Also, “bear activity” was common along the trail thus far. So we noted the information half-heartedly, thinking it was probably a shelter we’d pass in the next mile but wouldn’t be sleeping near. Usually, I just pick a destination based on how many miles it is from where I’m starting that day. I barely know the name of the places I’m staying at each night. Just before we reached the trailhead on the opposite side of the street, a day hiker said, “Hey, just so you know, Matts Creek Shelter is closed because of bear activity.” We turned and said, “Oh, okay thanks!” Because here’s the thing about thru-hiking, at least for me, I don’t know the name of things we pass. So when we got to our last big hill of the day, right before it there was a road crossing with parked cars belonging to day hikers and a bulletin board we were inclined to pass by as we normally do as it’s normally just information about the area and “don’t feed the wildlife” signs.

We planned to do some decent mileage but, because of a lack of motivation, hadn’t really planned when or where we’d stop exactly.

This is when the black bear can become dangerous to human life. That is unless the bear has been fed human food and is conditioned to connect humans to sources of food. If it’s black, fight back.” Thus, almost no one on the AT carries bear spray as loud clapping, yelling, and whistles should be all you need to stay safe. A common rhyme to remember the difference between grizzlies and black bears is “If it’s brown, lay down. Hikers are instructed to make noise and make themselves big in order to threaten the black bear into backing off. It’s not until July that berries ripen and become a major food source for the species.īlack bears are sometimes comedically referred to as “big dogs” as they’re technically the least threatening of bear species. In May, the bears eat sprouting grass and leaves as the forest turns green with spring. Food is scarce and many lose weight during this time of year. In April, black bears leave their winter dens. Their nasal mucosa is 100 times larger than a human’s. Cubs are smaller but reach close to adult size around 2 years old, which is also when the mothers force their yearlings to stop traveling with them.īlack bears’ sense of smell is extremely good. Their weight ranges from 125 to 500 pounds for males and 90 to 300 pounds for females. Black bears can acquire a taste for human food if it’s left behind at campsites or garbage, which is why it’s important never to feed bears and practice leave no trace.Īdult black bears are 4-7 feet tall typically. Their diet mainly consists of berries, roots, insects, grasses, and occasionally fish. It is the most common bear in North America and is the only type of bear found on the Appalachian Trail (unlike the PCT or CDT, where grizzlies are found). The American Black Bear is a species native to North America and is generally mid-sized. So, in my eyes, this was an attack that myself and my partner, Town, narrowly escaped unscathed (physically). The two bears I encountered did everything worth considering an attack save drawing blood. Actually, more towards attack because of the aggression and atypical behavior of the bears. Well, my “bear experience” sits in the middle of those situations in terms of severity. Or, maybe a bear coming into camp and stealing a food bag. A bear encounter makes me picture a hiker walking on trail and spotting a bear 100 yards in front of them before it dashes into the woods. It means a call to the hospital, or worse, the morgue. A bear attack makes you think of bloody gashes or chomped-on limbs. But to me, and I think a lot of people on trail, those terms mean drastically different things. Some people might take issue with my decision to call this situation a bear attack instead of a bear encounter. bear encounter and information about the North American black bear. If you are only interested in the story and not the background, skip to the section titled “The Attack.”įirst, I’m including some information about the term bear attack vs. I erred on the side of too much information rather than too little so people can learn from this experience as much as possible. The following post is my account of my bear attack experience at a tent site outside Glasgow, Virginia.

Keep calm carry guns on back tshir