Warning from the US of A to British Motorhome Forum

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Mick & Pat

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Feb 14, 2006
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Back in UK with RV
Another MH owner has just posted this 'Warning' on the British Motorhome forum Motorhome Facts. ;D ;D

The California/Oregon State Department of Fish and Wildlife is advising hikers, hunters, fishermen and golfers to take extra precautions and be on the alert for bears while in the Truckee, Kirkwood and Yosemite areas. They advise people to wear noise-producing devices such as little bells on their clothing to alert but not startle the bears unexpectedly. They also advise you to carry pepper spray in case of an encounter with a bear.
It is also a good idea to watch for signs of bear activity. People should be able to recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear droppings. Black bear droppings are smaller and contain berries and possibly squirrel fur. Grizzly bear droppings have little bells in them and smell like pepper.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
 
Funny joke. But the advice about bells is still good advice when hiking in bear country....plus KNOWING that you're hiking in bear country!! Making noise as you hike is also good for keeping away snakes.
 
Hi Mick

We could very easily have become bear food today.

In the space of a 2 hour drive along Hwy 37 north, we spotted 7 bears !!

Attached are a couple of photos of the one of them.

This bear was less than 15 feet from us and was far to busy eating to run off when we pulled up next to him/her.

The bear looked so cute, it was tempting to get out the RV for a better look / better pics.

Paul
 

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Hi Paul

"The bear looked so cute, it was tempting to get out of the RV for a better look/better pics."

Not a good idea better to have a camera with a good telephoto, much better for your health!!!
 
UK-RV said:
Hi Mick

We could very easily have become bear food today.

In the space of a 2 hour drive along Hwy 37 north, we spotted 7 bears !!

Attached are a couple of photos of the one of them.

This bear was less than 15 feet from us and was far to busy eating to run off when we pulled up next to him/her.

The bear looked so cute, it was tempting to get out the RV for a better look / better pics.

Paul

What you saw are black bears, aka blackies.  Of our two types of bears, they are the more harmless.  The grizzly is the other and is recognizable by a hump at the shoulders.  Grizzlies definitely have a reputation for regarding humans as lunch.  That said, even blackies are best seen at a distance and from within a few tons of steel and glass.  They can get insistant about raiding food on or about you and a mother with cubs to protect can be truly fearsome.

Insofar as bear repellants are concerned, the only ones with any guarantee of efficacy are rifles of the .338 Magnum class.  Go with the plan of staying in the vehicle.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grizzly_bear
 
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