When I was planting trees in Northern Ontario, we had someone from the government give us safety training. When it came to bears, the instructions were to wave your shovel above your head and yell, making yourself as big and loud as possible and the bear will go away.
Someone asked: what if the bear attacks anyway?
And the person from the government literally said, wait until it's close enough and then smack it in the face with your shovel?
And I was like: Really?
To which they replied: It's about as likely to work as anything else is, so why not?
EDIT: Holy shit, I don't know why this comment has become such a lightning rod for gun commentary. But yes, carrying a long gun when in bear country is a reasonable precaution in general. But if you've ever met a tree-planting crew, you would know that arming them would result in a 10000% increase in preventable deaths as compared to bear attacks.
Davidjhyatt on September 18th, 2020 at 17:57 UTC »
swadloonandrice on September 18th, 2020 at 16:54 UTC »
When I was planting trees in Northern Ontario, we had someone from the government give us safety training. When it came to bears, the instructions were to wave your shovel above your head and yell, making yourself as big and loud as possible and the bear will go away.
Someone asked: what if the bear attacks anyway?
And the person from the government literally said, wait until it's close enough and then smack it in the face with your shovel?
And I was like: Really?
To which they replied: It's about as likely to work as anything else is, so why not?
EDIT: Holy shit, I don't know why this comment has become such a lightning rod for gun commentary. But yes, carrying a long gun when in bear country is a reasonable precaution in general. But if you've ever met a tree-planting crew, you would know that arming them would result in a 10000% increase in preventable deaths as compared to bear attacks.
Davidjhyatt on September 18th, 2020 at 17:57 UTC »
Guide to avoid bear attacks (all varieties):
Know where bears are
Don't be there
GizmoToad on September 18th, 2020 at 17:57 UTC »
If it’s gummy get in my tummy