Male black bears more dangerous than females: study
Posted May 11, 2011 8:10 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A researcher at the University of Calgary has published an in-depth study of black bear attacks, with the results debunking some common bear myths.
Dr. Stephen Herrero says in the last 110 years in North America there have been 63 fatal black bear attacks, with male bruins responsible for 90 per cent of them.
Herrero says there is a misconception that female bears protecting their cubs are more dangerous in the woods.
He says female black bears make a lot of noise, hoping to scare off intruders, but are more likely to run and climb a tree than attack a human.
Male bears travel alone and are always on the hunt for prey, especially at dawn and dusk.
Herrero says if a person is involved in a bear attack, they should wave their arms and stand their ground, try to distract the bear by throwing something, preferably not food, and fight back if necessary.
As for playing dead, he says that only works if the bear involved is a female.
Campers and hikers are also being told to travel in groups, make noise, leave the dog at home, pack some bear spray, change their clothes before going to bed and to make sure the campsite is clean and burn, don’t bury garbage.
