Breckenridge Road - May 23, 2006 If you see a bear or evidence of a bear such as tracks, droppings or diggings near your camp it is best to choose another camping area. (About 10 miles away is recommended) KEEP A CLEAN CAMP - Store food in a car trunk or secured area - Don't sleep near cooking or food storage areas - Wipe tables and burn grease of the grills - Dispose of garbage in bear-proof garbage cans, or pack it out. Bears will dig up buried or burned garbage - Store soap and toiletries the same as food. - Pet food also needs to be secured. AVOID SMELLS: Don't use sunscreen, insect repellent, soap, shampoo, deodorants, body lotions, or similar products, especially towards the evening hours and night. Hanging food and garbage isn't guaranteed to outsmart a bear. Dont burn garbage. Food on garbage is rarely completely burned and makes the problem worse by spreading the odors... Don't surprise bears when hiking. Make noise. Dogs can antagonize bears.

RULES: There are no rules about what to do if you encounter a bear. All situations are different, depending on the bear, the terrain and your reaction. In most cases the bear will detect you first and leave the area. Never approach a bear under any circumstances. Bears have good eyesight and an acute sence of smell. If a bear stands upright or moves closer, it is trying to detect smells in the air. This is not a sign of aggression. Once it identifies you, it may leave the area or try to intimidate you by charging to within a few feet before it withdraws. BLACK BEARS If you encounter a black bear - Black bears are generally shy and avoids human contact. - Stop and face the bear, backing away slowly. Avoid direct eye contact as this may be percieved as a threat. Give the bear plenty of room to leave the area. - Stay calm. - If on a trail, step off the downhill side and slowly leave the area. Don't run or make any sudden movements. Running is likely to promt the bear to give chase. - Make noise while hiking to reduce chances of surprising a bear - Never get between a female bear and her cubs. Be alert of other cubs in the area. - Fight back if the bear attacts. Black bears have been driven away when people fought back. Use sticks, rocks, or bare hands. - Report all bear sightings to a park ranger as soon as possible. BEAR SPRAY / PEPPER SPRAY Bear spray is a option that is worth consideration. More information...

GRIZZLY BEAR IDENTIFICATION Look for a combination of characteristics. Color and size are sometimes misleading. Click for larger view... Claws of black bears seldom exceed 1 1/2" Claws of grizzly bears are rarely less than 1 3/4" long.

LINKS: www.keepmewild.org www.bebearaware.org http://buckskin.org/Resources/Outdoor/bear_safety.htm Buckskiin Council Boy Scouts of America http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Falls/9200/bear_safety.html Bear in the tree... Oakridge, OR It was the middle of the day, we were sitting in the car, when this bear walked into camp. Not seeing the bear, opened the car door... lucky for us, he was human shy and ran straight up the tree. Photo is blurry because of light conditions, and it was a dangerous situation. Bears are not in the woods to put out forest fires!!! Never approach or feed a bear. RATTLESNAKE FACTS Rattlesnake Facts and Basic Emergency Care. COUGAR FACTS Cougar Facts and Safety CAMPGROUND INDEX DISCLAIMER: Information contained on this page is for general reference purposes only. Bears can not be predicted... CAMPGROUNDS OF THE USA BEAR FACTS and INFORMATION