The constant jingling of the bell as you walk can be super noisy and unpleasant for both you and your hiking crew. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! All bear bells are equally effective: Not all bear bells are created equal. As mentioned in the study, some may produce louder or more attention-grabbing sounds, while others may be less effective. It is important to choose a bear bell that is designed specifically for bears and has been proven to be effective.

Proximity Warning: The noise of the bear bells can act as a proximity warning system, alerting bears that humans are near and giving them an opportunity to leave the area before any potential conflict arises. Sure, having her rushing at you will be scary as hell, but everything about body language says “get outta here” more than “I’m gonna kill you!”. Here’s a really good article about “bear bluster” from bear.org Aggressive Charges Bear bells prevent all bear encounters: While bear bells can help reduce the likelihood of surprise encounters, they do not guarantee complete avoidance of bear encounters. It is crucial to remain vigilant, make noise while hiking, and be prepared to react appropriately if you do encounter a bear. Whether or not you intend to bring a bear bell with you out on the trails, you may be able to supplement it with additional precautions to help reduce the likelihood of encountering a bear. Talking/SingingStay alert and make noise: Bears are more likely to avoid humans if they are aware of their presence. Make noise while hiking by talking, singing, or using bear bells to alert bears to your presence. Yes-they-do-work: Supporters of bear bells point to a 1982 study on bear and hiker interactions in Glacier National Park, which found that hikers who wore bear bells were less likely to be charged by a grizzly bear. Store food properly: Bears are often attracted to the smell of food. Store food and scented items in bear-resistant containers, or hang them high out of a bear’s reach. Making noise can be an effective way to deter a bear, but don’t shout. Talking with your hiking companions, or even singing quietly, can announce your presence and help keep bears away. Be Aware of Potential Food Sources There once was a bear who loved his bell so much that he wore it everywhere he went. One day, he went to a bear gathering and all the other bears were amazed by his bell. From that day on, all the bears in the forest started wearing bells, and they lived happily ever after, always jingling along together.

Hikers or bikers should exhibit innocuous behavior, avoiding food giving or aggressive behavior during encounters. Don’t play dead. Unlike some, these animals will treat you as potential prey. Making yourself seem like you’re not worth the trouble is the best thing to do. Grizzly Bears Combine with other deterrents: Bear bells work best when used in combination with other bear deterrents, such as bear spray or air horns. These additional measures can help enhance your safety in bear country. This interesting effect was documented in a 1985 book by Stephen Herrero. Since they don’t frighten bears, they may actually attract bears who are curious about where the jingling noise is coming from.

Be mindful of the potential for bears when you are walking around any possible sources of food. Some to watch out for include: Bear spray should be sprayed for about six to nine seconds, ideally out of a canister weight of at least 7.9 ounces. You should spray the canister about twenty-five feet away from the bear, which will give the bear the opportunity to feel the full effects of the spray.

Bear bagging: The cheapest way to safely store your food and scented items is using a technique called bear bagging which is simply a way to hang your food in a tree so a bear can't reach it. The bell noise is high-pitched, but not unpleasant. It cuts through a lot of noise, so even chattering trail strollers will hear you coming. A mother bear that is with her cubs will be more defensive and aggressive than any other kind of bear. Therefore, your main priority if you see a mother with a cub should be to get away before she notices you. If she does, employ the techniques we will mention below to get yourself out of the situation as safely as possible. Bear Bells: Do They Work? If the bear follows you, or charges you, stop and stand your ground. Keep encouraging it to keep its distance by speaking and making yourself look bigger.

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The theory behind them is correct. In the woods, sounds made by humans aren’t normal, so animals run away from them. But the wrong noises get lost in the mix with wind, leaves, and streams. Even whistles aren’t 100% effective because they’re mistaken for birds or wounded prey. This article endeavours to give a short answer (summarising what you should do in the 3 most likely bear encounters) and a much longer answer (exploring the why’s and how’s in much more depth). I’d encourage you to look at the longer answer because there is a lot of nuance and context around this topic. But if you’re short on time, here are the highlights: Scenario 1: You see a bear but the bear doesn’t see you Bear bells”are small devices that emit a ringing sound when they are moved, which is intended to warn curious bears of your presence and help avoid an encounter. But do bear bells work?

Keep the bell ringing: Keep the bell ringing consistently as you hike or move through bear country. The sound will help alert bears to your presence and give them a chance to move away. Some campers also use bear whistles to deter bears, although this method can be controversial because whistles are often used to signal distress and can cause false rescue alarms. Bear Canisters You might be surprised to learn that, amongst the serious biking fraternity, there is quite fierce debate about which bell will work best in different circumstances. Polar bears, the largest of all three types of bears, are only found in northern Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. This scenario is unlikely because bears generally don’t want to be near you and they have such good senses, most times they’ll leave the area before you even know they’re there. However, they may be drawn to you because you have food (if they’re food habituated), or you might stumble into one of their feeding grounds, or any number of other reasons might result in a surprise encounter. This is obviously a very tense situation for all parties and the one most likely to result in a negative outcome if handled poorly. Your job here is to be assertive without being threatening and to leave the area without fleeing or showing fear.In a quiet forest, a bear was peacefully strolling along, enjoying the calmness of nature. Suddenly, he heard a loud jingling sound. Surprised, he looked around and saw a mischievous squirrel playing with his bear bell. The bear couldn’t help but smile and joined in on the fun, chasing the squirrel and creating their unique jingle dance. Bear whistles: The shrill sound of a whistle can scare off a bear, but you need to be judicious in their use. Blowing a whistle, especially repeatedly, in the woods can be mistaken for a distress signal.