By the way, it's the UNESCO Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, not Glacier National Park. (Pardon me while I puke...) :barf: At any rate, here are the bear safety recommendations for visitors, as provided by our National Park Service:
1. Dont Surprise Bears!
Bears will usually move out of the way if they hear people approaching, so make noise. Most bells are not loud enough. Calling out or clapping hands loudly at regular intervals are better ways to make your presence known. Hiking quietly endangers you, the bear, and other hikers.
When bears charge hikers, the trail may be temporarily closed for public safety. While the trail remains closed, other visitors miss the opportunity to enjoy it. A bear constantly surprised by people may become habituated to close human contact and less likely to avoid people. This sets up a dangerous situation for both visitors and bears.
2. Dont Make Assumptions!
You cant predict when and where bears might be encountered along a trail. People often assume they dont have to make noise while hiking on a well-used trail. Some of the most frequently used trails in the park are surrounded by excellent bear habitat. People have been charged and injured by bears fleeing from silent hikers who unwittingly surprised bears along the trail. Even if other hikers haven't recently seen bears along a trail section recently, dont assume there are no bears present.
Dont assume a bears hearing is any better than your own. Some trail conditions make it hard for bears to see, hear, or smell approaching hikers. Be particularly careful by streams, against the wind, or in dense vegetation. A blind corner or a rise in the trail also requires special attention.
Keep children close by. If possible, hike in groups and avoid hiking early in the morning, late in the day, or after dark. Do not hike alone.
3. Inform Yourself About Bears
Park staff can help you identify signs of bear activity such as tracks, torn-up logs, diggings, trampled vegetation, droppings, and overturned rocks. Bears spend a lot of time eating, so avoid hiking in obvious feeding areas like berry patches, cow parsnip thickets, or fields of glacier lilies.
4. Don't Approach Bears!
Never intentionally get close to a bear! Individual bears have their own personal space requirements which vary depending on their mood. Each will react differently and their behavior cant be predicted. All bears are dangerous and should be respected equally.
I call your attention then to the stark contrast found in the guidelines provided to employees of the Forest Service in the FSH 6709.11- HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE HANDBOOK:
...at work areas where bear and/or other aggressive animal populations warrant, at least one person in every work crew shall be assigned a firearm provided by the Forest Service for protection. Working in pairs or in groups is the preferred work method. Personnel who choose to work alone in bear country need appropriate line/staff officer approval. Appropriate line/staff officer may assign personnel to work alone in areas identified as low risk.
Each Forest/Area will be responsible for determining risk and developing guidelines for protection in particular geographical areas within the Forest or Area. Considerations to be used in determining risk can include: species of bear, bears habituated to human presence, number of sightings in general area, food supply/attractants, time of year, animal densities, areas of public concentration, and number and dispersal of party. In areas determined to be high risk, a firearm is the required means of protection.
Should a Job-Hazard-Analysis or risk assessment indicate a firearm is not necessary for protection, Capsicum Pepper Spray (Counter Assault) may be carried to address concern of contact with aggressive animals.
A. Use.
1. Authorized Firearms/Ammunition.
a. The .375 H&H Magnum rifle loaded with cartridges containing a minimum of 270 grain expanding bullets, is considered the most effective weapon authorized by the Forest Service for bear protection.
Other rifle and ammunition combinations may be used in cases where personnel do not feel competent to handle the recoil of the .375 H&H Magnum, or prefer to use an approved personal rifle of some other caliber. However, the 30/06 with 220 grain bullets shall be the minimum acceptable combination.
b. The 12-gauge pump shotgun, with minimum 18" barrel and 3" chamber, may be used as an option in lieu of rifles with an authorization from the Forest Supervisor. At a minimum, shotguns must be loaded with 2-3/4" magnum, 1-1/4 ounce slug.
c. Cartridges shall be "like-new" factory loaded ammunition.
d. Handguns (excluding LE&I) are not permitted on Forest Service work projects or in Forest Service crew quarters, camps, or vehicles.
e. Personal firearms must meet these minimum standards.
f. All Forest Service firearms shall be inspected at the end of each field season by an inspector designated by a line officer. Results of these inspections shall be included in the annual report. Except for minor maintenance, all repair work shall be accomplished by a qualified gunsmith.
So we get to "clap our hands" and "inform ourselves about bears". They, on the other hand, rely on the .375 Holland & Holland and rapid fire proficiency training! (Outlined later in the handbook.) Note that no handgun even makes the minimum grade.
Interesting.
What's good for the goose is apparently not good for the gander!
I believe we should ALL rely on the words of the late COL Jeff Cooper:
Remember the Gunsite Bear Rules:
- Be alert.
- Remember that bears are not cuddly.
- Never enter bear country without a powerful firearm and the skill to use it well.
- Never camp on a bear thoroughfare.
- Be alert.
