Many years ago there was a problem black bear that hung out in the vicinity of rainbow curve on Trail Ridge Road in RMNP. He became a problem because visitors had trained him to look to people as a way to get a easy meal.And after several attempts to move him back into the wild he kept returning and he was killed. Bears are the smartest mammal that live in the boundries of RMNP and it only takes about 5 minutes to teach them this behaivor. And this trained behaivor is a death sentence for them. The cruelest act anyone can do to a wild animal is feed it. Even when one feeds a chipmunk a peanut that means that because of more food they will have larger litters which throws off the natural balance of the park. Bears are totally focused the time they are awake is to find food. Look at the size of a bear, it dosent get that big and strong without eating a lot of nutrients. They have the biggest appetites in the spring and the fall, spring coming out of their dens , and the fall preparing to return the their dens for the winter. In the month of may and june is when the breeding season occurs, the male bears are looking for a mate and become very aggresive. You know this because when he walks he will slide his front feet and "click" his teeth. And the male will make a almost laughing sound and he will huff, both of these sounds are warnings that mean "Stay Back!". Under no circumstance should anyone approach a bear, he does not like you, he does not respect you and he will prove these points. Bears are so intelligent that they know to avoid people not unless a "people" has fed them. When camping one should never store food in a tent, even something as small as a candy bar or pack of crackers. The black bear is normally very timid and if they hear you or smell you they will flee but because of their poor eyesight a blinding flashlight will disorient them and they make poor decisions. Bears are one of the most amazing animals that you might see in RMNP but only at a distance...do not get out of your car, do not approach them..be smarter than the bear.
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Vacationing with Bears
Started by Guest_RFR_*, Dec 30 2008 09:32 PM
11 replies to this topic
#2 Guest_RFR_*
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Posted 01 January 2009 - 03:14 PM
huh
Edited by RFR, 01 January 2009 - 03:15 PM.
#3
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Posted 01 January 2009 - 03:31 PM
Interesting facts! Thanks for sharing.
#4
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Rhymes with Hike.
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Posted 01 January 2009 - 04:29 PM
That's good info. Thanks Larry.
#5
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Posted 01 January 2009 - 09:35 PM
That's a really good reminder of bear safety. Thanks, RFR.
SandyM
SandyM
#6 Guest_RFR_*
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Posted 01 January 2009 - 10:01 PM
QUOTE (RFR @ Dec 31 2008, 12:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Many years ago there was a problem black bear that hung out in the vicinity of rainbow curve on Trail Ridge Road in RMNP. He became a problem because visitors had trained him to look to people as a way to get a easy meal.And after several attempts to move him back into the wild he kept returning and he was killed. Bears are the smartest mammal that live in the boundries of RMNP and it only takes about 5 minutes to teach them this behaivor. And this trained behaivor is a death sentence for them. The cruelest act anyone can do to a wild animal is feed it. Even when one feeds a chipmunk a peanut that means that because of more food they will have larger litters which throws off the natural balance of the park. Bears are totally focused the time they are awake is to find food. Look at the size of a bear, it dosent get that big and strong without eating a lot of nutrients. They have the biggest appetites in the spring and the fall, spring coming out of their dens , and the fall preparing to return the their dens for the winter. In the month of may and june is when the breeding season occurs, the male bears are looking for a mate and become very aggresive. You know this because when he walks he will slide his front feet and "click" his teeth. And the male will make a almost laughing sound and he will huff, both of these sounds are warnings that mean "Stay Back!". Under no circumstance should anyone approach a bear, he does not like you, he does not respect you and he will prove these points. Bears are so intelligent that they know to avoid people not unless a "people" has fed them. When camping one should never store food in a tent, even something as small as a candy bar or pack of crackers. The black bear is normally very timid and if they hear you or smell you they will flee but because of their poor eyesight a blinding flashlight will disorient them and they make poor decisions. Bears are one of the most amazing animals that you might see in RMNP but only at a distance...do not get out of your car, do not approach them..be smarter than the bear.
AND>>>>>when camping or hiking in black bear country...two words.......air horn...small one that will fit in a pack is loud enough a bear will head to the high country when that sounds off, not unless it is protecting a cub or cubs...............rfr
#7
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Posted 01 January 2009 - 10:04 PM
Air horn? I didn't know those would really work. Thanks.
What do you think about bear spray?
SandyM
What do you think about bear spray?
SandyM
#8 Guest_RFR_*
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Posted 01 January 2009 - 10:12 PM
QUOTE (SandyM @ Jan 2 2009, 01:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Air horn? I didn't know those would really work. Thanks.
What do you think about bear spray?
SandyM
What do you think about bear spray?
SandyM
Bears do not always react with the pain thing so well... but when you scare the heck out of them that is a different matter......and when hiking in bear country be noisy
and the bears will stay away as well as all the other wildlife. My self I am not afraid of bears and after 30 years being around them personally I think I know what makes them tick.......(famous last words)..........rfr
#9
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Posted 02 January 2009 - 06:21 PM
QUOTE (RFR @ Jan 1 2009, 10:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My self I am not afraid of bears and after 30 years being around them personally I think I know what makes them tick.......(famous last words)..........rfr
I'm pretty sure that's what that nutty guy thought before he and his girlfriend turned in to a grizzley snack.
I know you're not like that, either. You've a healthy respect for wildlife.SandyM
#10
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Posted 14 July 2011 - 10:25 PM
Are Bear resistant food containers available in the park or Estes? Does anyone rent them?
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Posted 15 July 2011 - 08:59 AM
They are available for rent in several stores in EP. I usually go to the Warming House or Scot's... (haven't pulled the trigger on purchasing my own yet..)
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Posted 15 July 2011 - 03:17 PM
jflo, on 15 July 2011 - 08:59 AM, said:
They are available for rent in several stores in EP. I usually go to the Warming House or Scot's... (haven't pulled the trigger on purchasing my own yet..)
Hmm. Do you suppose the stores scratch 'em up as motivation for people to rent them?
HPH
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