Encounters with black bears in Mexico’s urban areas are becoming more common, and very few people know what to do when this happens. And you, do you know what to do with a black bear?
In recent months, many videos of encounters with black bears that come to the city have been virtualized, especially cities within Nuevo Leon and Coahuila. I am a hunter and an outdoor and nature enthusiast, and the first thing I think when I see these videos is: how lucky these people were not to be injured or killed.
Sadly, the media, television, and cinema have taught us to humanize wild animals, a very famous case was that of Cecil, the lion. First of all, the first thing you must understand is that even Pachoncito, a fluffy, cuddly, adorable, and huggable that animal is seen, it is wild and governed by their instincts, and that makes it unpredictable and dangerous.
It is not to generalize, but the first thing we do when we see a wild animal, whether in its natural habitat or urban areas, is to take out the phone, start recording, get closer, feed it, and take a selfie. This is the complete opposite of what we must do for our safety and that of the animals.
Why don’t you have to interact with animals?
Every wild animal is afraid of humans, and when we feed them, we are signing their death warrant.
Why? First of all, because the animal, say black bear (badger, raccoon, etc.) loses its natural fear of humans, begins to associate people with food, discovers that people do not represent a danger and little by little this bear black, he will become more daring and demanding to get food.
Which, in consequence (in the best of cases), could result in his relocation, running the risk of being run over while trying to return to his territory. Of course, if the authorities are trained to do so (unlikely).
The worst scenario is where the bear attacks a person resulting in injury or death, which would mean searching for the black bear and sacrificing it.
What do we know about the black bear?
All animals are naturally curious, and the black bear is no exception. He is opportunistic, and if one of them comes, he will take it, garbage cans, food in camps, humans to feed him, etc.
The black bear does not come down to our houses because it is starving, it comes down because we give them food.
The black bear, like the jaguar, is a protected species in Mexico. Its distribution is restricted to the north of the country (Sonora, Chihuahua, Nuevo León, and Coahuila), in a wide variety of climates, from cold to temperate semi-arid. It prefers inaccessible and rugged sites with abundant food sources, where the vegetation is chaparral or oak, pine, maple, and hickory forests.
Regarding its characteristics:
- It measures between 1.50 m and 1.80 m long.
- Standing, it can measure up to 2.10 m tall.
- It weighs between 90 and 260 kg.
- It is omnivorous, feeding on meat, insects, and plants.
- His hair is short, straight, and dark.
- It has non-retractable claws up to 5 cm.
What to do with a black bear?
Meeting a bear is a wonderful experience, but it is important to remember that it is a wild and dangerous animal, and its behavior can be unpredictable. Each black bear and each experience is unique, so there is no foolproof recipe if you come across one. However, you can follow these tips:
- Never approach a bear.
- Keep calm.
- Avoid making direct eye contact.
- Don’t run; you will trigger their predator instincts, and they are faster than you.
- Walk back slowly and calmly.
- Don’t surprise the bear if it hasn’t noticed your presence. In bear territory, it is advisable to walk making noise. A bell or bell in your backpack is enough.
- Take an upright posture and speak to the bear in a calm but firm voice. This helps the bear differentiate your voice from the sound of potential prey.
- If you are with children, carry them and avoid screaming that could be mistaken for the sound of prey.
- Put away the food and load your backpack.
- If the bear walks in your direction, walk to the side to get out of its way.
- Be especially careful if it is a bear with cubs, and never come between them and the mother, since bears are extremely protective and will attack without warning.
- Always leave an escape route for the bear.
- If the bear snorts, snaps its jaw or hits the ground, it is a warning to stay away and give it space. Walk away slowly and speak in a calm, firm voice. If a bear is standing on its hind legs, it is curious about you, so try not to react and slowly walk away.
- Don’t try to climb a tree. Despite what we see on television, bears are excellent climbers.
- It is recommended that you carry spray against a bear.
- Lastly, if the bear attacks, defend yourself, and don’t play dead, this doesn’t work with the black bear.
Remember, having an encounter with a bear is incredible, as long as we follow these tips to avoid putting our lives in danger, but, above all, to respect nature.
Share these tips and apply them the next time you meet a bear.
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