Running, I have a bear problem!

MaureenH39
MaureenH39 Posts: 315 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I live on a long, woodsy road. We have bears around that get into people's trash etc. I started walking in April and never saw any. Started C25K in June and in the past month I had someone in a car stop my daughter and I when we were running to tell us there is a bear up ahead in his yard getting into his trash bin. :huh: This was about 6pm so it was light out. A week ago I was driving, coming home and just past my yard I saw a smaller bear crossing the road...again about 5:30pm, light out. I have been paranoid while out running and keep a close eye for any bears, listen well etc. Well today at 1pm I was out jogging and a lady stopped in her car to tell me that the next house up has a bear in the yard :noway: So I turned around and ran the other way hoping there was nothing that way. Am I the only one with THIS problem? :laugh: I am thinking I may have to drive to the high school and use the track which is a 13 minute drive each way for me but, I do NOT want to have a run in with a bear. Once it gets cold they hibernate and are not around.
«13

Replies

  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    I would definitely drive to the track. I'm not sure they'd attack, but I wouldn't want to risk it!
  • Carolyn_79
    Carolyn_79 Posts: 935 Member
    I'd go to the track or invest in a treadmill :smile:
  • missdamman
    missdamman Posts: 44
    plain & simple carry a gun
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Bear spray is big and bulky, and a good option for urbanites. For other folks, if that bear spray isn't effective enough, the glock 20 is an extremely effective method of self preservation, and the 10mm with hardened loads is effective for anything you find in North America.

    That said, there are a few other options, a bell so bears know where you are, or you can sing as you run.

    I wouldn't worry too much running towards a bear, but I wouldn't run from a bear.
  • Shawshankcan
    Shawshankcan Posts: 900 Member
    Learn to run faster :D
  • strangewebby
    strangewebby Posts: 72
    All I get to see are baby deer when I'm out and about, I'd probably be the stupid one who stops to gawk at the poor thing.
  • Miss_Meliss86
    Miss_Meliss86 Posts: 372 Member
    Learn to run faster :D

    :laugh:

    If they are black bears, they are more scared of you than you are of them. I'd be careful as it gets closer to hibernation season though...they be hungry and looking for food! Also in the spring when babies come...no one gets between mama bear and her cubs!

    Perhaps bring some bear spray on your runs? There's nothing like running outside and it would really suck to not be able to do it anymore! :cry:
  • ajaxe432
    ajaxe432 Posts: 608 Member
    You can always use bears to intensify your runs.....just carry a steak!!! Bears are only good for short distances.......but seriously, find a track or somewhere else, or bear spray. What kind of bears?
  • krouse83
    krouse83 Posts: 182 Member
    We typically don't have alot of bears in our area, but we have had an increase in black bear sightings in Northern Virginia this summer. They are getting onto people's porches, driveways, and trash. Especially those who live near parks I would honestly just go to the track and run for now. Its a pain, and I doubt that they will go after you, but better error on the side of caution.
  • MerinneW
    MerinneW Posts: 71 Member
    I love the international nature of MFP... this is just not even a consideration where I run! Worst I have to worry about is angry bull-dogs and flashers :P
  • norahwynn
    norahwynn Posts: 862 Member
    I heard just last night that this was a very active time of year for bears, as they are looking for food in preparation for hibernation. You might want to use that track for a month or 2.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Bears, elk, cougars, deer...we get it all...my advice would be to consider it a blessing to have such closeness with nature, and adjust around them for the times of the year you're concerned about.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    OK, This would scare the *kitten* out of me. I would run in a local park or somewhere safe, or on a treadmill.

    I'm not trying to outrun a bear under any circumstances, even if they're supposedly more scared of me than I am of them.
  • missdamman
    missdamman Posts: 44
    read the news, bears have been gettin people everywhere. practice the fetal position and cry.
  • cmcollins001
    cmcollins001 Posts: 3,472 Member
    Put a fresh salmon in your back pocket and if you see a bear, let them have the salmon.
  • elyelyse
    elyelyse Posts: 1,454 Member
    My local outdoor gear store suggested a little air horn. By the time you need bear spray, they're too close! The airhorn scares them away.
  • ze_hombre
    ze_hombre Posts: 377 Member
    Wow, and I thought the neighborhood dogs around my house was an issue.
  • MaureenH39
    MaureenH39 Posts: 315 Member
    Too funny :tongue: Thanks for all the suggestions. I DO appreciate nature and we have A LOT of deer around they are always in my yard. Sometimes 12-15 of them spread across my front yard, I love it :smile: Also see turkeys! :laugh: However, I do NOT wish to have an encounter with a bear to find out what it will do or if it is scared of me. The bear I saw crossing the road was smaller and I KNOW mama bear was not too far behind somewhere.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    OK, This would scare the *kitten* out of me. I would run in a local park or somewhere safe, or on a treadmill.

    I'm not trying to outrun a bear under any circumstances, even if they're supposedly more scared of me than I am of them.

    That last line, it's not actually true one bit, but it is a popular myth that just keeps rolling on. What you have is different approaches from different types of bears. EG: An apex critter isn't afraid of you. Brown bear, polar bear. You can think that, but have a good life insurance policy.

    Black bears are treated as prey by other animals, so are more "skittish", but will generally opt for curiousity, unless they are being territorial, protecting young, or are hungry.

    You can scare a bear off initially, but that's just initially, they are capable of returning to find out what's up. Sometimes they get grumpy too.

    Beautiful death machines.
  • drblackross
    drblackross Posts: 6
    Learn to run faster :D
    LOL
    or run with a one of those hand rotating noise makers, like from a new years eve party.... you don't have to crank the hell out of it when your running, just slightly.
  • ms_leanne
    ms_leanne Posts: 523 Member
    I HAVE to come to the US sometimes just to see these things! Better start saving.

    My main issues on my runs are idiots with dogs on leads who don't rein them in when you're trying to pass and you end up having to jump over them!
  • Shan790
    Shan790 Posts: 280 Member
    I have that issue when I run at my parents house. Last month I saw a bear, a wolf and coyotes on my run. Tons of deer and bunnies and other little creatures that are nice to see too.

    I'm more afraid of moose than bears though. I surprised a moose once on a run and it charged me. Bears usually run away from me but moose are just plain mean.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    The bears have lots of trash to eat, they wont bother you. If you are really worried, get a can of bear spray. It's extremely effective.
  • shannashannabobana
    shannashannabobana Posts: 625 Member
    I heard just last night that this was a very active time of year for bears, as they are looking for food in preparation for hibernation. You might want to use that track for a month or 2.
    Yes, I saw something similar here just this morning. I didn't even know there were bears anywhere near where I lived, I thought they were all NW of me in the state (the only reason we have bears at all anymore is because they were 'reintroduced' by some bright souls - so now I guess I have to think about that)

    The clip also said that mama bears are letting their little cubs go figure things out so they range further than normal.

    I have no idea if this picture will work:
    and 7w4o
  • ImSoOTired
    ImSoOTired Posts: 186 Member
    We have this problem also. I live in a rural town that's named for bears for heavens sake! I own a treadmill so do most of my workouts there. I would suggest that or some bear spray for your runs. They will probably just take off when they see you coming but I wouldn't want to chance it either.

    Just 2 weeks ago my husband and I took our baby girl for a walk up a back road behind our house. When we returned home our neighbor asked if we had seen the bear on our walk because she had just seen it walk in the direction we had come from not 5 minutes before. We had not seen it but it's scared me because we had the baby with us.

    We've also had our garbage torn up so we put it out in the mornings anymore and put ammonia soaked rags on top or it. Some people told us to call game control and complain of a nuisance bear but I don't think it's fair that a bear be re-located because our home is in the woods. At the same time, though, If I felt threatened by a bear I wouldn't hesitate to shoot it if I had the chance. I guess I'm wishy washy that way....
  • eaglefish
    eaglefish Posts: 130 Member
    Take someone running with you that you don't particularly care for.. Think annoying.

    Then all you have to do if a bear charges you 2 is outrun him.

    2 Problems solved.

    You're welcome...
  • BonaFideUK
    BonaFideUK Posts: 313 Member
    Cover yourself in meat juice with a turkey baster. Give yourself a real running challenge.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    You can buy little bells that go on your shoe laces, annoying as can be but the bears can hear you coming a mile away and are usually long gone (I'm not sure how effective they are on bears that have become habituated to people and more accustomed to background noise).

    I've seen evidence of bear where I run(never see the bears, just their paw prints). The black bears around here are pretty docile (and well fed) but I still wouldn't want to get between a mother and her cubs.

    There's an item called a bear banger (ok everyone, get your minds out of the gutter) that sound like a gun shot and is pretty effective at scaring bears etc away.
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    There is a real simple solution.

    Run with someone slower than you.

    You're welcome.
  • ajaxe432
    ajaxe432 Posts: 608 Member
    There is a real simple solution.

    Run with someone slower than you.

    You're welcome.
    And you win for most comical....nice job!!! Lol, that was great:)

Categories