How to Avoid a Bear Attack - Bear Safety When You Travel

[@macconmara7252]

Thank you for addressing this issue with bears and actually all wild animals. Just this past August a woman was attacked by a buffalo( her pants were ripped right off her body and were hanging on the buffaloes horn) in Custer State park trying to get up close pictures. The parks are beautiful but they can be dangerous as heck-you cannot let your guard down.

[@woltersworld]

Hey Mac. That is one of the main reasons I made this video. Just so many people just walk right up to the animals to get a picture and then bad things happen.

[@tosht2515]

Great advice, Mark. I've been out in bear country a lot and making noise seems to be consistently recommended by all the experts so my boys and I are always yapping while hiking or working our way along a river. And of course someone always throws a rock into the brush which makes all of us jump. 😂

[@nathanjw940]

Live in south florida. How many people think feeding the alligators is a good idea is beyond belief. They're afraid of people but if you make us food well yeah you can make others dinner.

[@stacyrussell460]

That was an absolutely "bearable" video on bear safety. Thanks!!

[@woltersworld]

Thank you boo boo :)

[@lawncuttingplusdelta]

That was very bearable … akways good to be reminded of how to be safe 👍🏻

[@AnnaLauraBrownHealthCoach]

This reminds me of a story I read in the news a few years ago. A couple was camping and they left a cooler full of beer out and a bear came along and drank all the beer and they found a drunk bear at their campsite. Lol.

[@woltersworld]

Thats funny

[@whutzat]

Hahahaha!

[@8AlisaInez9]

💞😁👍🏽

[@WITYTRAVELS]

At Great Smoky Mountains National Park they used to pass out flyers that said "If a bear approaches you, stand your ground. Do not run. Make yourself look large and throw rocks or sticks at the bear." Not sure I could have followed that advice if a bear came walking up!

[@ProfessorWolters]

yeah, it is oen thing to read it and another thing when it happens

[@KoolKats5]

Rangers in GSMNP still teach this, but they now include, "Always carry bear spray and know how to use it.' I follow this instruction Always

[@cynthiamgentles6781]

You can deter bears from entering camp sites with a portable electric bear fence. Small kit that brings huge peace of mind.

[@jalfredl]

I just “BEARly” got the notification now. I’m glad I watched it. Thx, Mark!

[@woltersworld]

I am sure it was a Boo Boo on KZbin's part ;)

[@StanHasselback]

What do you do if a bear takes your food? Nothing, its the bears food now.

[@woltersworld]

Exactly:)

[@StanHasselback]

@@kikis194 The short answer is yes! If you are attacked by a brown/grizzly bear, leave your pack on and PLAY DEAD. Lay flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck. Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over. Remain still until the bear leaves the area. Most non grizzly bears will not attack you. They may charge you and you should stand your ground and the bear should stop within 10 yards of you. If it keeps coming than drop to the ground. Black/brown bears rarely attack unless you startle them or get between them and their cubs. Never run, it will make the bear chase you. You can slowly back out of an area. Grizzly's have a hump on their backs and are aggressive you should not get anywhere near them especially when they have cubs. You should stay a football field away from them.

[@leonceboudreauxwolf]

Well, I guess don't try to argue with him over it. It's his food now, thank God you're not it. 😂

[@joshlunt7827]

Hehe love your Yogi Bear impression, Mark! 😁

[@ProfessorWolters]

i did get my start in the theater ;)

[@joshlunt7827]

@@ProfessorWolters Hehe cool! 😁

[@TheCritter001]

If you see cubs get out of there mama bear is near. Also, when fishing keep a lookout, they like to fish too, especially up by Mammoth Lakes, CA

[@SwissPhil02]

im watching your vids since 2014, still around and liking it. Keep it up! cheers from switzerland

[@KoolKats5]

I've hiked all over the Smokies and have learned along the way. For example, me & my ex were hiking Andrew's Bald when we came upon some huge piles of bear scat. I promptly "offered" to take over carrying the heavy water storage backpack for the lighter, smellier Subway sandwich pack. To this day my ex hubby thinks I was commiting an act of selflessness when, in fact, I simply realized I didn't want bait strapped to my back 😂

[@irisvandekaa8925]

Are you likely to see bears on trails or at viewpoints? If there are many people at a viewpoint bears will not approach them or? Unless they feel threatened by everyone there.

[@whutzat]

I think that this is one of your MOST IMPORTANT VIDEOS, Mark. Thank you very much. You may have saved a life.

[@ProfessorWolters]

thank you. i hope it can help

[@dlast7112]

Still find it crazy as somebody from the UK that bears are even something you need to think about!

[@gM3d09]

Such an important video! I researched this, mountain lions, snakes, etc before my recent trip to Colorado (FL girl here ☀️). Unfortunately, I failed miserably when my husband tricked me into thinking there was a bear on our trail at Rocky Mountain National Park. I panicked inside and walked SLOWLY towards him. Did not find it funny one bit!

[@Rampyism]

But it's fun to park in the middle of the road & go pet the fun friendly bears

[@EarlJohn61]

When you're in the outback of Australia, beware of the Drop Bears... They are carnivores and they climb up Gum trees and drop on their unsuspecting victim's head. Just in case you think that I'm joking just remember *NO-ONE THAT HAS SEEN ONE HAS LIVED TO TELL THE TALE!*

[@jerviejervie2204]

You Aussies are so crazy lol

[@hannahromero2185]

Let me know if you're coming through Rock Springs! I work at the newspaper there and would love to interview you!

[@1969MadMatt]

Simple rule: be respectful. Any creature will appreciate it, no matter it's a bear, a moose, or a human being.

[@tallflguy]

This might sound bad but are people allowed to carry a gun on them just in case the bear spray doesn’t work and you are being attacked?

[@SinginHigh]

Many fishermen in Alaska always carry a gun with them when they go fishing because of the bears!

[@georgiancrossroads]

Yeah add another park sized zone outside the parks, that's also where the bears go. I used to take people on tours to see bears in Alaska, very close. The problem with bear spray is the wind. The canned air horn is good too. But caution is crucial. Especially in Yellowstone. Because the bears have had way too much human food. Don't be stupid like other people you will see. A kind of bear fever takes over when people see bears. Respect them.

[@whutzat]

Thanks for reminding us about air horns!

[@joshlunt7827]

Love the video caption on 0:55 lol 😛

[@joseluisancu914]

Bear necessities😂👌

[@walterwhite3143]

Hope you and your family are keeping well my friend.

[@woltersworld]

we are all well.

[@TravelAdventureswithEricB]

I've never actually seen Bear spray,great tips as always.

[@joshlunt7827]

Hehe bear necessities! Love it! Ba dom chh! 😛

[@GallifreyanGinger]

I grew up near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. BEARS ARE NOT CUDDLY! The term Mama Bear is for a reason. Come between her and and her cubs and you'll be bear chow. They were also very much around when I lived in the Adirondack Mountains. Respect bears. Leave them alone and they'll usually leave you alone.

[@peterpain6625]

For people still thinking "cute and cuddly" just google "Revenant bear attack scene". Good education on how wrong you are... Oh, and that one was kinda gentle ;)

[@woltersworld]

I remember that part of the movie

[@mousetreehouse6833]

David Arquette used a spray bottle of purfume in "Eight Legged Freaks" and it seemed to work pretty well (on giant, CGI spiders anyway)...

[@vidamiamitv]

👏👍

[@dee74raz]

It is important to know the bear facts from professor Wolters 😉

[@frednich9603]

that waterfall shot... drool.....

[@ProfessorWolters]

it was gorgeous

[@BeingAndHappenings]

Wonderful!

[@KoolKats5]

How to be 100% safe from bear attack? Stay out of the woods.😂

[@offthebeatenpathadventures1348]

Great advice. No one wants the John Candy The Great Outdoors experience. Bear spray is a must. My older bro put a video on Instagram how a bear just came out and walked towards him. It's the only time he admitted to being nervous.

[@petersymonds4975]

I remember seeing a notice in Canada that said “Beware, bear poop contains bells and smells of pepper.” Sorry this was before I had a smart-phone so I never took a photo.

[@woltersworld]

Wow

[@tosht2515]

@Wolters World It's a common joke people in bear country tell visitors, Mark. I've heard it a dozen times from a dozen different people when I've been camping. 😂

[@abdullaqaed2277]

We want to see more national parks video. More natural beauty mountains ...lakes ...

[@woltersworld]

Yellowstone video out later this week

[@RockSimmer-gal4God]

I’ve stayed in bear county and never used bear spray. But stored food away from them.

[@MB-qx9vn]

Bringing an air horn is also a good idea and learn the differences in the types of bears and how to react.

[@iamzuckerburger]

Love bears!

[@syntrax-og]

Don't forget about bobcats, mountain lions or just big cats that can hunt humans.

[@SinginHigh]

Mountain Lion will actually stalk a person for a long time before attacking sometimes you will see it or sometimes you won't notice it. They can stalk people on "nature trails"

[@TheEquus92]

Great video! People seem to forget that bears are wild animals and will attack if they feel threatened. You should do a video about safety around Mountain Lions because of that viral video going around.

[@ProfessorWolters]

if we were down in arizona we could do a video with a mountain lion right outside the airbnb houes we stayed at :)

[@MakeItWithCalvin]

Having been camping in various parks, bear cases are needed, and if in doubt, put it in there! Never underestimate an animal's sense of smell. I remember getting hounded with my friend by some ground squirrels wanting our food on a hike! That said respect the animals and they will respect you.

[@StamfordBridge]

Even a tube of toothpaste can easily result in a car being ripped open.

[@fatbudgiekillen8997]

Yes humans just need to get close to everything for a touch or selfie, In Australia , Kangaroo, Emu , Dingo , Stingray just to name a few can all injure you (or worse)

[@laurzkw3674]

If you miss, oh oh you’re out 😂

[@OffRampAdventures]

We need to remember, they call it the "wild" for a reason!

[@Joker-yw9hl]

0:54 oh my god those fries

[@joshlunt7827]

You mean 'safety' on the video caption on 0:39, Mark

[@JPMJPM]

Speaking of bear spray, it’s much stronger than your typical pepper spray, I imagine. Anyway, I bought pepper spray and wanted to test it out to make sure I knew how to use it. Well, I accidentally sprayed it against the (gentle) wind, and it blew back into my face, and I was pretty much disabled for half an hour - and I only got the tiniest bit on me. Warning to all.

[@woltersworld]

Yikes!

[@chrisxavier3147]

Thanks! An attack would have been unbearable......I’ll let myself out now

[@joshlunt7827]

You mean 'coolers' on the video caption at 4:35

[@AStupidTourist]

You forgot to mention pic-a-nic baskets

[@TamyLindemeyer]

Mark you’re looking healthy good Keep it up

[@ProfessorWolters]

thank you. kind of plateued again so need to double up the exercise

[@kokok3052]

When Americans say oh Australia sounds scary, you have venomous spiders and snakes, YOU HAVE EFFIN BEARS DUDE!

[@sandracunningham3995]

#bearcountry#safetravel

[@treetheoak8313]

As someone who grew up in northern Ontario. It pisses me off so. Much when fellow cottagers and tourists approach these animals thinking they are like urbanized animals like campus deer or housecats. Then they get themselves hurt and my buddy at the police department is telling me that they had to track and kill a poor bear because its now too familiar with humans and is approaching them because someone fed them.

[@woltersworld]

That sucks

[@joshlunt7827]

Hehe I see what you did with 'unbearable' 😛

[@valtracy17]

Best advice regarding bears-- just stay away! Lol we encountered black bears in Yellowstone a few years ago, we were amazed how many people pulled over and got out of their cars and stood right next to where the bears were crossing. All were safe, but always a risk.

[@woltersworld]

Yeah, we saw that too. Its fine from a distance, but up close and presonal can be a big BOO BOO on the tourist's part.

[@peterpain6625]

@@woltersworld It's kinda weird how people still think they aren't food. Never f with the wildlife...

[@NeverMetTheGuy]

Step one: Don't carry a pic-a-nic basket. Problem solved.

[@woltersworld]

Yogi!!!!

[@AnnaKaunitz]

Are people actually getting that close to wild animals? In Sweden we have hundreds of thousands (or more) of wild animals, we know they are shy and avoid humans. Wild animals always warn you if you are a threat. Most Swedes have never seen a bear irl. We have wolves, bears, elks, reindeers, wolverines, deer, lynx, foxes, wild rabbits, seals, big birds with sharp claws etc. We learn to respect nature and wild life, we stay away from all wild animals and many Swedes are very outdoorsy people that spend lots of time camping, hiking, biking, sailing, picking mushrooms. The country is so big that in the rural areas and the Arctic region, you can walk around for days and not meet an other human. We don’t have bear sprays or whatnot. We have...mosquito spray. Sweden has the freedom to roam for everybody but it comes with responsibilities; don’t disturb, leave nature as you found it. Isn’t this educated in the us? Wild life is not an amusement park but to be treated with respect. 🐻

[@vb4865]

I feel it's all about upbringing and location. I live in the US; and spent my childhood being shuttled between the city and rural settings. In the country (or rural) setting, I was taught what animals to stay away from. A look but don't touch mentality. I never got that in the city. I guess because there's not a lot of wild animals in the city where I grew up. So city folks go out in the woods, thinking the animals are domesticated and won't hurt them. Every year, there are people who sadly realize that this is not the case.

[@woltersworld]

Just look online for bison and tourist and you will see enough to realize a lot of people don't get it

[@dustgreylynx]

Am In the only one who was imagining a bear slowly appear in the background ?

[@woltersworld]

The landlord had warned us about bears in the area so I was checking. Bear spray was right inside

[@MizzKittyBichon]

This is one of many reasons why I don't go hiking.

[@ecurewitz]

I never knew bear spray was a thing

[@ProfessorWolters]

yep

[@moomoomoo33ass]

Bears are awesome. Humans are a cancer

[@dee74raz]

What about dogs 🐕?