Protect Your Food From Bears
The idea of being attacked by an animal that is larger, faster, and stronger can be scary for many people. However, before you cancel your hiking trip let’s see if that fear is rational or not. Although people venturing out into the wilderness initially are petrified of bears, the simple truth is that bears are statistically unlikely to attack you. Based on a 2002 article by CNN (referenced below), there have been several people in The united states killed by bears in the last century. This article notes that people are much more most likely to be killed by deer or dogs than by bears. Hikers are much more likely to die in a traffic accident in route to bear country than to be harmed by a bear. Be sure you keep food and food smells far from you and your gear. Those people who are fishing in the backcountry should be careful to wash fish smell off of their hands and keep it off their clothes. Carry fish away through the water on a stringer or in a container that can be quickly dropped if a bear shows interest. Also, its a good idea to bring dried foods like beef jerky on your trip.
