What to do if you encounter a black bear?

Published on: 25 May 2018 Last Updated on: 09 August 2019
adventure

You can enjoy your adventure to the fullest only when you are confident about encountering dangerous animal comfortably while camping or hiking. Whenever you are camping or hiking in the wilderness, you are likely to encounter a bear. So, it’s very important to know how to deal with the situation keeping your head cool and calm because panicking might only make it worse.

So, whenever it happens to face a bear, remain as composed as possible.

Your action will depend on many things- the species of the bear, your surroundings, and your expertise. To deal a bear-encounter comfortably, follow these simple guidelines:

Avoid bear altogether:

Bears usually want to avoid human contact and hence, by avoiding them altogether, you can avert an unpleasant encounter.

To be in the safe zone, avoid moving through bear-habituated area silently and alone. Try to travel in groups with lots of sounds- like talking or singing. And obviously, remain alert all the time.

In encounter:

If you bump into a bear surprisingly, remain calm and keep your bear spray ready.

Try to figure out what type of bear it is. It will help you to deal with it accordingly. First, as a general rule of thumb, follow simple basics like if the bear is at a distance, give as much space as possible. If possible, turn around and leave the way you came. Or, simply walk away giving the bear a wide berth. But never try to approach it or take a photo.

And if the bear is close to you, like in your campground or on the trail, compose yourself and evaluate the situation confidently. Back away slowly, but never try to run. Keep an eye on the bear, most probably, it will flee.

Survive an attack:

If your encounter turns into a stand-off, you need to determine, whether the bear is a black bear or brown one. One thing to keep in mind is that the only color is not the determining factor, as a black bear can be brown colored and vice versa. There are some physical characteristics that will tell you the species of the bear. Black bears are usually smaller and have smaller claws while brown ones are much bigger and have a distinctive lump behind their neck and their claws and paws are also bigger in size.

Black bears are timid in nature, so if you can, try to escape. Or if you don’t see any option to escape, fight back. As the bear gets closer, strike on its nose and face with a rock, a stick or whatever you find. If you don’t get anything near you, use your fists. The bear will flee as it doesn’t tend to be aggressive.

On the contrary, brown bears can be quite aggressive and large in size, it won’t be wise to fight back. Instead, you can lay down on the ground, acting as dead. Put your shoulder over the head and spread your legs so that it can’t turn you over. Leave your backpack on to protect your shoulder and back. Remain as still and motionless as possible. The bear will lose interest in you and walk away.

Use bear spray:

One of the best ways to deal with a bear is using a bear spray. This powerful pepper spray can stop a bear immediately and compel them to back off. But, using this spray needs some precaution and trial. Or else, you might end up exposing yourself to the chemicals. When you need to use the spray, don’t wait for it to come closer. Spray from a distance as it takes some time to show the effect.

Don’t waste your time on aiming its eyes, nose, and face, just spray thoroughly or else, the bear may approach you while correcting the aim.

However, to ensure exciting camping or hiking, get yourself educated on how to deal adverse situation. Bears are a generally calm natured animal but might get aggressive because of assuming you as a threat. Knowing how to deal with such adverse situation can go a long way towards handling it calmly and getting you home hale and hearty.

Once you feel comfortable handling such a situation, your adventure-trips will be more exciting and enjoyable, see more on review night for more about outdoor adventure.

Read Also :

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Benefits of Meditation

Five Benefits of Meditation That Will Change Your Life

Meditating has been a life-changing experience for me in many, many ways. It’s my first best addiction, second best being the use of marijuana. For a long time, I used marijuana to treat my stress and depression because it is a psychoactive drug and it has the capability to cure our mental problems such as stress and depression to a significant degree if it is used in its raw form, read this article here. However, meditation has acted as a game-changer. I no longer roll a joint when I'm stressed, I sit in the designated corner of my room for fifteen minutes, and everything changes completely. The problems seem to disappear, and I encounter this wonderful peace which replaces the feeling of unsettlement. Let me briefly tell you about the few ways in which meditation can alter your whole life. 1. Instant Dose of Happiness: My first ever meditation practice was guided and my yoga instructor helped me with it. Before I even hit the point of feeling serene and in peace, I felt happiness. It was as if a dark cloud has left the sky and it’s sunny everywhere. But it wasn’t just something I felt; there is a medical explanation for this phenomenon. Our left prefrontal cortex is active whenever we are feeling happy. But when everything is going downhill, you can safely assume that this part of your brain is dormant. Meditation can make it active, and positive emotion can flow through your body by the simple act of mindfulness. It also aids with decreasing activity in the right prefrontal cortex which encourages negative thoughts and emotions. Regular meditation can make you mindful of your day-to-day routine which can be especially beneficial for inducing positive thinking patterns. 2. Your Lifestyle Will Change: Another major change that you're bound to notice is that you'll start living a healthier life. Meditation can change your life in many ways, for example, it can fix your sleep cycle. You won't suffer from diseases like sleep apnea and insomnia anymore. You can meditate and do yoga side-by-side, so in a way; you can start working out because of meditation. Meditation promotes positive thoughts in our brain, as I have explained already. So you're likely to give up bad habits like smoking cigarettes and pot etc. It helped me get rid of pot addiction; I can vouch for the rehabilitating effect of this activity. You might as well start eating healthier meals if you practice meditation regularly. 3. It Helps Battle Anxiety & Stress: It is especially useful when you have to combat anxiety and stress. It might as well save you a trip to the psychiatrist. Regular meditation can turn you into a happier individual because it aims to reprogram your whole thought process. So, if you are suffering from anxious thoughts meditation can help you combat these thoughts very effectively. The most devastating of all effects that anxiety can have on your brain is reducing the size of your hippocampus, which is responsible for keeping your memory sharp. But here's the deal, meditation has the capability of reversing any damage that has been done to your brain, and it can even fortify your brain to combat anxiety in the future. Those who meditate regularly are less likely to be anxious. Does this explain the peaceful lives of shamans to you?   4. Age Gracefully: Meditation can lead to graceful aging. Aging is a process that every individual has to go through, and while it seems unlikely that sitting straight for minutes, even hours, it could slow down the process of aging. You can find more than enough evidence of this fact now. Meditation has the ability to slow down the aging of cells of your body. Let me explain to you the whole process. When we stress out or suffer from diseases like diabetes type 2 and dementia etc. the length of our telomeres which are the DNA caps reduces. If this process continues, the chromosomes division process could be inhibited because they no longer have any protection from these telomeres. On a cellular level, your body has now started dying. Since practicing meditation can keep your stress and other chronic illnesses at bay, you are sure to keep increasing the age of your cells thereby ensuring a long and healthy life for yourself.   5. It Helps Your EQ: Just like IQ, your emotional intelligence is measured by the Emotional Quotient, and trust me, you might survive this world without a high IQ, but success without emotional intelligence is a tough call. Since meditating more often can lead you to develop a better awareness of your surroundings, you would be able to read the emotions of others. This will give you an edge over the others, and you can succeed at many things in life by having a higher emotional intelligence level.   Read Also: 1. Easy Ways To Live A Healthier Lifestyle. 2. 10 Tips On How To Ditch The Stress And Start Living A Peaceful Life.

READ MOREDetails
resurrection plant

All You Need To Know About Resurrection Plant And Its Facts

Selaginella lepidophylla, or resurrect plant, is a desert plant that belongs to the Spikemoss family, Selaginellaceae. Across the desert of Mexico and the United States, you will find this plant. However, it is considered that the desert of North Africa is the native place of this plant. It is also called the False Rose of Jericho. The creeping stems of this plant grow horizontally, and the leaves are like scale. What Is A Resurrection Plant? Any poikilohydric plant that is able to survive extreme dehydration is called a resurrection plant. These plants can survive without water for several months and even for years.  For example, the Rose of Jericho, which is native to the North African deserts, is an example of the resurrection plant. The scientific name of this plant is Anastatica hierochuntica. Overview Of The Resurrection Plant Common NameResurrection plant, Rose of Jericho, false Rose of Jericho, stone flower, dinosaur plantBotanical NameSelaginella lepidophyllaFamilySelaginellaceaePlant TypePerennialMature Size2-6 in. tall, 3-6 in. wideSun ExposureFullSoil TypeNone neededHardiness Zones10Native AreaNorth America Some Interesting Facts About The Resurrection Plant Here are some interesting facts about the resurrection plant that will surely amaze you. Scaly Stems These plants have scaly stems that are arranged in the form of a rosette. A few stems that the resurrection plant produces always grow close to the ground. The entire plant covers a diameter of less than only 1 foot. Just like other plants, this plant also uses its roots in order to extract nutrients and water from the ground. Resurrection plant is a primitive plant that falls between the category of ferns and mosses. You can not see any leaves on the resurrection plant. All you will find are small, scaly extensions of stems that look like junipers. Absorb Water After rainfall, the resurrection plant quickly absorbs the water and enters the phase of rapid growth. As this plant is unable to accumulate water in the roots and stems, once the soil dries out, it also dries shortly. The dry plant curls up into a tight ball with a very small amount of water that is stored in the center.Though the curled ball looks like it is dead it is only dormant. During the whole period of dormancy, the plant minimizes metabolic activities and can last a few years or till the time of the next rain. Reviving Ability Due to its reviving ability, this plant is called a resurrection plant. This plant is able to rehydrate. Once it is exposed to moisture, after a few hours, it unfolds its stem and reactivates its metabolism. After it absorbs the water, the stem starts swelling and unfolds itself. Even if the stems do not have any live protoplast within them, this will indeed happen. “Siempre Viva,” which is another name for the resurrection plant. The phrase mentioned earlier means “everlasting.” Reproduce Sexually Resurrection plants do not produce flowers, fruits, and seeds. This plant reproduces sexually. Strobili, which is a club-like structure and produced via spores. 400 million years ago, this plant appeared on the planet. Most of the ancient lycopods were giant plants. But as a result of climate change, all of them became extinct. Small lycopods like resurrection plants have managed to survive without any morphological changes till the modern days.  Dinosaur Plant Another name for the resurrection plant is the “Dinosaur plant" because it has lived side by side with dinosaurs. Tea made from the resurrection plant can treat sore throat and the common cold due to its antimicrobial properties. The resurrection plant is the longest-living plant on earth. Does the Resurrection Plant Need Soil? When you will buy a resurrection plant online or from your nearest nursery on the resurrection plant for sale, you will receive a brown ball of dried moss. This brown ball of moss does have roots, but the roots are not attached to anything. So, in order to grow, this miracle plant does not need soil. Similar to a hydroponic system, when there is no water or moisture for a really long time, the plant will curl into a ball and turn brown with a diameter of around 6 to 10 inches. which generally has a height range of 15 to 35 centimeters. This plant is very convenient in terms of taking care of and growing. Can a Resurrection Plant Die? From the earlier discussion, it may be clear that this plant is really hard to kill. You can simply put the plant in the dark corner of a room without water. But once you bring it out and leave it in water, it will get relieved once again. There is one way to kill this plant. That is overwatering. You can leave this plant in water for a few days, and it will start rotting, and eventually, it will die.  How to Grow the Resurrection Plant? In order to grow and to care for a resurrection plant, all you need are: A broad and shallow container that should not have any drainage hole. Another wide container that should have drainage holes. For spreading at the button, gravel or pebbles. Distilled water at room temperature. A bright but shady place. And lastly, a dried resurrection plant. Process First, fill the wide and shallow container that has no drainage system with water. Do not fill it wholly. Put in two-thirds water. Place pebbles or gravel up to the waterline. Now, put the dried resurrection plant on the pebbles. For a completely dry and brown plant, it will take around 3 to 4 hours to turn green.  Now, take the wide container that has drainage holes and spread the gravel or pebbles upto the level of water. Mix peat moss. Add humus and sand and spread it on the pebbles. Now, place the resurrected plant on the top. Do not place it in direct sunlight. Instead, place it in a shady place that has a temperature of higher than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.  Once you notice the plant is getting brown, continue to water it. Conclusion This plant is super convenient for plant lovers who can not afford much time to take care of plants. Due to its relative properties, this plant can come back to life just after receiving water. That is why this brown dry ball of moss is so popular among plant lovers. More Resources:- DIY Ways To Control Pests In Your Garden Maintain A Bright And Beautiful Garden During Winter 5 Best Vegetables You Should Try Growing In Your Garden

READ MOREDetails
Wedding Registry

One List, Two Celebrations: How To Combine Your Wedding Registry And Housewarming Gifts

Congratulations on your engagement! As a soon-to-be-wed couple, who's also ready to step into their new home, here's a revolutionary idea that might save you time, energy, and maybe even a few gray hairs. While you're in the midst of wedding planning - a crucial step right now is creating your wedding registry. So instead of having separate registries for your new house and the wedding celebration, simplify the process by combining them into a single list. This way, guests can easily navigate your gift preferences based on what you two value - for your personal sanctuary or starting a new chapter as partners - and enable you to craft a meaningful gift list with both everyday essentials and big-ticket items that you'd otherwise save for: be it a honeymoon fund or a piece of furniture. (Yes, your wedding guests are totally happy to finance your honeymoon.) This is actually the best way to utilize your gift list to its full potential. You can simply convey this new concept to your family and friends about how merging the wedding registry and housewarming gift list into one master wish list can eliminate the need for multiple gifts for each milestone celebration. And non-wedding or non-housewarming items can also be added to your wish list, narrowing the search and easing the entire shopping process while giving guests plenty of gifting options. Let your guests know what you need for your not-perfect but meaningful living using a wedding website where you can include all the details for the big day and a link to your gift list or by sharing a customized URL on your wedding or bridal shower invites. To ensure that items don't run out before the big day celebrations, or to help direct your guests to one convenient spot for cash funds, donations, or experiential gifts apart from what you add to the wish list, opt for a universal registry service, like MyRegistry. It's easier for your family to browse all the options, be notified in case of special store discounts, or track your presents before they reach you. So, get ready to learn some smart housewarming AND wedding registry tips and unique ways to approach the gift selection process, which can enhance the occasion(s) while keeping your loved ones happy. Let the merging begin! Tips to Combine Your Wedding Registry and Housewarming Gifts into One 1. The Ultimate List-Merge Planning the ultimate wedding or designing your dream home are important tasks that require you to be clear on your goals and desires. Start by creating a detailed and in-length gift list that may serve a dual purpose or transition from your wedding celebrations to serving your new abode. It can be based on how you wish to live your daily life, how you want to add functionality for the longer term, and your recipe for a perfectly furnished bedroom, living space, or kitchen - opt for items that reflect your personality. Another plus of a combined list is that guests can avoid gifting duplicate items or picking presents that may sit for too long in your closet without any use.  2. A ‘Note’ of Brilliance As we mentioned, the best way to inform your family is by including a fun and detailed note in your wedding invitations about your brilliant merging idea. Here's how it works - let them know about your registry service (preferably a universal one) and briefly explain the rationale. Assure them that by doing this, you're making the gift-giving process simpler for everyone involved and guaranteeing that their generosity will have a noticeable impact on your newlywed life. They'll appreciate your wit and consideration! 3. Tech-Savvy Consolidation Use a user-friendly digital platform to combine your wedding registry and housewarming list in one place and enhance the overall shopping experience for you and your loved ones. Look for platforms that allow you to create a customizable gift list smoothly and efficiently. Added features like easy-to-navigate, the ability to sync different store registries, partnerships with popular gift retailers, etc., can be convenient for couples to look after their needs and preferences. Make a single, appealing list with all necessary information, including descriptions, images, and direct purchase links. In this manner, your guests can easily browse and choose their gifts. 4. The Power of Flexibility Apart from being unique, your gift should feature a range of budgets, so it's best to add small and big-ticket items. Some people may be conservative with their gift preferences, while others wish to splurge. So the best way is to make your list accessible to all budgets and items - including memorable experiential gifts. Think honeymoon funds, kitchen remodel, charitable donations to your preferred cause, on an all-inclusive registry service - the options for a combined gift list are endless! 5. Beyond Tangible Treasures As mentioned above, gifts needn't be limited to physical items. Think outside the box, and include experiences or contributions to more significant projects or experiences in your wedding registry. A travel fund is a gift that you'll absolutely use, and it can easily be combined with other house essentials in your combined list. This way, your guests can give you a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon experience or even support a once-in-a-lifetime travel fund. Give your family & friends the option to contribute to your travels and become part of something big - which can build into a wild adventure, life-long memories, and a fun story for the future. 6. A Heartfelt ‘Thank You Note Gratitude never goes out of style! Once the celebrations wind down and the excitement settles, it's time to express your genuine enthusiasm and gratitude for their support. Send your guests unique thank-you cards to show appreciation for their generous contributions and to let them know how their gifts have upgraded your life - share some funny anecdotes too! This way, they’ll feel good about their contribution, and your relationship with them will grow stronger. End Note Merging your wedding registry and housewarming gift list into one is almost a stroke of brilliance. You can make the gift-giving process easier for your loved ones and ensure that each gift aligns with your passions and goals. Enjoy your double-celebrations as you unwrap each precious item, knowing how it reminds you of the love and affection surrounding you. Cheers on starting a new, magical life together! Read Also: Tips for Having a Weed-Friendly Wedding 10 Smart Strategies for Unique Wedding Photos Popular Styles For Punjabi Salwar Suits At Weddings

READ MOREDetails