Nothing
is so much
to be feared
as fear itself.
  -- Henry D. Thoreau
  1817-1862
  Journal, 1851

Bush skills

A RuckSack primer on...
Bear
safety

By Michael A. Neiger
Copyright 2001
                                        

Last updated on December 5, 2009

Top

Bear
safety links

American Bear Association
   http://www.americanbear.org/

American Black Bear
   http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/mammals/ursu-ame.html

Bear Etiquette
   http://www.3bears.net/yosemite/beare/

Bear Facts--Traveling in Bear Country
   http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/FISH.GAME/
wildlife/geninfo/game/bearfax.htm

Bear Information and Resources
   http://www.bears.org/

Bear Safety--Dealing With Bears
   http://www.backcountryattitude.com/bear_safety.html

Bear Safety--Things to Know for Hiking in Bear Country
   http://www.boreasbackcountry.com/polaris/bear.htm

Bear Safety Tips
   http://www.udap.com/safety.htm

Bear Wise--Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (5-16-07)
   http://www.bears.mnr.gov.on.ca/

Black Bear Sign
   http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/mammals/bearsign.html

Brown Bear Resources
   http://www.brownbear.org/

Get Bear Smart Society
   http://www.bearsmart.com/

Great Bear Foundation
   http://www.greatbear.org/

Mountain Nature Network--Bear Safety
   http://www.mountainnature.com/Wildlife/Bears/

North American Bear Center
   http://www.bear.org/

Parks Canada Bear Information
   http://www.worldweb.com/parkscanada-banff/bears.html

Safe Conduct in Bear Country--Some Guidelines
   http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/brownbears/
safety/safeconduct.htm

Safety in Bear Country, Bear Facts, and Bear Encounter Stories
by Boy Scouts of America
   http://www.usscouts.org/safety/safe_bea.html

Top

Bear
safety books

Backcountry Bear Basics--The Definitive Guide to Avoiding Unpleasant Encounters, by David Smith (Mountianeers Books, 1997)

Bear Attacks--Their Causes and Avoidance, by Stephen Herrero (McClelland & Stewart, 1999)

Bear Aware--Hiking and Camping in Bear Country, by Bill Schneider (Falcon Publishing Co., 1996)

Bear Encounter Survival Guide, by Gary Shelton and James G. Shelton (1997)

Great American Bear, By Jeff Fair (Northword Press, 1994)

Great Bear Almanac, by Gary Brown (Lyons and Burford, Publishers, 1993)

Outwitting Bears--Living in Bear Country, by Gary Brown (Lyons Press, 2001)

Outwitting Critters, by Bill Adler, Jr. (Lyons & Burford, Publishers, 1992)

Safe Travel in Bear Country, by Gary Brown (Lyons Press, 1996)

Safety in Bear Country--A Reference Manual (Northwest Territories)

Safety in Grizzly and Black Bear Country, by Marianne Bromley (Northwest Territories, 1986)

Wild Animals of North America (National Geographic Society, 1995)

Top

Bear
safety
equipment
vendors

Bear-resistant canisters/bags

BearVault
   1-866-301-3442
   http://www.bearvault.com/

Counter Assault Bear Keg
   1-800-695-3394
   http://www.counterassault.com
   Molded plastic container

Garcia Machine
   1-559-732-3785
   http://www.backpackerscache.com
   Molded ABS plastic canister

Gio Enterprises
   1-760-938-3277
   http://www.bearcan.com
   Can made from aircraft-grade aluminum

Ursack Bear Bag
   1-866-BEARBAG
   http://www.ursack.com/
   Soft bag made from bullet-proof fabric

Wild Ideas, LLC
   1-805-693-0550
   http://www.wild-ideas.net/
   Canister made of aerospace composites
   and carbon fiber; end caps made from aluminum