bear attacks!

You go into the woods....should you be afraid of bears? Whats the truth about bears and bear attacks...here is my experience with the topic. Dave Whipple

[@stephensgate1]

Good advice. Wish you would break off that leftover branch, before you accidentally poke yourself in the eye. Am I the only one that notices that?? Be careful friend. -Stephen, Ohio

[@jimbob7559]

This video will "stick" with me forever. Eye swear.

[@williamlockhart5031]

Gotta tell ya Dave, I can't take my eyes off of that stick and expecting you to get poked! Lol! Good stories!

[@KM00Youtube]

Honestly, I don't know why there isn't a TV show with you and Girl in the Woods!

[@chiconian49]

I live in a city of 100,000 in Northern California, right at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It's not uncommon to see cougars, coyotes, and bears wondering down the creek beds through the middle of town. Stupid people actually feed them. They are losing their fear of humans and see us as a food source.

[@Bushradical]

As for the Liard Hotsprings attack....Brooke and I have been to the hot springs a dozen times and it is one of the most "bear heavy" areas in all Canada. Be careful at Liard, or in the area.

[@EvieVermont]

Good point about bears being at the top of the food chain. And that they are unpredictable. Thank you.

[@deborahbrand9932]

All I have to say is you and your wife are so knowledgable about the type of life you both live and I think your both so awesome. I'm 63 and I want to try things you've done and I refuse to say I can't do it. Thank you for all your videos, I just found you both and I want to watch everything about the both of you, God Bless you and your family.

[@lawaincooley6788]

Your thumb nail looked like you were going to make fun of people who fear bear attacks. I'm glad you shared a smart message about staying safe and armed intelligently in bear country.

[@nancyhowell4505]

My niece mentioned seeing a bear around their tent campsite recently. I said that's why I wouldn't go camping back in the woods, lol! She replied that the bear wouldn't bother you! She goes camping all the time. I thought she had better sense, I hope and pray she doesn't get hurt or killed. 😟

[@billjoyce2905]

A very fair, wise and obviously knowledgeable assessment, Dave. I hope people listen to you.

[@markalan8017]

Most informative logical video on bears to date. No over glorified mess. no underestimated info. Right in the middle facts. u sir know the wilds. Reminds me of bear biologist tom smith. Keeping everything 100% on what north America is.

[@evalynchuran8684]

I have had 6 close encounters, but they walked the other way. I stayed as calm as I could, but I was afraid every time. It doesn't get easier...ever.

[@ajtaylor560]

I have to admit I was more worried about you putting that punji stick through you neck the entire time you were recounting the bear issues than had a bear popped out and grabbed you!! One of the very best conversations I've heard, reference bears, in a long time and pretty much follow my feelings. I live in Canada and we have a huge population of bears. I've also lived and worked in the boreal forest and they really like that area. I've never had a problem with them but my wife is another story the woman is a bear magnet. She can't go near the woods without Bruno showing up. So if I'm with her then it's bear time!!! I just hope a lot of people take the time to watch this vid it's right on.

[@MTwoodsrunner]

some great stories Dave...one year we had four attacks that ended in fatalities in Park county alone and a friend of mine was mauled twice in one encounter just last summer, he had tons of experience with bears.

[@scottlippert2988]

Thank you for putting bears in their proper perspective. I lived in Tucson, AZ for almost half my life and I can say that there are bears populating the mountains surrounding Tucson. Occasionally, they go down from the mountains and into the city. It is a good reminder to take the proper precautions, be aware of the surroundings and use common sense when an encounter with any wildlife occurs.

[@susanwhitton6372]

Yes , that branch hurts my eyes . I keep thinking one false move and someone's getting an eye poked out .

[@MichaelKallelisOn2Wheels]

Just discovered you Dave, as well as your wife's channel. Good video and advice. I almost did a solo motorcycle ride into the Canadian Rockies and wanted to carry a high caliber hand gun just in case I was disabled along a remote road. But....no handguns allowed into Canada. In turned out that I made that trip with a friend and our safety was the unlikely event of two disabled bikes. So we went, with a small amount of bear spray (I have no faith in bear spray). The bikes ran great, no breakdowns and no bears. Beautiful trip.

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

Very sound advice. On my trips to the states or BC all in heavily beared areas me and my brother have always made sure we are prepared with spray or just stayed on the trails as a couple of scared Limeys lol but touch wood haven't had any issues but it's always far better to be prepared. Had a Really cool one where we watched a Grizzly mom and her cubs in Grand Tetons national park where she was just quite happily grazing Dandelions and the bear wardens were there making sure no one got too close and was a really wholesome time just watching her do her thing she seemed completely unbothered by the crowd of people who to be fair were respectful and did go back in their vehicles when she wandered closer for a good hour she just hung out before finally sauntering back into the Bush. We think she was one of Blondies cubs with one of her first litters. But again like you said they all have their different characters and you should be definitely aware of them as they're not plush toys. (Ha I remember another time in BC seeing a bad acting bear getting Helicoptered away just looking mortified xD) They're a highly intelligent apex Predator and opportunist with a bite that can crack a bowling ball.

[@AfricanFlightStar]

Good advice thanks. The next episode on this topic could be explaining to us the various techniques and tactics one should / could / can use to stay safe and/or defend oneself against bears, when an encounter occurs. I am from South Africa, I was born and raised there, and I know how to deal with pretty much any animal one could come across there. But I’m living in the US now for 23 years, a contract pilot, and spent one season flying in Alaska. Did a bunch of research about bears before I went up there, to try to figure out how to handle a bear encounter if I had one, and came to the conclusion that there is no specific recipe at all, other than the basics like keep food away from them, don’t get between a mother and her cubs, make a noise when you’re hiking in the woods, be on guard, etc etc. And as you said, carry a powerful weapon / handgun if nothing else, as the final backup plan. So I agree with you 100% - I feel that bears are totally unpredictable. They just seem to have a mind of their own and it’s really difficult to figure out what they’re going to do next. You gave a good summary, thanks. 👍🏻