Survival News: Bear Attack in Anchorage (and what you should do to stay alive if one attacks)
Hello readers. Here is another survival news point from Mr. Jon. As you all know, I'm one for safety, especially wildlife safety in the wild. With that said, here's another story of yet another bear attack, this time in the Anchorage area in Alaska.
On Sunday, 8/14/2022, a hiker was out on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail near Point Woronzof. This is a hiking trail that goes along the coast (as the name implies, near the airport. You would think since its so close to an airport it wouldn't be a bear problem.
Alas, this particular hiker was sadly mistaken. With it being mid August, we are well into late Salmon runs, which most bear in southeastern Alaska thrive on. It's a known food source for everyone, human and bear alike.
The report doesn't say any further details on the attack, aside from it being a hiker, the trail, and its a black bear.
Now, funny coincidence that I was just reading up on Bear Safety this morning and watching a few YouTube videos on the matter. Here is what I've learned.
First, bears (regardless black or brown) have two different types of "attack patterns" roughly put. Before I describe them, I also learned that you have a better chance of being hit by lightning or taking damage in an earthquake before you die from a bear attack. Most bear encounters are non-combat. Make noise and the bear goes away. However some instances they will attack.
The first attack pattern is a defensive attack. The intent is to knock you down, cause you harm, force you to flee... a "hey back off human" type of attack. These will be quick, sudden, and then the bear will wait for you to react before either leaving, or in the below instance, continue.
The second type of attack pattern is an aggressive style pattern. This comes in two forms - when a momma sow has cubs with her OR when the bear is really really hungry. They will charge, bite, maul and go for your internals, etc.
This is further outlined in this video by Kevin Outdoors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWJ9kbaLT5Q
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So what can you do to protect yourself in case one of these chance encounters???
First, if you are like me and had ample opportunity to react, make noise. Avoid startling it at all costs. Unless it is a Habituated Bear (a bear used to our society, thus habitually returns), it will avoid us humans. Bear bells work. Making noise like "HEY BEAR!" or singing, yelling, talking, etc. works. Being with someone works (so not a solo hike).
However, if the bear does get hostile and if it's a brown bear, play dead and resist every opportunity to make noise. Cover your neck, curl in the fetal position, and stay quiet. This is expressed even further by the next video I watched where the guy thought he was fine after the second time, but he made a noise and the bear took another bite (see below)
Just like in fishing, if you look like prey, you are prey.
It is totally different with a black bear. There is something about the size or the maneuverability of a black bear that makes them a comparable combatant to humans. I have gone black bear hunting a few times in my life, and I can agree with this next statement. If its a black bear, you FIGHT. Unless it's starving and in a feeding frenzy, defending food, etc. it's more scared of you.
I've never wrestled a black bear, but size comparison, I believe your average, decently fit hunter with bear spray, a handgun, and a hunting knife could take a black bear without dying.
Notice I did not say without serious injury. As in most RPGs, so long as you survive with 1 hit point, you survive. So in a bear attack, so long as you survive with everything in its proper places and not missing, you survive.
As mentioned above about the guy who made a noise while being attacked by a bear, the debate of bear spray vs. handgun is a hot ticket item. After watching the video, and only having a few seconds to react, I agree with the Montana ADFG person near the end. They are both tools. Train with them, know what they are capable of.
Meateaters: Bear Spray vs Gun against Bears by Clay Newcomb https://youtu.be/FDGM7QgxuWw
In the video's comments, Kodiak Keith comments something good on this as well. A bear charges FAST. They close fast. You have 1-3 seconds to react.
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All in all, I hope the attacked hiker in Anchorage is okay. The initial article says the hiker had minor, non-life threatening injuries - so probably a defensive charge - and I hope the black bear had moved on.
I also hope that you readers watch the two presented YouTube vids and take it to heart that bears are no joke to mess around.
Thank you for reading.
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