1. Being stalked by a juvenile
bear.
2. Being hunted by a polar bear.
Here's what to do:
1. This is scary. It requires
war. If you follow the advice of the other scenarios, chances are you'll not
survive. Young bears with no human experience can be intrigued by our presence
and even see us as prey. You'll know if a bear is stalking you because he'll
randomly appear in the distance despite you moving away from him. The bear may
simple be curious or he may be hungry. Either way, when a bear is stalking you,
it's time to make a stand.
If you do not have bear spray or
any other weapon, you'll have to go caveman. Find high ground, a bolder or
large tree atop a hill or small cliff. Collect weapons (I suggest stones). When
he approaches, fight for your life, human-style (use your brain to focus your
brawn). The only way that bear is going to leave you alone is once he sees you
as a threat. Convince him. Connect. A few, well placed shots with a few good
sized rocks in one or two choice spots should do the trick. Wild animals do not
belong to an HMO or visit emergency clinics. A compound fracture is considered
a manageable injury for a human who has access to x-rays, sutures, casts, and
painkillers but will spell certain death for a bear. Once that bear realizes
you are capable of causing injury, he'll move on because you're simply not
worth it. In this case, it doesn't matter if you can become the predator; you
must avoid being the prey.
2. This is life or death – you'll
either walk away unscathed or be the bear's next meal. Note: all the previous advice
and comments deal strictly with brown and black bears; polar bears are unique.
Without a viable escape route or a weapon of defense, there is only one thing
to do in this case: walk towards the bear while yelling and waving your arms.
Get angry. Be threatening. Polar bears hunt everything, including people. Once
they begin their approach, they will only turn away if they think you intend to
hurt them. Pray you will be convincing. Otherwise, prepare yourself for death.
If grizzly bears terrify, polar bears paralyze. Personally, I leave the tundra
to others. In this case, if you do not become the predator, you will be the
prey.
The fear of a bear attack should
never keep one from experiencing nature; the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Being ready with the right equipment, planning, preparation, and information
goes a long way in avoiding an attack or surviving one. Wouldn't it be great if
dealing with each other was as clear as dealing with an aggressive bear?
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