an encounter is wise. In the matter of a couple of months I knew three people charged (one my Dad) and they all made them selves appear bigger... formed a group, opened up jackets wide, and raised arms anything to look bigger and in all three cases the bear or bears retreated. One charged to within 15 feet. Not to say that this will work every time but it is still good advice. And none of these were in the park but near the park. Honestly I am not afraid to hike in the park or on the front range of the Rockies at all... we do it frequently. If you encounter a bear stay calm and just remember all the things you have read to do and follow park guidelines and respect closed trail signs and you will be fine.

September is an amazing time to go! The days are cooler and the wildlife becomes more abundant and the park is quieter. We tend to visit in April and September most often. Some of the restaurants and shops will be closing, but we have never had a problem finding what we need. Enjoy your trip! Remember when looking for moose to look deep into the trees they are very good at hiding sometimes you won't notice them till you see an ear twitch :)

Four hikers were charged this week by a mama bear protecting her cub in Yellowstone. Two of the hikers were able to discharge their bear spray, but two of the hikers did sustain injuries. Every bear encounter is different and this is just a great example of why everyone in your group should carry bear spray.

http://hikinginglacier.blogspot.com/...tone-bear.html

if you are going to get bear spray (very bizarre thing to do) also get elk, wolf, rattle snake, hornet, wasp, mosquito, deer fly, horse fly, gnat, coyote and bison spray as they are about too. Be sure to watch the movie RV with robin Williams if you are going that route.

Wild animals are wild animals and unpredictable. However, there's a reason you're supposed to be farther from bears than most others.

Bear spray is a good idea as it is effective and bears can do damage.

Essentially, bears are not predators. All they really want to do is protect their offspring and eat berries to prepare for winter.

According to the instructions you are responsible for your own safety.

In general grizzlies won't attack unless they have little ones and feel threatened or are surprised. The best thing is to be in a group to look bigger and make noise so the grizzly knows you're there and they'll generally keep clear.

If a grizzly attacks and you have discharged your bear spray, lie down on your stomach with your backpack on your back and cover the back of your head/neck with your hands. The grizzly will very quickly leave. I'm not sure how many people could do that rather than attempt to vacate.

For black bears the same usually applies. However, it's possible to be stalked by a black bear. In that case fight back any way you can. Sticks, rocks, etc.

You can't always tell grizzlies from black bears by color although grizzlies are usually brown and black bears usually black.

Grizzlies are generally larger. Their claws are 2 or 3 times the size though that's not how you'd like to tell. The line from the forehead to mouth of a grizzly is concave and that of a black bear is somewhat convex. The best way to differentiate is that a grizzly has a muscle hump over the shoulders.

Having said all that, most people ignore the 150 yard rule. I was in Jasper a couple of days ago. We saw a black bear and her 3 cubs right beside the road. About 7-8 people were well outside their cars taking pictures. They just kept jogging around eating.

After a few minutes I guess the mother got a bit uncomfortable. She took the 3 little ones across the road and up a little hill. We then saw the 3 cubs climb a tree. The mother then came back down the hill to eat more. When she had enough she went back up the little hill and the cubs came down from the tree.

They all took off in the woods.

About other sprays. I spent a week in Glacier, MT and never had an encounter with a mosquito. However, I then spent a couple of days in Banff and Jasper and got eaten alive. I had spray but got used to not carrying it. I guess they'll all heal in a few days.

There are rules for every wildlife.
Mooses or deers or elks charging : try to go behind an obstacle-tree, big rock,...
Bisons : go uphill ad they didn't like going up.if you are in plains and so close to a bison he can charge you , so you were ...too close!!
For bears make noise to avoid a surprised encounter and bearspray is a good defensive way no toxic for the animals.
The one who know everything and think to be able to cop with every wildlife encounter let me always laugh.
It´s true also that we have see twice this year people with guns while hiking because they said" it´s dangerous here with such a wildlife"...
I've reed some fatal attacks by bears thode last year in Glacier pr Yellowstone but never eared about dearhs by mosquitos there or coyote...
Erik

Perhaps Katzgar should stick to commenting on topics which he/she has some knowledge. Bear spray is not bizarre, it is very sensible and highly recommended.

WhereAreWe,

I tried to be a little nicer about Katzgar's post but I totally agree with you and Erik.

When a moose started to get too close to me at Fishercap Lake I looked behind me for the closest tree. It has 10-12 feet directly behind me. He veered along the shore away from me so I didn't have to move back to shelter.

Bear spray is a good idea. However, don't put it in the bottom of your backpack. Either hold it in you hand, on you belt or hang it from a front strap of your backpack (if you do this make sure you always have your backpack on your back and not in the car).

one of you city slickers walks into a local bar with bear spray you will be laughed out of the joint. The locals live with bears just fine without bear spray.

KATZGAR I am a local. I, along with all my hiking friends, ALWAYS carry bear spray when HIKING, NEVER in a bar!!!! Have never seen a bear in a bar nor have I ever seen a local "laughed out of the joint" for carrying bear spray. However when visiting a local establishment, please leave your spray in your car.

Katzgar,

Maybe you shouldn't drink & hike.

John you clearly aren't local, you would be carrying a firearm

Not ALL locals are gun crazy. Carried one in the Army, that was enough!!!

I guarantee you I saw more people carrying Bear Spray than those not(meaning at least 1 member of the group had bear spray) at Glacier National Park a few week ago. I didn't notice anyone carrying a firearm. I didn't ask anyone if they were local or not.

BTW, I don't qualify as a City Slicker. Only one stoplight within 15 miles of my house and I've lived here for 40 years. And yes, I carry bear spray when hiking in bear country.

I find that you are the bizarre one here.

I am a city slicker. I did carry bear spray in Glacier NP. I didn't calculate the percentages but many people had bear spray.

I saw one girl carrying a firearm on the trail. The girl she was hiking with did not carry one. I took a picture of her from behind and it clearly shows the firearm.

Two rangers tracked me down when I went somewhere off limits. One was enforcement and not happy to walk a mile. She had a stun gun and firearm.

carrying a firearm in the woods in the west has nothing to do with gun crazy, has to do with threats/varmints.....like bears. I will give you 100% of the tourists were carrying bear spray. how on earth what a tourist does have anything to do with smart? Spiro you just make the case that tourists were in the park, that is axiomatic.

What do you mean by varmints ?
In my traductor help , the nearest is "vermin" ..
If you think that you have nothing to do in that forum.
Bears are natural in Glacier and we are the "invaders "...
Try to give them respect and as tranquility they need.
I don't understand that need of guns...
Or you think there is nothing dangerous and walk naturally
Or you think danger could arrive due to cubs, carcass, roam,...and the best way for ALL, beats and human is bearspray.
Erik

"What do you mean by varmints ?" google is your friend.

The girl that was rescued in the Idaho wilderness was discovered and reported by locals carrying handguns, something they stated during the interview they would never go into the woods without.

When you learn about bear spray you will find it only works in certain situations and must be used in a certain way. A panicked tourist is unlikely to use it properly.