Caught in the headlights

[heckler]

So, hiking alone in the woods last night (actually bushwacking around the top of Seymour), I wondered what a black bear would do if you were to run into him with 20 watts of lights shining in his eyes.

Anyone ever have this experience (riding or hiking?). I've come across a couple in the daylight, and they don't give you a second glance before they're gone in the bush. Does a bear at night react the same way as a deer in headlights?

[Rat]

Ive caught a few deer at night while riding and you can get real close to them. Its actually kind of freaky

[Sunday Rider]

They generally react to noise as they have really bad eyesight. Whenever I have caught them in the headlights (usually as they are going through some neighbour's trash) they are already running away at the sound of the car.

[heckler]

But what if you're walking quietly through the woods? Yeah, the more I thought about it last night, the noisier I started to get.

[.flow.]

when alone in the woods, noise is your best friend, unless of course you are in cougar country..............

[scarpenter]

Dinner bells?

[Adam West]

cougars dont like headlights in my experince. had one follow us out of a local trail into the parkinlot at night. everyone had left but me and i see these big green saucers half trot cummin towards me. put my night light on it and it stoped dead in its tracks. looked at me i hoped on my biuke (he was like 20-25 feet away, pretty much a medium size cat, 3 1/2- 4 feet at the shoulders and like a meter 3/4 to 2 m without its tail.) and got the fuck outta there riding bckwrds keeping the lamp on him. never really made an attempt to come any closer. so im guessin if i hadn't a spoted him with the light i woulda been diner

[scarpenter]

Luckily my presumed cougar (might have been a bear. The eyes were huge and the body was obscured by bushes) wasn't crazy about flashlights either. And a lot of yelling and foot stomping. Good job on the quick thinking there. I've always figured a chainring to the head might discourage a cat that got to close, but I hope it never comes down to that.

[DaveM]

From what I've read here previously, if you encounter a cougar in the bushes when you're riding, it best to just yell out "Judy, is that you?"

[heckler]

BUT WHAT ABOUT A BLACK BEAR?

I'm not interested in cougars (since I got married)...

[.flow.]

BUT WHAT ABOUT A BLACK BEAR?

As long as the bear hears you coming you're fine, they will fook off, odds are you will never see one in the woods if you are making noise. Always give a bear an opportunity to escape. Its only when you surprise/scare em or box em in that they get nasty.

There are cases of predatory black bears stalking people, but that's the risk you run playing in the woods.

[synchro]

they don't always run at the first sound. i had a little encounter with a bear once and he didn't seem to mind the sound of my chainsaw at first. eventually he buggered off though.

[.flow.]

they don't always run at the first sound.

True, sometimes curiousity will get the best of em and they will hang around to check you out. The key is that the encounter be on their terms. If they have options they probably won't get excited and bluff charge you.

[synchro]

lol - you should've been there to see me running thru the woods chasing this bear with my chainsaw

[.flow.]

lol - you should've been there to see me running thru the woods chasing this bear with my chainsaw

rofl. i can imagine it. I chased a bear once, then he decided to turn around and chase me back......that was the last time I did that.

[Ned]

Meh, black bear's skulls make a nice 'thunk' sound when you bounce pebbles off of them to shoo them away. Christ man, my 74yr old Mama shoo's them away from her house down in Indian River with a broom fer chris'sake. Unless it's a Momma or sickly you're generally OK. Grizzers on the other hand.... lost count of how many pairs of shorts I've ruined as a result.

And the Sooke kid... not doubting you saw teeth and claws, they're pretty common, but 3.5-4ft at the shoulders?

[synchro]

From what I've read here previously, if you encounter a cougar in the bushes when you're riding, it best to just yell out "Judy, is that you?"

bwahahaa - that's awesome dave. too bad its wasted in here where hardly anybody will see it

[Universe]

lol - you should've been there to see me running thru the woods chasing this bear with my chainsaw

Does your certification cover that?

[Adam West]

Meh, black bear's skulls make a nice 'thunk' sound when you bounce pebbles off of them to shoo them away. Christ man, my 74yr old Mama shoo's them away from her house down in Indian River with a broom fer chris'sake. Unless it's a Momma or sickly you're generally OK. Grizzers on the other hand.... lost count of how many pairs of shorts I've ruined as a result.

And the Sooke kid... not doubting you saw teeth and claws, they're pretty common, but 3.5-4ft at the shoulders?


twas a pretty big cat. ive seen a few of them now. biggest ive seen without a tail was close to 2.5 meters and easily 4 feet at the shoulders. had a head that was pretty much the size of a basketball :damn: he was about 10 feet away from me when i heard him breathing. never have i walked away from anything more carefully.makin an ass of myself with big gurilla noises. pretty cool creatures tho, seen one take down a deer with one swipe to the head wring its head around and grab it before it even collapesed to the ground. i was like now its better u than me deer. may the gods be with ya.