too many bears where i live

WhatMeRunning wrote: »

I think this thread is missing the point. Treadmills are as deadly, perhaps more so, than black bears.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/06/health/goldberg-treadmill-accident-cases/

Last year, emergency rooms saw 24,000 injuries related to the treadmill, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

"There have been 30 reported deaths associated with treadmills for the 10 year period from 2003-2012 or an average of about three per year," the safety agency says.

Per the links above, only 23 people were killed by black bears in the 80 year period from 1900 to 1980.

So, I think you are safer against a black bear than running on a treadmill.

That should be the point, I think.

# of people in the U.S. who ever use a treadmill vs # of people in the U.S. who ever encounter a black bear in that year?

My guess, the bears are still more dangerous than a treadmill.

Personally, I would not go running where there are likely to be black bears, but that's because I like to zone out when I run and not have to keep a weather eye out for wildlife.

meganridenour wrote: »

Lorelei1974 wrote: »

I want to start walking, but where I live there are a lot of black bears and other wild animal hazards. Maybe if I only walk when it is daylight I will feel safer.

Where do you live? I want to live there. Sounds like a dream to me!

Pacific Northwest. They're everywhere. I have probably a dozen bear encounters a year - and I only live an hour from a major city.

HappyCampr1 wrote: »

This thread is making me so glad I don't live up north. North Florida is pretty safe, I guess. The most I've ever seen around my area is snakes and a grey fox. (Armadillos and Opossums don't count.). I saw a couple alligators when I was growing up, but you just don't go to the pond where they're sunning and you're fine. I'd be terrified and probably frozen in my tracks if I saw a moose or a bear. Slowly backing away is the only defense mechanism I know.

The key to hiking in bear country is to always hike with someone slower than you.

I'd be more afraid of Florida snakes than black bear, but I'm willing to admit that it's likely out of my ignorance of the animal's behavior, than any actual threat.

7lenny7 wrote: »

In the end you have to do what you feel comfortable with, but I face greater risks running in the city than walking in the woods, even in bear country.

Yes, @7lenny7, you do have to worry about the city. A pedestrian is injured or killed by a vehicle every two hours in the United States. Almost 5,000 annual fatalities. Yikes. url="http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pedestrian_safety/"]source[/url

Of animals or insects the following are more likely to kill you dead in the United States than a bear:

1) bees (53 deaths each year in the U.S.), 2) dogs (30-35 deaths), 3) cows (22), 4) horses (20), 5) spiders (6.5), and 6) rattlesnakes (5.5). Yep – you are 10 times more likely to die in the U.S. because of a bee sting than a bite from a rattler and 22 times more likely to be killed by a cow than by a shark.

Live in fear there is danger everywhere -- this is more likely to kill you than a bear:


Let's not forget: Being obese is definitely more likely to kill you than a bear.

WhatMeRunning wrote: »

Copperhead snakes here are a real problem for trail running. They have the best camouflage for looking like they are just part of the trail. They don't want to bother with people for the most part, but if you step on one...

Can you spot the copperhead? If not, hope you have a snake bite kit and a good friend with you...

Truth! I live where both black bears and copperheads live. I know 3 people who have been bitten by a copperhead and zero adults that haven't seen one. Less than half of the people I know have seen a bear in the wild and only a handful close enough to be hurt (none were).

I'm still hung up on the spider stat.

7lenny7 wrote: »

@mwyvr, I actually came across a herd of seemingly wild cows while hiking in the Trinity Alps Wilderness in northern California years ago. As I recall, they practice free range cattle ranching and these cattle looked they hadn't seen humans in some time were on edge. We gave them a WIDE berth as bypassed them to make our way up the trail.

I've been charged by a cow on an idyllic hillside in the French Alps overlooking Switzerland. It had a bell and all and I do have a photo (that's what I was doing... apparently the cow is camera shy). Lived to tell the tale, at least I didn't run over a cliff evading it.

Cows are dangerous! My brother had his gut sliced open by a fence gate lash when a horse squished him. Horses are dangerous! Can't run in the country side, there are cows and horses everywhere man.

On a serious note, my niece was run over by a car while out running one time. My brother said she was close to not making it. She's fully recovered now. Urban dangers are real and unpredictable.

Oh man... glad to hear she pulled through. Does she still run?

I've had a number of near misses while out running. I and my then two elementary school aged boys was almost sent to oblivion by a clueless driver while walking home from school. And I've been hit twice while cycling, once just a couple blocks away on a side street, and once while doing my regular 75km round trip commute to work.

I still walk, run, and cycle... although I have to say I stopped riding to work after that incident and started running a lot more. It took me a two years before I was again comfortable spending that much time on busy roads.

Meanwhile bears... we have them. I run where they are. I'd never consider giving up trail running because of bear "risk". I like the same views they live in. Gosh, we have bears in the middle of the big city lately.

Cows... I fear cows.