# Got charged at by a black bear **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 3, 2025, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176 "2025-06-03T22:51:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/41 "2025-06-04T12:11:02Z")
Night of the Grizzlies is an account of two bear attacks on the same night in Glacier. It’s a great summer book and reads like a horror novel. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/42 "2025-06-04T12:25:16Z")
Way up north in Churchill, Manitoba, on Hudson Bay it is polar bear country. I haven’t been, but my brother has (@FloatyGimpy , you’ve met that brother too), and my wife’s cousin has. They say that nobody locks their cars up there, in case there’s a polar bear and a person needs to jump into a random, parked vehicle for safety. That’s up around 58° N latitude. ---
**Author:** ![Stana\_Claus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stana_claus/32/13874_2.png) [@Stana\_Claus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stana_Claus)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/43 "2025-06-04T12:39:14Z")
When I visited Glacier National Park with my parents way back when I was a teenager we attended a ranger talk that covered that issue. The two methods of differentiation that have stuck with me all these years were, #1 - grizzlies have an extra set of molars vs black bears. So simply count the number of teeth of the animal while it is gnawing on you and you will know if it was a black bear or grizzly. And #2 - climb a tree. Black bears can climb the tree to eat you, but grizzlies can’t climb trees. Instead, grizzlies will knock the tree down then eat you. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/44 "2025-06-04T12:42:49Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Are you going to GNP or somewhere more remote? Bear spray is a must, you can buy at it most stores in the area, but be careful. If it goes off in your car you may end up at the hospital. Staying several days in Glacier, both east and west sides. Also a side trip to Alberta for one night, and a day trip to Idaho. I have some thoughts and questions about the use of bear spray, and I don’t want to hijack @FloatyGimpy further, so I started another [thread.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bear-spray-thread/1019193) mmm ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/45 "2025-06-04T13:45:01Z")
Now _that’s_ news you can use. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/46 "2025-06-04T13:52:03Z")
> [@solost](#): > > It was only when he was almost gone when I suddenly remembered I had a camera on a strap around my neck (this was before ubiquitous cellphones). I just managed to get a shot of a blurry dark shape among the trees 🤦‍♂️ That reminds me of a story a friend told about one time when he was hiking in a jungle in India and heard a noise behind a bush. He and a young tiger managed to surprise each other. He had the camera on a strap around his neck, but did not dare move a muscle. After an interminable moment, the tiger slank away. No photograph! ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/47 "2025-06-04T13:58:45Z")
Yeah, always a bummer to miss the perfect nature shot opportunity, but better that than “this amazing closeup shot of a young tiger is the last picture my friend ever took”. 🐯 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/48 "2025-06-04T13:59:04Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > Where are you going hiking? Not sure, my daughter who lives in Vancouver is planning possible hikes for us all. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/49 "2025-06-04T14:14:14Z")
I do carry it, but I took out my airhorn first and ended up not even needing that. But I do always have it right on the front of my pack straps so it’s easily accessible. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/50 "2025-06-04T14:18:30Z")
Where I hike there are also cougars and wolves. In fact Vancouver island has one of the highest densities of both black bears and cougars in the world. Between 7000-12000 black bears and 600-800 cougars. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/51 "2025-06-04T15:26:25Z")
i went to churchill. i really liked that little town. i would move there in a flash. we were told not to dangle anything out the window. the buggy operator told us about the time a bear grabbed a camera because the strap was dangling. the bear had a great time playing with it before it tossed it. they were able to retrieve it. i did ask if the bear had taken any pictures… ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/52 "2025-06-04T15:48:46Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Brown and grizzly bears are best avoided at all costs. It’s best to keep an eye out for their scat so you know they’re in the area and can take evasive action. Their scat can be identified by the fact that it smells like pepper and has small bells in it. > > Old camping joke 😉 Also…when you are treed by a bear, how do you know if it is a black or grizzly bear? A black bear will climb the tree to get to you. A grizzly will push the tree over. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/53 "2025-06-04T15:50:54Z")
> [@Stana\_Claus](#): > > And #2 - climb a tree. Black bears can climb the tree to eat you, but grizzlies can’t climb trees. Instead, grizzlies will knock the tree down then eat you. > [@snowthx](#): > > when you are treed by a bear, how do you know if it is a black or grizzly bear? A black bear will climb the tree to get to you. A grizzly will push the tree over. A bear’s snarl doesn’t echo. Nobody knows why. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/54 "2025-06-04T15:56:28Z")
More bear avoidance advice: if you and your friend are hiking and encounter an angry bear who starts chasing you, it’s not necessary to run faster than the bear…just faster than your friend. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/55 "2025-06-04T16:00:15Z")
One of the reasons it’s always wise to hike with children. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/56 "2025-06-04T16:00:29Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > A bear’s snarl doesn’t echo. Nobody knows why. 😉 Yeah, that bears repeating. The jokes in this thread are becoming unbearable. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/57 "2025-06-04T16:00:48Z")
Does a joke shit in the woods? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/58 "2025-06-04T16:17:41Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Yeah, that bears repeating. The jokes in this thread are becoming unbearable. It’s just ursine of the times. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/59 "2025-06-04T16:19:18Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Does a joke shit in the woods? Only if no one smells it ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176/60 "2025-06-04T16:19:51Z")
> [@solost](#): > > It’s just ursine of the times. That’s oso clever! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176.md?page=4)