What to do when meeting a bear in the forest. Rules of behavior and human actions

2009 turned out to be a berry year in Karelia. Literally bending down once, you could pick up several handfuls and enrich your body with vitamins. With hunting, everything was also relatively good, although we had to nurse the game for 15-20 km, but, nevertheless, there were results.

Around the beginning of the second week, having gathered for a morning hunting “detour,” literally a hundred meters from the camp, I came across a miraculous painting laid out right in the middle of the road.

An interesting photo, it confirms the vegetarian preferences of the bear’s autumn diet. Some friends even believed that I myself enriched this composition with berries. Pfft, I have nothing else to do.

A little further I found broken branches, stripped bark, another pile, damn, how much does he eat? All these signs seemed to express Misha’s dissatisfaction with our neighborhood. Well, yes, maybe he didn’t like our company’s evening chants!

Jokes aside, how much can you do if something happens? Make Misha your signature couple of jumps, and you may not have time to reload with bullets. I became afraid to hunt alone and got involved with a more experienced hunter. Safer with two! But it was time to leave; no one met the bear. The agonizing wait for the next trip to Karelia began. And then it happened...

2010 in Karelia. The summer turned out to be hot, they say in the republic it reached 35 degrees, and this is the north! Because of forest fires across the country, the opening of the hunt was postponed to September 1. Although no information was heard about fires in Karelia, a trace of a ground fire was still found.

No berries! Well, or almost not. The thought immediately flew through my mind, whether Misha had switched to meat. But many hunters consoled us, saying that a bear can smell it from kilometers away, it doesn’t need problems, it will go away.

The morning of that day... I slept a little, it had already bloomed a long time ago, and so as not to waste more time I went hunting, without tea or breakfast. As I love - one with his 34 tose with a first and a three in the trunks.

Quietly, almost silently creeping along the path, looking out for game, he walked in the same way. I didn’t hear any sound, but as if, like an animal, I felt it. We looked at each other at the same time. My heart rate has clearly increased, because in front of me, about 12 meters away, is a brown bear with an intimidating black color. The main thing is not to panic, for now everything is fine, if Misha wanted something from me, he would have covered the distance of 12 meters in an instant. Now the main thing is not to irritate him with your presence, because he is still standing, he has not left, who knows what kind of thoughts he has!

What to do? When I met a bear in the forest, I immediately remembered a reminder or instruction told to me by old hunters, and I had no choice but to adhere to this instruction. Don't scream, run or climb a tree; the bear does all this better than us. I slowly, without sudden movements, approached a large thick pine tree and stood behind it, breaking the gun in between. With shaking hands, the rush of adrenaline into the blood did its job, I set the bullets, well, everything is not so scary now! I didn’t intend to kill him, although the thought flew by, such a trophy, but I’m alone and if I didn’t kill him outright, the wounded man would not only tear me apart and also all the men one by one. All this time the bear stood in the same place and sniffed, he lost sight of me.

What a shot, I have a camera, I took it out, focused on it, but I remembered the flash and didn’t dare take the risk, you never know! It’s a pity, but while he was turning off the flash, he went into the forest.

Feel better! I decided to have a smoke break. The wind carried the smoke in the same direction from where Misha was coming, why didn’t he sense me and we met almost head-on? The bear was not young, it was big, perhaps his sense of smell was impaired from old age! After standing still for a while, he decided to continue the hunt and continued on his way with caution.

So, what is a meeting between a man and a bear in the forest? For me personally, everything went smoothly. In my case, we can say that this is happiness and luck, this is rare and I was lucky, I experienced many feelings, from fear to joy, and gained strength and confidence. Many of the hunters envied me, but you need to understand that everything could have been different, you need to understand what you are capable of large animal and be prepared to meet him, be sure to carry bullets with you and be ready to make the right decision.

Any walk away from populated areas is nothing more than an invasion of someone else’s (in this case, human) territory. You should always remember that its true owners are wild animals, since it is their habitat. The bear is the most dangerous and strong beast in our forests. And if you meet him on the way, you need to clearly understand what you can do and what you can’t do, so as not to provoke his attack.

Basic rules of conduct in the forest

Don't try to take over territory

It is known who is the true owner of the forest. If you spot a bear even at a great distance, you should not organize a halt in this place, and even more so, set up a tent camp. It’s better to move away a little, adjust the route and choose another section. The same applies to his numerous traces. Without experience, it is difficult to determine whether the animal just passed by or whether it is used to hunting here, feasting on the gifts of nature, and so on. Perhaps this is his path or there are cubs somewhere nearby. Trying to fit in next door won't do you any good.

Stay away

The bear is not just a hermit. He understands that in the forest he has no equal in strength, and he regards any invasion of his territory as a threat to himself personally. If you encounter a bear in the forest, you should walk around it in an arc, keeping it in your field of vision at all times. As a rule, this is enough to disperse peacefully. In such situations, if not provoked, the bear does not attack.

A special warning for those who like to take selfies. Now it is in fashion, and not only among young people. Such “self-photography”, especially against the backdrop of an animal, implies almost close contact with it. There is no point in explaining how this could end. It is unlikely that a bear will appreciate such a “craving for beauty” and accept this Active participation. A good example close communication with a predator - a recent case in one of our zoos, when a lady tried to take a selfie in front of a cage with a tiger. Basically, it’s the same thing – playing with fire.

Don't go deep into the bushes

Like any animal, the bear prefers to hide in the thicket. Special attention shoots (shrubs, small trees) with fruits. For example, wild raspberries. On a hiking trip, you need to move through open areas of the area, and if we are talking about picking mushrooms and berries, then when moving through the forest you should create more noise, warning its inhabitants in advance about your approach. In an unexpected encounter, a bear may become frightened and rush at a person.

Don't relax and constantly look around

The forest is not your own apartment. It is full of surprises, so you should not forget about basic precautions.

What to do in extreme situations

They can be very different. The most typical cases when meeting a bear in the forest:

the animal notices the person, looks in his direction, but does not change its location;
the bear is approaching;
the meeting occurred unexpectedly, both for the beast and for the man.

How to proceed

Walk away slowly, while saying something in a low voice (but not shouting) or humming. And do it calmly, without showing fear. You can even start a “conversation” with the animal, reassuring it that no one is encroaching on its territory. According to experienced commercial hunters, the Russian mat is another reliable remedy against a clubfoot attack. Having felt the person’s confidence, the bear will understand that the potential victim is quite capable of defending himself and is absolutely not afraid of him. Therefore, he will not attack.
Stand up in full height. It is advisable to raise both hands, holding a cap, jacket or something else in one of them. The main thing is to appear as big as possible.
Stay calm, no matter how scary it is, don’t panic.
Fall down and play dead. This is practiced if close contact with a predator cannot be avoided. In many cases, this ends with the bear, having sniffed the victim, leaving. The best position is flat, pressing your stomach to the ground. There are recommendations that you need to lie on your side, curled up. This is hardly justified, since it is not a fact that the clubfoot will not awaken to simple curiosity and begin to turn the victim over. And he does this with his claws. It’s clear how it will end, even if you don’t make a sound. The bear will leave, but the wounds will be impressive. And it is unlikely that a person will tolerate this. And the loud cries of the beast will only provoke you.

If the bear has left, you cannot immediately begin any active actions. Perhaps he just walked away, hid and watched. Therefore, you should wait a little, carefully look around without making sudden movements, and only then slowly leave this place.

In the event of an obvious attack, when there is no doubt about the bear’s intentions, resist and call for help. Throw whatever is at hand - stones, large branches, earth (preferably in the eyes). Arm yourself with a stick and fight back. Sometimes such a violent rebuff leads to the bear retreating and leaving in search of a weaker victim. The fact is that, as a rule, young, inexperienced and self-confident individuals attack a person. When they feel that they are being “pressed”, they give up further attempts.

What not to do when meeting a bear

Look the bear straight in the eyes

He will take this as a direct challenge and may attack.

Take your dog with you into the forest

Of course, if we are not talking about hunting. If you cannot do without a four-legged pet, it must be kept on a leash, and a short one at that. There are often cases when it was a dog that provoked a bear to attack a person - with its constant barking, or even direct attempts to bite the clubfoot. The beast will not like such an annoying neighborhood, and he will definitely take measures to get rid of uninvited guests.

Stay in the area where the animal is spotted

Even if he moved away, this does not mean that this part of the forest is safe. The bear can change position, secretly approach the victim from the other side, and so on. There are many options. It is better to immediately leave this place and try to get out, if not out of the forest, then into the most open space possible.

Make sudden movements

The bear will regard this as a clear threat to its own safety. And even more so show aggression.

Trying to hide

Firstly, this is a useless exercise, since a bear will detect a person quite quickly, especially if he has already noticed him. Secondly, such actions are a sign of cowardice. The animal will immediately understand that in front of it is easy prey.

Turn your back on the bear

This is for him a signal to attack, because the potential victim has discovered the most unprotected place.

Run away

It makes no sense, considering that over rough terrain an adult bear quickly accelerates to 60 - 65 km/h. By the way, running away is the worst option. The clubfoot by nature is a hunter, and such human actions will only excite him. He will involuntarily give chase, but the result is predictable.

As an exception - extraordinary physical data of a person. If you have confidence in your abilities, you may be able to escape. The bear needs to be worn down by constantly changing direction. Since its mass is significant, it loses a lot of speed when turning. In addition, he runs well over short distances, but does not last long over long distances. Therefore, with good physical training there is an opportunity to escape. It is advisable to choose a direction so as to get closer to people, a road, or a populated area. This will further increase your chances.

Sneak up on a bear

There are such amateurs - it’s better to look at it, take a photograph, just admire it, observe. The clubfoot has excellent instincts, and besides, he is in “his element” (in nature), so any attempt to deceive him is doomed to failure in advance. He will regard this as preparation for a possible attack, and will respond in kind, and proactively.

Save yourself on a tree

In this case, the chances of salvation are practically reduced to zero. Despite their external clumsiness, bears are distinguished not only by their strength, but also by their agility and ability to climb trees.

The only option is if the trunk is thick and tall enough. Due to its weight, the animal may not reach the upper branches. But how long can a person survive in this situation? But the bear knows how to wait. Therefore, this method of salvation is a last resort.

Walking through the forest in the dark

You shouldn’t even go far from the tent. The explanation is simple. The bear is a predominantly nocturnal hunter, and at this time a person practically does not orient himself. Already there is a clear superiority of the clubfoot.

Getting closer to the cubs

The bear will never leave them alone. If the mother is not visible, this does not mean that she has left, leaving the babies unattended. Well, how any attempts to play with the cubs will end is clear without further explanation.

It is impossible to give recommendations for all cases. But one more piece of advice will not be superfluous. The correct choice of how to resolve a “conflict situation” largely depends on knowledge of the bear’s habits. When going to the forest, it’s a good idea to read something. The psychological aspect is also important. If you understand the motivation for certain actions of the animal (protecting its babies, satisfying hunger, and so on), it is easier to assess the situation and take appropriate measures. Then a walk through the forest will bring true pleasure, and will not become fatal.

Rules of conduct when encountering an aggressive bear

The emergence of stereotypes about Russian bears didn't happen by accident. In Russia, of course, you won’t see a bear on the street, and no one keeps it as a pet, as is the erroneous idea abroad. But in wildlife Gorny Altai the chances of a sudden dangerous collision with this animal are very high. Therefore, you should not neglect security measures and prepare in advance for this risky meeting.

1. Don't run away

There is no point in fleeing. The bears' diet includes a variety of foods, not just meat. These are omnivorous animals. But a fleeing person causes a corresponding reaction in the animal - he is perceived as prey. At the same time, it is almost impossible to protect yourself in this way. average speed a bear on rough terrain averages 60 km per hour, it excellent swimmer, and, if not very old, moves well in the trees. Therefore, there is very little chance of salvation, unless the animal gets carried away by some other object.

2. More noise

Most animals reflexively perceive noise as danger. Its source for them is a large and strong rival who cannot be just prey. Therefore, when moving around the territories where bears live, you need to behave accordingly - more sharp sounds and loud conversations, you can even sing, break dry fallen branches. Most likely, the bear will not find out what is happening and will pass by. But this doesn't always happen. Curious little cubs are more likely to hide somewhere nearby and watch simply out of curiosity. That’s when maternal instinct can kick in, and such behavior can be fraught with consequences. Therefore, during the period of birth of babies - from January to March, trips to the forest where bears are found, it is better to limit them or abandon them completely. The same behavior can be expected from adolescent bears. They may simply be interested in extraneous sounds and make them want to explore the object from which they come: look and smell, but not attack.

3. Avoid bear cubs. It is very important!!!

It is extremely dangerous to be close to cubs, even if their mother is not visible nearby, no matter how much you would like this. She will never leave her babies unattended for a long time. The appearance of strangers can only cause aggression and a desire to protect your children from danger, even if the uninvited guest just decided to take a photo as a souvenir. Therefore, you shouldn’t do this, but it’s better to slowly move away.

4. Don't walk alone

Another simple rule to protect yourself is to move through the forest in a group of four or more people. Animals rarely attack a large number of of people. The larger the group, the greater the chances of getting along without adventure. For one or two, this chance is practically reduced to zero.

5. Store food correctly

The reason why a bear might dare to come close to a tent camp where there is a burning fire, a lot of people and strange aromas is food. Their sense of smell is very well developed, and they can smell food through the fabric of a backpack or tent from several kilometers away. You should not hope that kerosene or other odorous products will help. Therefore, it is recommended that during a hiking trip, you carefully bury the uneaten food, choosing a place for this at a considerable distance from the camp. It is best to pack the remaining supplies in a separate backpack and secure it on tree branches approximately 40 meters from the tents at a height of 3-4 meters. Even if a predator is attracted by the smell, there will be no threat to personal safety.

6. Assess the situation

It is always very difficult to determine what the intentions of the beast are during a sudden meeting. There may be several options here.

He is also scared, but not hungry or aggressive. Then you can slowly move away from it and apply the more noise rule.

The same option, only the bear is hungry. If there are no signs of aggression, it is better to sacrifice your food reserves or part of them. While the predator is busy, calmly move away and, as in the first option, make some noise.

When an animal's hunger and aggression are immediately noticeable, this is already serious, as it can lead to an attack. There is no point in running away in such a situation - this will immediately provoke the predator. It's better to try to outwit him. Since the visual organs of bears are poorly developed, you need to create something large, larger than it in size - stand on top of each other or shoulder to shoulder, so as to appear as one whole. This can scare the animal and force it to leave. At the same time, it wouldn’t hurt to make a lot of noise and wave everything that comes to hand. To create loud, sharp sounds, it is good to use metal objects or special devices designed for this purpose. But it is difficult to predict in advance whether they will work or not. It all depends on what the beast is up to. Aerosol pepper sprays can also be effective, provided there is no wind. Another important addition is not to make eye contact, so as not to further provoke the animal.

7. Play dead

Of course, it is better not to get into a situation where this is the only way to escape. The best way to scare a bear is with weapons, pyrotechnics, torches - any noisy or burning devices, so when purchasing equipment for a hike, it is worth acquiring them in advance. All wild animals They are afraid of sharp sounds and fire. You can also use a special spray. This is a fairly effective remedy, but it does not always work. In some situations, a predator simply may not pay attention to it, and the weather and circumstances do not always provide an opportunity to fully use them.

Dead-not method the best option, but a number of experts claim that it can work. Firstly, it is very difficult to pretend to be dead under stress, and secondly, if a bear is hungry, then it can, if not eat, then cause serious injuries with sharp fangs and claws, or its own weight. But if there are no other options other than escape, then it is better to try to survive by pretending to be dead.

8. Be optimistic

Animals, like people, are all different. If this is a normal adult wild animal, then it will not come into contact with a person unless absolutely necessary, and it is easy to scare it away. If a predator has already encountered people and found food from them, it may behave more persistently, but not aggressively and will only damage property in search of food. A hungry and/or wounded bear is the most dangerous. He will not be afraid of either smoke or noise, although fire, shooting and pyrotechnics can help. But the most extreme option is a meeting with a mother bear protecting her cubs. Its goal is to destroy a potential threat. Even after a serious mortal wound, such an animal is extremely dangerous.

Therefore, it is impossible to fully prepare for a meeting with predators and be 100% sure of success; all that remains is to be an optimist and count on luck.

“...residents of the region, if bears appear dangerously close, can immediately contact the state inspectorate so that inspectors can be sent to the scene. Their responsibilities include determining the degree of danger of the predator, and if necessary, their duty is to “resolve” the situation with a well-aimed shot.”

(from an official's speech)

The brown bear is the most large predator, living in the Ural taiga. Its weight can exceed 600 kg. Powerful forelimbs equipped with long claws have great destructive power - with a blow from a paw, a bear can break a ridge, tear out ribs or break the skull bones of an elk. A bear can bite through the barrels of a smoothbore gun with its teeth. Despite its apparent massiveness, the bear is a very “agile” animal. In a jerk, he reaches a speed of 60 km/h, and from a standstill.

There is a lot of it in the subpolar Urals, especially along river banks. This is his country, his hunting territory and the owner here is he, not a man.

How to avoid meeting a bear

Make some noise

If you are traveling alone through the domain of a bear, and even more so along the river bank, where there is quite a lot of willow grass, let us know about you. Especially where terrain or vegetation makes visibility difficult. Make noise, sing, talk loudly, or tie a bell to your backpack. If possible, travel with a group. Groups make more noise and are easier for bears to recognize. Avoid dense bushes. If you can’t, then try to walk so that the wind blows from your back, and the bear can smell you. Contrary to popular belief, bears see much like humans, but they trust their noses more than their eyes or ears. Always let the bear know you are there.

Don't crowd the bears

Like people, bears use paths and roads. Don't pitch your tent near a trail they might be on. Go around those places where you smell dead fish, animals, or see animals feeding on carrion. There may be food for a bear there, and if it is nearby, it can aggressively defend the hiding place. As a rule, in such places the bear has a rookery - lying down.

Give the bear as much free space as possible. Some bears are more tolerant than others, but each has its own “personal space”—the distance within which it feels threatened. If you are in this area, the bear may react aggressively. When photographing animals, use telephoto lenses when getting close to take pictures close-up, You may find yourself in this danger zone.

Cleanliness is the key to health

Bears only have 7 months to accumulate fat before long life. hibernation. Don't let them know that human food or garbage is easy pickings. It is foolish and dangerous to feed bears, or to leave food or garbage that attracts them.

Prepare food away from your tent. Store all products and food away from the camp. Hang food so that the bear cannot reach it. If there are no trees, store food in airtight or special containers. Remember that dogs and their food can also attract bears.

Keep the camp clean. Wash the dishes. Do not use strong smelling foods such as bacon or smoked fish. Don't let your clothes smell like food. Burn garbage on a fire, burn cans. Food and trash are equally attractive to bears, so handle them properly. Burying waste is a waste of time. Bears have a keen sense of smell and are good at digging.

If a bear approaches you while fishing, stop fishing. If there is a fish on the line, do not let it splash. If this is not possible, cut the line. If the bear realizes that he can get fish only by approaching the fisherman, he will return again. The bear may also mistake you for another bear - a stranger who is hunting (fishing) in its territory and react very aggressively.

What to do when meeting a bear?

If you see a bear, try to get away from it. Give the bear every opportunity to avoid meeting you. If you encounter a bear, remain calm. Attacks are rare. There is a chance that you are not in danger. Most mother bears are interested in protecting their food, their cubs, or their personal space. When the threat is over, they will pass by.

Make yourself known

Let the bear know that you are human. Talk to the bear in a normal voice. Wave your arms. Help the bear recognize you. If the bear cannot recognize who you are, it may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or sniff. A standing bear usually shows curiosity and is not dangerous. You can try to slowly back away diagonally, but if the bear starts to follow you, stop and stay where you are.

Don't run!

DO NOT RUN under any circumstances. You can't outrun a bear. They have been found to run at speeds of around 60 km/h and, like dogs, they will chase a fleeing animal or person. This animal mistakes an animal running from it for a victim and easily kills in 90% of cases out of 100. Bears often intimidate, intimidate, sometimes 3 meters from their enemy, without trying to attack. Keep waving your arms and talking to the bear. If the bear gets too close, raise your voice and become more aggressive. Knock on pots and pans. Never imitate a bear's growl or scream in a high-pitched voice.

If a bear attacks

If the bear starts to attack, give up! Fall to the ground and play dead. Lie on your stomach or curl up in a ball with your hands behind your head. It is common for a bear to stop attacking if it feels the threat has been eliminated. Stay still for as long as possible. If you move and the bear sees or hears you, he may return and resume the attack. In rare cases, an attacking bear may mistake a person for food.

Bear protection

Use weapons with caution as an alternative to a reasonable approach to resolving a potential conflict. You can shoot at a bear ONLY for the purpose of self-defense during an attack, if you did not provoke it and if there is no other way out. In all other cases, it is necessary to fire a warning shot in the air to scare the bear. If you are not a hunter, but a fisherman and you do not have a gun, take with you a traumatic pistol with flash-noise cartridges or a flare gun (“hunter’s signal”). They should always be at hand (on the belt in a belt holster, behind the bosom, in a body holster). If this is not the case, ordinary firecrackers will do just fine. Under no circumstances should you leave the camp without a means of guaranteeing a shot or noise when necessary.

IN ordinary life Collisions between people and bears occur more smoothly. Usually, whoever is smarter is the first to give way. Bears almost always do this. If the bear still tries to approach, in 90 percent of cases a sharp whistle or an unexpected clap in the palm is enough for the animal to run away. If he keeps coming closer, the next remedy is to throw a pebble at him. As a rule, it works. Some hunters claim that it helps against bears. mat.

Bears are afraid of everything unexpected. For example, unexpectedly opening umbrellas, especially if they have two big eyes on them. The tail of a raincoat suddenly thrown open or a backpack suddenly thrown into the air. Any unexpected behavior. The greatest troubles come from young people who are actively exploring the world bears, as well as from mature dominant males who have no enemies in the wild and have forgotten how to give way.

When in bear areas, remember to look around occasionally! There is nothing worse than suddenly encountering an animal - it may perceive it as an act of aggression. Some hunting stores sell a protective aerosol spray containing red pepper extract, which has been successfully used for protection against bears . These sprays are effective at a distance of about 5-6 meters. If you carry a spray, keep it handy and know how to use it.

Mother bears can be fierce protectors of their cubs. Standing between a mother bear and her cubs is a big mistake. A mother bear may react violently to anything she perceives as a threat to her cub.

The bear's rutting period begins in June and ends in late July - early August. During this period, the animals are excited, and groups of adult animals are often found. Demonstrative competitions and fights arise between the males; as a result, the female remains with one male, while the others stay nearby. Males are highly active and aggressive, and remain near the female throughout the entire estrus period.

The cubs appear in January-February. In the Urals, it is not uncommon to see a female with three cubs.

The most likely places to encounter a bear

The daily activity of a bear is determined by the season of the year, the availability of food and the general life cycle of the animal. In spring and the first half of summer, bears can feed around the clock, especially in cloudy weather. The bear's high daily activity continues until the start of salmon and grayling migration. For the day, bears lie down without going far from the feeding site, usually in thickets of bushes, in closed clearings, in small forest clumps, and on hot days they can be located in floodplain tall grass or river grass.

During the period of mass migration of salmon, daytime activity decreases and shifts to evening, morning and night hours. When there is a lack of food (especially when fish are weak), the activity of bears increases, and they feed in berry fields, in dwarf cedar or in mountain meadows at almost any time of the day. To rest, the bear usually settles under a canopy coniferous trees, and the beds can be used repeatedly. In twilight and in the thicket of a forest, a bear feels much more confident than a person.

The bear is omnivorous. In the Urals in the spring, after leaving their dens, animals go out to the warm slopes of the mountains, which warm up and are quickly freed from snow cover, where they dig for rhizomes and bulbs. Later in May, they begin to go to rivers or berry fields, pick up carrion, and eat the remains of berries. Animals often visit the coasts of rivers and lakes in search of animal and plant waste.

When fish begin their spawning run most of bears are located near spawning rivers. On the mountain Ural rivers, fish is the main source of protein food for the animal. After gorging on fish, bears go to berry fields or grasses, only to return to the river after some time. This will diversify the menu and make the diet richer. In the autumn before their bedding (October-November), bears leave the rivers and gradually move, feeding on the berries and nuts of dwarf pine trees, and go to their wintering places.

In their environment, bears are cannibals. A larger bear can catch and eat a cub (which most often happens during the mating season, when the cubs are close to the mother bear). There have been recorded cases of bears attacking and eating smaller (usually young) individuals.

Winter shelters for bears are usually located in the ground or caves. Two or three animals can sleep in one den. With an abundance of food, individuals of good fatness may not lie down in dens at all, arranging surface beds - nests.

Humans are not the bear's food source. Most bears under normal conditions try to avoid meeting a person, and, having discovered him first, try to leave unnoticed. If the meeting does occur, then the vast majority of bears take flight. However, you should always remember and clearly know that the behavior of a particular bear that you encounter in a particular situation is UNPREDICTABLE!

Let's sum it up

In order to avoid dangerous situations when meeting a bear, following these rules will help you:

1. While moving along the route, hunting in the forest, picking mushrooms or berries, relaxing in picturesque taiga places, always remember that an encounter with a bear can happen at any time, in any place, and You must be mentally prepared for this. Plan possible actions in advance. Listen to the birds around you. Nutcrackers are especially talkative. Based on the behavior of birds, one can predict in advance the place and time of the appearance of the animal.

2 . To avoid the critical approach distance and not unexpectedly collide with a bear, it is necessary to move noisily in the forest, talking freely and loudly, and preferably in a group of at least 3 people. Avoid close encounters with bears. Look for signs of a bear that indicate one is nearby and make as much noise as possible. Let's make ourselves known.

3 . To avoid habituated beggar bears, it is important to ensure that so that conditions for their complementary feeding are not created. Food waste and carcasses of killed wild animals must be destroyed to prevent predators from using them.

4 . Do not leave in the forest at your resting places and intermediate stops food leftovers, garbage. It is prohibited to establish such objects as garbage dumps, landfills, food waste warehouses near bases, camps, trails, at rest stops and routes. Avoid attracting bears by improperly storing food and trash.

5 . When moving through the taiga and river banks, the maximum try to avoid areas of tall grass, long grass, thickets of dwarf cedar, closed cozy meadows, thickets of “burdock” in the floodplains of rivers and streams, places where bears can rest during their days. Move to open areas where you can see the bear far enough away.

6 . Seeing a bear in the distance, don't go near him, carefully leave this place, go around it. Keep calm.

7 . Post outdoor camp, with sufficient visibility of the places. Carefully monitor the cleanliness of their territories, all food waste burn. Don't store food in accessible places, isolate them so that odors cannot attract animals.

8 . In no case don't spend the night, do not pitch tents or camp on bear and other forest paths.

9 . Avoid driving along river banks and streams during the salmon spawning period in the evening and morning twilight and at night. At all avoid walking in the taiga in the dusk and at night. Remember, night is the time of the Bear! If fate has forced you to walk at night, you need to at least move with an electric flashlight on.

10 . Under no circumstances don't come closer in places where bears are likely to be found the remains of dead animals, masses of abandoned fish, and other possible baits. When disturbed while hunting, a bear in most cases goes on the attack.

11 . Don't crowd the bear, respect his “personal space”. In case of an unexpected meeting "short", even if you are unarmed, you absolutely cannot run away from the beast(this is useless and can only further provoke the bear to pursue). It is necessary, trying to maintain calm as much as possible, to remain in place (no matter how scary it may be), loudly calling for help, or, slowly backing away, retreating. In this case, you can try to scare away the bear by ringing metal objects, loud screams, voices, shots in the air, rockets, or a special flare.

13 . Never, Do not, under any circumstances, approach bear cubs, no matter how cute and cute they may seem to you. Don't try to feed or entice them. If you meet them by chance, or they come to your resting place, stop immediately, quickly look around and look for an escape route as quickly as possible. Bear cubs are curious and if they are heading towards you, drive them away with loud screams. Remember - there is a bear somewhere nearby, and GOD FORBID You will find yourself between a mother bear and a bear cub. The attack of the bear, if she considers that you are a threat to her baby, will be the last thing you see in your life.

14 . Protect You, your camp only strong, brave and vicious dogs can. Even among huskies, not everyone is capable of attacking a bear. Under no circumstances should dogs be used to protect against bears without the skills, dexterity and strength to at least briefly detain the bear in place.

15 . Scaring away the bear with shots, don't try to shoot the beast itself. A wounded bear is extremely dangerous! Even if he leaves you, he can become a serious danger to other people. You can kill a bear only with a large-caliber weapon, and not always even a shot “on the spot” can immediately stop it. A reliable shot right in the brain or spine.

16 . As a last resort, you can escape from a bear in a tree, if you manage to climb it. Due to its weight, an adult large bear will no longer be able to climb on it. Such cases of rescue, or rather sitting out, in trees are known. If there are several trees, try to choose the largest one.

17 . While in the taiga, always be extremely careful, do not go into the thickets of elfin wood and tall grass. Do not climb in floodplain bushes. When settling down to rest, carefully look around to see if there are any signs of the presence of a bear. On clay outcrops, swamps, and the banks of streams you can see traces of a bear, and in floodplain areas there are feeding areas (digging areas) where he dug for marsh plants. If you suspect a bear has been in the area, leave the area immediately and look for another one.

18 . Even if the bear does move towards you, there is still hope that it will turn away. Never DO NOT turn your back on a charging bear.! A person who runs is almost certainly doomed. When attacked by a bear, you must not show external signs fear. If there is no reliable shelter or shelter nearby, you must face the danger head-on. There are more people who survived the bear's attack in this way than those who were able to escape. Don't run.

19 . Having seen bears accidentally entering the path, never, do not feed them under any circumstances, no matter how harmless and cute they may seem. The bear does not need your feeding, but by starting to feed the bear, you are raising a beggar in him, who will very quickly begin to demand food, and if he does not receive it, he becomes aggressive and is capable of attacking a person, of whom he loses fear. Remember that by your actions you are endangering the lives of other people.

20 . If you find a bear showing aggression, a wounded bear, a bear caught in a plane (noose), a bear attacking dogs and people, you need to immediately warn other people located in the same place or in close proximity to it.

21 . And the last thing - ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE: Having met a bear, regardless of its size, behavior and appearance treat him as a formidable and powerful predator with unpredictable behavior.

Research conducted in our country and abroad has shown that there is no single universal means of protection against bears, and the above recommendations cannot be considered as an absolute guarantee against an accident, but they will help reduce the likelihood of a conflict situation.

Svitov Evgeniy

How to behave when meeting a bear.

The bear (Brown bear) inhabits the entire Urals, Northern Urals, Subpolar Urals and Polar Urals.

The brown bear is the largest predator living in the Ural taiga. Its weight can exceed 600 kg. Powerful forelimbs, equipped with long claws, have great destructive power - with a blow from the front paw, a bear can break a ridge, tear out ribs or break the skull bones of an elk. A bear can bite through the barrels of a smoothbore gun with its teeth.
Despite its apparent massiveness, the bear is a very “agile” animal. In a jerk, he reaches a speed of 60 km/h, and from a standstill.

The bear has peculiar calloused formations on the lower part of its paws. These calluses leave marks on the ground that are unique to bears. The complete imprint of the hind leg somewhat resembles that of a human foot. Fur color varies widely from black to straw-red.

There are a lot of bears in the subpolar Urals. Especially along river banks. This is his country. His hunting grounds. And there is only one owner here - the BEAR. We are his guests, don’t forget about it. If you are traveling alone through the domain of a bear, and even more so along the river bank, where there is a lot of willow grass, let us know about you. Especially where terrain or vegetation makes visibility difficult. Make noise, sing, talk loudly, or tie a bell to your backpack. If possible, travel with a group. Groups make more noise and are easier for bears to recognize. Avoid dense bushes. If you can’t, then try to walk so that the wind blows from your back, and the bear can smell you. Contrary to popular belief, bears see much like humans, but they trust their noses more than their eyes or ears. Always let the bear know you are there.

Don't crowd the bears!
Give the bear as much free space as possible. Some bears are more tolerant than others, but each bear has its own "personal space" - the distance within which the bear feels threatened. If you are in this area, the bear may react aggressively. When photographing bears, use telephoto lenses; When getting close for close-up shots, you may find yourself in this danger zone.

Bears are always looking for something to eat!
Bears only have 7 months to accumulate fat before their long winter hibernation. Don't let them know that human food or garbage is easy pickings. It is foolish and dangerous to feed bears, or to leave food or garbage that attracts them.
Prepare food away from your tent. Store all products and food away from the camp. Hang food so that the bear cannot reach it. If there are no trees, store food in airtight or special containers. Remember that dogs and their food can also attract bears.
Keep the camp clean. Wash the dishes. Avoid strong smelling foods such as bacon or smoked fish. Don't let your clothes smell like food. Burn garbage on a fire, burn cans. Food and trash are equally attractive to bears, so handle them properly. Burying waste is a waste of time. Bears have a keen sense of smell and are good at digging.

Close encounters with a bear. What to do?
If you see a bear, try to get away from it. Give the bear every opportunity to avoid meeting you. If you encounter a bear, remain calm. Attacks are rare. There is a chance that you are not in danger. Most mother bears are interested in protecting their food, their cubs, or their personal space. When the threat is over, they will pass by.

Make yourself known!
Let the bear know that you are human. Talk to the bear in a normal voice. Wave your arms. Help the bear recognize you. If the bear cannot recognize who you are, it may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or sniff. A standing bear usually shows curiosity and is not dangerous. You can try to slowly back away diagonally, but if the bear starts to follow you, stop and stay where you are.

Don't run!
DO NOT RUN under any circumstances. You can't outrun a bear. They have been found to run at about 60 km/h and, like dogs, they will chase a fleeing animal or person. This animal mistakes an animal running from it for a victim, and easily kills in 90% of cases out of 100. Bears often intimidate, intimidate, sometimes 3 meters from their enemy, without trying to attack. Keep waving your arms and talking to the bear. If the bear gets too close, raise your voice and become more aggressive. Knock on pots and pans. Use loud instruments. Never imitate a bear's growl or scream in a high-pitched voice.

If a bear attacks.
If the bear starts to attack, give up! Fall to the ground and play dead. Lie on your stomach or curl up in a ball with your hands behind your head. It is common for a bear to stop attacking if it feels the threat has been eliminated. Stay still for as long as possible. If you move and the bear sees or hears you, he may return and resume the attack. In rare cases, an attacking bear may mistake a person for food.

Protection.
Use guns with caution as an alternative to a sensible approach to handling close encounters with a bear. If you do not have experience handling weapons in emergency situations, you are more likely to be injured by a weapon than by a bear.

You can shoot at a bear ONLY for the purpose of self-defense during an attack, if you did not provoke the attack, and if there is no other way out. In all other cases, it is necessary to fire a warning shot in the air to scare the bear. If you are not a hunter, but a fisherman and you do not have a gun, take with you a traumatic (gas) pistol with flash-noise cartridges. It should always be at hand (on the belt in a belt holster, behind the bosom, in a body holster). If there is no such thing, ordinary firecrackers or a rocket launcher are quite suitable. Under no circumstances should you leave the camp without a means of guaranteeing a shot or noise when necessary.

In ordinary life, collisions between people and bears are milder. Usually, whoever is smarter is the first to give way. Bears almost always do this. If the bear still tries to approach, in 90 percent of cases a sharp whistle or an unexpected clap in the palm is enough for the animal to run away. If he keeps coming closer, the next remedy is to throw a pebble at him. As a rule, it works. Some hunters claim that it helps against bears. mat.
Bears are afraid of everything unexpected. For example, unexpectedly opening umbrellas, especially if they have two big eyes on them. The tail of a raincoat suddenly thrown open or a backpack suddenly thrown into the air. Any unexpected behavior.

The greatest troubles come from young bears actively exploring the world around them, as well as from mature dominant males who have no enemies in the wild and have forgotten how to give way.
One final piece of advice: when in bear areas, don’t forget to look back sometimes!

There is nothing worse than suddenly encountering an animal - he may perceive it as an act of aggression.

Some hunting stores sell a protective aerosol spray containing capsicum (red pepper extract) that has been used successfully for bear protection. These sprays are effective at a distance of about 5-6 meters. If sprayed upward or in a car, they may injure the user. Take precautions. If you carry a spray, keep it handy and know how to use it.

Mother bears can be fierce protectors of their cubs. Standing between a mother bear and her cubs is a big mistake. A mother bear may react violently to anything she perceives as a threat to her cub.

The cubs appear in January-February. In the Urals, it is not uncommon to see a female with three cubs.

During the period of mass migration of salmon, daytime activity decreases and shifts to evening, morning and night hours. When there is a lack of food (especially when fish are weak), the activity of bears increases, and they feed in berry fields, in dwarf cedar or in mountain meadows at almost any time of the day. For rest, the bear usually settles under the canopy of coniferous trees, and the resting places can be used many times. In twilight and in the thicket of a forest, a bear feels much more confident than a person.

When fish begin their migration to spawn, most bears are located near spawning rivers. On the mountain Ural rivers, fish is the main source of protein food for the animal. After gorging on fish, bears go to berry fields or grasses, only to return to the river after some time. This will diversify the menu and make the diet richer. In the autumn before their bedding (October-November), bears leave the rivers and gradually move, feeding on the berries and nuts of dwarf pine trees, and go to their wintering places. In their environment, bears are cannibals. A larger bear can catch and eat a cub (which most often happens during the mating season, when the cubs are close to the mother bear). There have been recorded cases of bears attacking and eating smaller (usually young) individuals.

Bears live on average 25-30 years.

Humans are not the bear's food source. Most bears under normal conditions try to avoid meeting a person, and, having discovered him first, try to leave unnoticed. If the meeting occurs, then the vast majority of bears take flight.

However, you should always remember and clearly know that the behavior of a particular bear you encounter in a particular situation is UNPREDICTABLE!

Main reasons for attack brown bears on people.

In our desire to communicate with nature, we climb further and further into the forests. The taiga landscape beckons us, modern technology allows us to get in there. The roar of helicopter engines and all-terrain vehicles scares away the forest inhabitants of the pristine taiga. But at the same time, we spend more and more time, without knowing it, accustoming the same bears to our presence.

The predator gets used to humans (becomes, without knowing it, a so-called “synanthropic” bear) in places where it constantly has to deal with them. He gradually loses his fear of man and, as a logical conclusion of the process, the aggressiveness of the bear, which by nature does not like meeting people, increases. At the same time, some part of the population, perhaps insignificant, shows a tendency to freeloading, adapts to life near a person and at his expense. Harmless at first, these animals become increasingly aggressive. They LOSE FEAR in front of a person!

Many researchers agree that aggression towards humans is an extreme expression of “synanthropism.” An important, if not the main reason for the entry of animals into camps, sites and settlements and conflict situations, consists of careless maintenance of garbage dumps, various types of food waste dumps, leaving food waste and garbage in forests, as well as careless storage of food. In these cases, animals are attracted by the smell and availability of food. Bears are also attracted by fish, from which fishermen cook fish soup and fish waste, which tourists leave behind.

Thus, bears pose an increased danger to humans :

For some reason, those who have lost the opportunity to obtain their usual food (sick, injured, old) or have become accustomed to picking up scraps and eating human food waste;

Individuals adapted to contact with people (including bears - “beggars”), often meeting with humans, living in the area of permanent sites;

Animals with “disturbed behavior” - having, to one degree or another, “tried” to hunt a person - once killed him with impunity;

The degree of danger largely depends on the circumstances of contact.

The danger is extremely great if:

The animal is wounded (the bear is very strong against the wound, even a mortally wounded bear is capable of attacking and killing the hunter);

When meeting a mother bear accompanying the cubs (especially if a person is between the cubs and the mother bear);

A bear protecting its prey;

If a person accidentally finds himself in the path of a bear running away from some danger.

It is very dangerous when a person crosses the threshold of “rapprochement”, i.e. ends up too close to the beast. The science of animal behavior - ethology, states that predators have one feature - the so-called critical approach distance. All living beings that find themselves closer to this critical distance from the predator are perceived by it as aggressors, that is, attackers. In this case, it is difficult to predict how a particular bear will behave.

Among the BEARS there is also " underpants"and unperturbed" Olympians"and aggressive" fighters".

The “coward” runs away from the attacker;
The "Olympian" just stands there and watches what happens next;
The aggressive "Brawler" himself instantly attacks the "attacker".

Therefore, you can end up in the clutches of a bear not attacking, but defending! Absolute majority known cases attacks of bears on people can be explained by this feature of the behavior of predators, when he perceived a person as attacking him.

It is extremely dangerous to approach a bear caught in a snare (noose or trap), which poachers often set near food bait (fish, animal carcasses, or on a trail). A bear caught in a tightly fixed noose (usually to a thick tree) tries to break out until the last moment, with a roar it destroys everything around it within a radius depending on the length of the rope. If the samolov is attached to a drag (a log, a chain with an anchor, etc.), then the bear, moving, pulls the drag behind it, leaving a furrow on the grass and soft ground. If you approach such an animal, it will definitely attack. Woe to the one who encounters an angry bear that has escaped the stranglehold of the noose.

The degree of danger for humans varies in different seasons of the year: upon leaving the dens, during the rut, and also in the winter when “connecting rods” appear - bears that have not accumulated a sufficient amount of fat, or are wounded, and therefore do not lie down in the den.

The degree of danger also increases at night: it is more difficult to notice the animal, and at night bears are more active and courageous; there are cases when they went straight to the fires.

Cowardly, inexperienced, untrained dogs can also provoke a bear. Some bears not only actively defend themselves from dogs, but also chase them themselves. Cowardly dogs seek protection from a person and throw themselves at his feet, which can cause an accident. Only bear-baited dogs that are not afraid of the bear can stop an attacking bear. Therefore, do not take your untrained pets with you into the forest or on an expedition to the taiga; they will not protect you from a bear, but may provoke an attack. Only a dog that can detain him at the cost of his life can protect a person from a bear.

Ways to reduce the likelihood of an encounter and attack.

In order to avoid dangerous situations when meeting a bear, following these rules will help you:

3 . To avoid the appearance of “synanthropic” (habituated beggars) bears, it is important to ensure that so that conditions for their complementary feeding are not created. Food waste and carcasses of killed wild animals must be destroyed to prevent predators from using them.

6 . Seeing a bear in the distance, don't go near him, carefully leave this place, go around it. Keep calm.

7 . Post outdoor camp, with sufficient visibility of the places. Carefully monitor the cleanliness of their territories and burn all food waste. Don't store food in accessible places, isolate them so that odors cannot attract animals.

8 . In no case don't spend the night, do not pitch tents or camp on bear and other forest paths.

13 . Never, Do not, under any circumstances, approach bear cubs, no matter how cute and cute they may seem to you. Don't try to feed or entice them. If you meet them by chance, or they come to your resting place, stop immediately, quickly look around and look for an escape route as quickly as possible. Bear cubs are curious and if they are heading towards you, drive them away with loud screams. Remember - there is a bear somewhere nearby, and GOD FORBID You will find yourself between a mother bear and a bear cub. The attack of the Bear, if she considers that you are a threat to her baby, will be the last thing you see in your life.

15 . Scaring away the bear with shots, don't try to shoot the bear itself. A wounded bear is extremely dangerous! Even if he leaves you, he can become a serious danger to other people. You can kill a bear only with a large-caliber weapon, and not always even a shot “on the spot” can immediately stop the bear. A reliable shot right in the brain or spine.

18 . Even if the bear does move towards you, there is still hope that it will turn away. Never DO NOT turn your back on a charging bear.! A person who runs is almost certainly doomed. When attacked by a bear, you should not show outward signs of fear. If there is no reliable shelter or shelter nearby, you must face the danger head-on. There are more people who survived the bear's attack in this way than those who were able to escape. Don't run.

19 . Having seen a bear accidentally entering the path (road), never, do not feed them under any circumstances, no matter how harmless and cute they may seem. The bear does not need your feeding, but by starting to feed the bear you are raising a beggar in him, who will very quickly begin to demand food, and if he does not receive it, he becomes aggressive and is capable of attacking a person, of whom he loses fear. Remember that by your actions you are endangering the lives of other people.

21 . And the last thing - ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE: Having met a bear, regardless of its size, behavior and appearance treat him as a formidable and powerful predator, with unpredictable behavior.

In many cases, bears are not a threat, but they deserve your respect and attention. When traveling through the taiga, be vigilant and take the opportunity to see these amazing animals in natural environment their habitat.

Unfortunately, even full compliance with the recommendations cannot completely eliminate the likelihood of a bear attack, because it is impossible to foresee the circumstances of each specific case of an encounter with a bear. The behavior of a bear is unpredictable. But we will be sincerely glad if, after reading the recommendations, you become more careful on taiga expeditions.

The main reference material is taken from open sources of information.
Prepared by Evgeniy Svitov.

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