Is the bear afraid of fire? Rules of conduct when meeting with a brown bear. How to escape from a bear if he has noticed you and is approaching

In the forests where bears live, the probability of meeting with the "owner of the forest" is quite high. Cases of bear attacks on humans are not uncommon. People for a wild beast are uninvited guests. And from these guests, he will protect his territory.

A meeting with a bear in the forest often ends in tragedy. The beast has strong paws, large claws and sharp teeth. If he gets angry, he can not only cripple a person, but also bully him.

Are bears dangerous?

This is a very dangerous forest predator. It is impossible to predict the outcome of a random meeting of a person with him. The fact is that the psyche of each animal is different. There are cowardly bears, and there are fearless ones, there are arrogant and aggressive ones, and there are quite calm ones. To the question: “Do bears attack people?”, The answer is yes. They attack. And it happens quite often.

The reasons for attacks on people are different. But still, it should be noted that attacks without any reason, without provocations on the part of a person, are quite likely. And it is unlikely that a person who sees the massive carcass of a predator is capable of provocations. God forbid, save yourself and stay alive.

There are many stories about the unpredictable behavior of animals when meeting a person. Therefore, when planning to visit places where a bear can meet in the forest, one must be prepared for the unexpected. You need to know exactly what to do if you meet a bear.

The main reasons for the attack of brown bears on people

The behavior of the clubfoot depends on the season, age and meeting place.

Knowing some of the nuances of the behavior of the beast, you can navigate the situation and figure out , how to protect yourself from a bear in the forest.

• So, a connecting rod that came out of hibernation at the wrong time for any reason (accumulated little fat or someone disturbed it) is especially dangerous.
• If you meet an animal near the place where the trophy is buried, then the clubfoot will see an opponent in you and will try to destroy it.
• At the beginning of spring, when predators come out of hibernation, they look for food for themselves, therefore they are aggressive and dangerous.
• Late spring is the time for bear weddings. During this period, males are most dangerous. In fights, they are cruel and attack everyone who meets on the way.
• A meeting with a she-bear nurturing her children is also dangerous. From the side of any creature, she sees danger and is ready to fight for her children in mortal combat.

The owners of the forests are less dangerous in the summer: there is a lot of food, so predators do not seek to meet a person.

How to behave when meeting

With a sleeping or prey-eating beast

A sleeping animal should never be disturbed. You don't have to take pictures of it. Move away immediately! Most importantly, don't make noise. If he wakes up, then the bear attack may end sadly.

But what to do if you see a bear eating prey? Freeze and try to demonstrate that you do not need bear food. You should straighten up and start talking loudly (if you are alone, then say a monologue - whatever comes to mind). You can't show your back to the beast. It is better to retreat backwards, diagonally, without letting the predator out of sight. Move slowly and smoothly, without sudden movements.

The probability of an attack depends on the distance: the smaller it is, the more dangerous the situation.

With a group of animals

You can cross with several clubfoot at the same time in the following cases:

• during the rut;
• during the period when the she-bear raises cubs and takes care of them;
• at a time when the young animals driven away by the mother are still moving together.

During the rut, the animals are very aggressive and fight to the death. Therefore, to catch the eye of such a team is deadly. During this period, both males and females are vicious.

Young individuals are less dangerous. They do not yet have experience of meeting people, so an attack is not ruled out. But it's much easier to scare them away.

With a teddy bear

A bear with a brood is dangerous when she thinks that trouble threatens her children. For cubs, she will tear anyone. You should never approach baby bear cubs in the forest. We must try to quickly and silently retire.

On the hunt

A hunter who moves in the habitats of predators puts his life in danger. After all, the beast can be encountered quite suddenly. If suddenly a bearish figure flashed on the horizon, try not to catch his eye. You will be lucky if you are on the leeward side, because the predator has a keen sense of smell. If the bear smells you, then make a loud clap with your hands, shoot into the air. You don't have to shoot the animal. Wounded, he is much more dangerous.

What to do if a bear is approaching?

When the beast approaches, you can not run away. The bear has an excellent sense of smell, but poor eyesight. A blind predator sees only a silhouette, so it comes close to examine the object. It happens that the animal begins to go around a person in order to stand upwind and smell the smell. It happens that, recognizing a person, he runs away.

You can try to drive away the clubfoot. If he is approaching or chasing while keeping a distance, then make noise. Tap with metal objects such as mugs or bowls. Use a rocket launcher, firecrackers, shoot into the air. There are special aerosols based on pepper, but they only act on short distance in calm weather.

It should be noted that bears often do not plan to attack, they try to force a stranger to leave their territory.

You cannot attack an animal by throwing stones at it. Walk away calmly, backing away, slowly, without sudden movements.

What to do if a bear attacks?

In the event of an attack, you should try to concentrate on your behavior. Consider specifically what to do if a bear attacked.

In the absence of weapons, you need to figure out how to divert the attention of a predator. Place any bulky items (basket, bucket, backpack) in front of you.

If there is nothing, then you need to lie on your stomach or curl up in a baby's position. Clasp your hands over your head to protect it. You have to pretend to be dead. Having concentrated all your strength, you must endure if he starts sniffing you. Sometimes the beast throws the victim with dry leaves and branches. Wait patiently for him to leave. The main thing is not to move.

But if the beast starts to attack, then you should fight back. Try to get in the eyes. Use sharp objects aiming at the eye sockets. You can't give up, fighting is the only chance to survive.

You can use firearms in such a situation if its power is allowed to kill the beast, and you know exactly where to shoot the bear.

How to avoid meeting a bear in the forest?

Many people get lost and do not know what to do when they encounter a bear.

If you happen to get into the forests where bears live, then try to adhere to the following rules:

• try to move in open places and where the forest is less common in order to see the beast in advance and try to avoid meeting or scare it away;
• know that bears live in elfin cedars and willows;
• do not follow the bear trails, and if you come across tracks, then change the route;
• do not walk along the rivers where salmon is found, at night and before dawn - the time of bear fishing;
• walk around the bear grounds in groups - this is less likely to be attacked by animals;
• you can’t run away from the beast, its speed from a place reaches 40-60 km per hour. Back away slowly;
• it is better to try to scare away curious animals that do not show aggression;
• on close range no need to look closely into the eyes of the beast - he will regard this as the beginning of an attack;
• at night, it is advisable to light a fire and keep the fire going until dawn - the beast will be scared away by a bright flame;
• at night you don’t have to walk through the forest - you can stumble upon a bear by chance;
• no need to feed forest bears. This is fraught with a loss of fear of people and the emergence of the habit of "begging" for tasty things from people. Those who do not give the animals a treat when they meet may suffer;
• on halts it is necessary to remove the remnants of food and try not to spread the smell of food so as not to attract hungry animals.

Remember that when meeting with a predator or when attacked by a bear, only composure can save your life.

Video

Any walk away from settlements is nothing more than an invasion of someone else's (in this case, for a person) territory. It should always be remembered that the true owners on it are wild animals, since it is their habitat. The bear is the most dangerous and strongest animal in our forests. And if he met on the way, you need to clearly understand what you can do and what you can’t, so as not to provoke his attack.

Basic rules of behavior in the forest

Don't try to take over territory

Who is the true master in the forest is known. If you find a bear even at a great distance, you should not organize a halt in this place, and even more so, set up a tent camp. It is better to step back a little, adjust the route and choose another site. The same applies to his many traces. Without experience, it is difficult to determine whether the beast just passed or he is used to hunting here, feasting on the gifts of nature, and so on. Perhaps this is his path or somewhere nearby there are cubs. Trying to settle down next door will not lead to anything good.

Don't get close

The bear is not just a hermit. He understands that there is no equal in strength in the forest, and he regards any intrusion into his territory as a threat to himself personally. If you meet a bear in the forest, you should go around it in an arc, while constantly keeping it in sight. As a rule, it is quite enough to disperse peacefully. A bear in such situations, if not provoked, does not attack.

A special warning to those who like to take selfies. Now it is in fashion, and not only among young people. Such "self-photography", and even against the background of the beast, implies almost close contact with him. How this may end, it is pointless to explain. It is unlikely that the bear will appreciate such a “craving for the beautiful” and will take an active part in this. A clear example of close communication with a predator is a recent case in one of our zoos, when a lady tried to take a selfie in front of a cage with a tiger. In principle, the same thing - playing with fire.

Do not go deep into the thickets

Like any animal, the bear prefers to hide in the thicket. Special attention to shoots (shrubs, small trees) with fruits. For example, wild raspberries. In a hiking trip, you need to move around open areas of the area, and if we are talking about picking mushrooms and berries, then when moving through the forest, you should create more noise, warning its inhabitants in advance about your approach. In case of an unexpected meeting, a bear may be frightened and rush at a person.

Don't relax and keep looking back

The forest is not your own apartment. It is full of surprises, so you should not forget about elementary precautions.

What to do in emergency situations

They can be very different. The most typical cases when meeting a bear in the forest:

• the animal noticed the person, looks in his direction, but does not change its location;
• the bear is approaching;
• the meeting took place unexpectedly, both for the beast and for the man.

How to proceed

• Move away slowly, while speaking in an undertone (but not shouting) or humming. And do it calmly, without betraying fear. You can even start a “conversation” with the beast, reassuring him that no one encroaches on his territory. According to experienced hunters-hunters, a fenced Russian mat is another reliable remedy for an attack by a clubfoot. Feeling the confidence of a person, the bear will understand that the potential victim is quite capable of defending himself and is absolutely not afraid of him. Therefore, he will not attack.
• Get up to your full height. It is advisable to raise both hands, holding a cap, jacket or something else in one of them. The main thing is to appear as big as possible.
• Stay calm, no matter how scary, do not panic.
• Fall down and pretend to be dead. This is practiced if close contact with a predator cannot be avoided. In many cases, this ends with the bear having sniffed the prey and leaving. The best position is flat, with your stomach pressed to the ground. There are recommendations that you need to lie on your side, curled up. This is hardly justified, since it is not a fact that the clubfoot will not wake up with simple curiosity, and he will not turn the victim over. And he does it with his claws. How it ends is clear, even if you don’t make a sound. The bear will leave, but the wounds will be impressive. Yes, and it is unlikely that a person will endure such a thing. And the loud cries of the beast will only provoke.

If the bear has retired, you can not immediately proceed to some action. Perhaps he just walked away, hid and watches. Therefore, you should wait a little, carefully look around, without making sudden movements, and only then slowly leave this place.

In the event of a clear attack, when there is no doubt about the intentions of the bear, resist and call for help. Throw everything that is at hand - stones, large branches, earth (it is advisable to get into the eyes). Arm yourself with a stick and fight back. Sometimes such a fierce rebuff leads to the fact that the bear retreats and leaves in search of a weaker prey. The fact is that, as a rule, young, inexperienced and self-confident individuals attack a person. When they feel that they are being squeezed, they stop trying.

What to do when you meet a bear

Look the bear straight in the eye

He will take this as an immediate challenge and may attack.

Take your dog to the forest

Of course, if we are not talking about hunting. If you can’t do without a four-legged pet, it must be kept on a leash, and a short one at that. It is not uncommon for a dog to provoke a bear attack on a person - with its constant barking, or even direct attempts to bite a clubfoot. The beast will not like such an annoying neighborhood, and he will definitely take measures to get rid of uninvited guests.

Stay in the area where the animal is seen

Even if he left, this does not mean that this section of the forest is safe. The bear can change position, stealthily approach the victim from the other side, and so on. There are many options. It is better to immediately leave this place and try to get out, if not from the forest, then to the most open space.

Make sudden movements

The bear will regard this as a clear threat to its own safety. And even more aggressive.

try to hide

Firstly, this is a useless exercise, since a bear will quickly detect a person, especially if he has already noticed him. Secondly, such actions are a sign of cowardice. The beast will immediately understand that it is an easy prey.

Turn your back on the bear

This is for him - as a signal to attack, because the potential victim opened the most unprotected place.

Run away

It makes no sense, given that over rough terrain, an adult bear quickly accelerates to 60 - 65 km / h. By the way, running away is the worst option. A clubfoot is a hunter by nature, and such actions of a person will only excite him. He involuntarily rushes in pursuit, but the result is predictable.

As an exception - the extraordinary physical data of a person. If you have confidence in your abilities, you can run away. The bear needs to be worn out by constantly changing direction. Since its mass is significant, it loses a lot of speed when cornering. In addition, he runs well for short distances, but he does not last long on long ones. Therefore, with good physical preparation, it becomes possible to escape. It is advisable to choose the direction in such a way as to approach people, the road, the settlement. This will further increase your chances.

sneak up on a bear

There are such lovers - it is better to consider, photograph, just admire, observe. The clubfoot has an excellent instinct, besides, he is in “his element” (in nature), so any attempt to deceive him is doomed to failure in advance. He will regard this as preparation for a possible attack, and will respond in kind, and more proactively.

escape on a tree

In this case, the chances of salvation are practically reduced to zero. Despite external slowness, bears differ not only in strength, but also in agility and the ability to climb trees.

The only option is if the trunk is thick and tall enough. Due to its weight, the beast may not reach the upper branches. But how long can a person stay in this position? But the bear knows how to wait. Therefore, this method of salvation is an extreme case.

Walking in the woods in the dark

You don't even have to go far from the tent. The explanation is simple. The bear is a predominantly nocturnal hunter, and a person practically does not orient himself at this time. Already - a clear superiority of the clubfoot.

Approach the bear cubs

The bear will never leave them alone. If the mother is not visible, this does not mean that she has left, leaving the babies unattended. Well, what will end any attempts to play with the cubs, it is clear without further explanation.

It is impossible to give recommendations for all cases. But one more piece of advice will not be superfluous. Right choice the way to resolve the "conflict situation" largely depends on the knowledge of the bear's habits. When going to the forest, it is useful to read something. The psychological aspect is also important. If you understand the motivation of certain actions of the beast (protecting your babies, satisfying hunger, and so on), it is easier to assess the situation and take appropriate measures. Then a walk through the forest will bring real pleasure, and will not become fatal.

“... residents of the region in the event of the appearance of bears in dangerous proximity can immediately contact the state inspectorate to send inspectors to the scene. It is their duty to determine the degree of danger of a predator, and if necessary, their duty is to "settle" the situation with a well-aimed shot.

(from an official speech)

The brown bear is the largest predator living in the Ural taiga. Its weight can exceed 600 kg. Powerful forelimbs, equipped with long claws, have great destructive power - with a paw strike, a bear is able to break a ridge, tear out ribs or break the skull bones of an elk. With its teeth, a bear can bite through the trunks of a smoothbore gun. With apparent massiveness, the bear is a very "agile" animal. In a jerk, it reaches a speed of 60 km / h, and from a standstill.

There is a lot of it in the subpolar Urals, especially along the banks of rivers. This is his country, his hunting territories and the owner here is he, not a man.

How to avoid a bear encounter

Make some noise

If you are traveling alone through the domain of a bear, and even more so along the river bank, where there is a lot of willow, let us know about you. Especially where the landscape or vegetation makes it difficult to see. Make noise, sing, talk loudly, or tie a bell to your backpack. If possible, travel with a group. Groups make more noise and are easier for bears to recognize. Avoid dense bushes. If you can't, then try to walk so that the wind blows from your back, and the bear can smell you. Contrary to popular belief, bears see almost as well as humans, but trust their noses more than their eyes or ears. Always let the bear know you are here.

Don't push the bears

Like people, bears use paths and roads. Don't pitch your tent near a path they can walk on. Go around those places where you smell dead fish, an animal, or see animals that feed on carrion. There may also be bear food, and if it is nearby, it can aggressively defend the hiding place (nick). As a rule, in such places a bear has a rookery - a rookery.

Give the bear as much free space as possible. Some bears are more tolerant than others, but each has its own "personal space" - the distance within which it feels threatened. If you are in this zone, the bear may react aggressively. When photographing animals, use telephoto lenses as you get closer to capture close-up, You may be in this danger zone.

Cleanliness is the key to health

Bears only have 7 months to accumulate fat before their long hibernation. Don't let them know that human food or garbage is easy prey. It is foolish and dangerous to feed bears, or to leave food or garbage to attract them.

Cook food away from your tent. Keep all groceries and food away from the camp. Hang food so that the bear cannot reach it. If there are no trees, store food in airtight or special containers. Remember that dogs and their food can also attract bears.

Keep the camp clean. Wash dishes. Don't use strong smelling foods like bacon or smoked fish. Don't let your clothes smell like food. Burn garbage at the stake, burn cans. Bears are equally attracted to food and trash, so handle them properly. Waste disposal is a waste of time. Bears have a keen sense of smell and are good at digging.

If a bear approaches you while fishing, stop fishing. If there is a fish on the line, do not let it splash. If this is not possible, cut the line. If the bear realizes that he can get the fish only by approaching the fisherman, he will return again. The bear can also mistake you for another bear - a stranger that hunts (fishes) in its territory and reacts very aggressively.

What to do when meeting a bear?

If you see a bear, try to get away from it. Give the bear every opportunity to avoid meeting you. If you encounter a bear, stay calm. Attacks are rare. There is a chance you are not in danger. Most bears (she-bears) are interested in protecting their food, cubs or their personal space. When the threat has passed, they will pass by.

Let me know

Let the bear know that you are a human. Talk to the bear in a normal voice. Wave your hands. Help the bear recognize you. If the bear cannot recognize who you are, he may come closer or stand on hind legs to better see or smell. A standing bear is usually curious and not dangerous. You can try to slowly back away diagonally, but if the bear starts to follow you, stop and stay where you are.

Don't run!

Do NOT RUN under any circumstances. You won't be able to run away from the bear. They have been found to run at about 60 km/h and, like dogs, they will chase a fleeing animal or person. This animal takes an animal running from it as a victim and easily kills in 90% of cases out of 100. Often bears intimidate, terrify, sometimes 3 meters from their enemy, without trying to attack. Keep waving your arms and talking to the bear. If the bear gets too close, raise your voice and become more aggressive. Knock on pots and pans. Never imitate a bear's growl or squawk.

If the bear attacks

If the bear starts to attack, give up! Fall to the ground and pretend to be dead. Lie on your stomach or curl up in a ball with your hands behind your head. It is typical for a bear to stop attacking if it feels that the threat has been eliminated. Stay still for as long as possible. If you move and the bear sees or hears you, it may return and renew its attack. In rare cases, an attacking bear may mistake a person for food.

Bear protection

Use weapons with caution as an alternative to a reasonable approach to resolving a potential conflict. You can shoot at a bear ONLY for the purpose of self-defense during an attack, unless you provoked it and if there is no other way out. In all other cases, a warning shot must be fired into the air to frighten the bear. If you are not a hunter, but a fisherman and you do not have a gun, take a traumatic pistol with flash-noise cartridges or a rocket launcher (“hunter's signal”) with you. They should always be at hand (on the belt in a belt holster, in the bosom, in a body holster). If there is no such thing, ordinary firecrackers are quite suitable. On no account leave the camp without a means of guaranteeing, if necessary, a shot or noise clap.

In ordinary life, collisions with people with bears are milder. Usually, whoever is smarter is the first to give way. Bears almost always do this. If the bear does try to get close, 90 percent of the time, a sharp whistle or an unexpected pop in the palm of the hand is enough to make the beast run away. If he continues to approach, the next remedy is to throw a pebble at him. As a rule, it works. Some hunters claim that it helps from a good bear mat.

Bears are afraid of the unexpected. For example, unexpectedly opening umbrellas, especially if two big eyes are drawn on them. An unexpectedly open floor of a raincoat or a backpack suddenly thrown up. Any unexpected behavior. The biggest troubles have to endure from young, actively exploring the world bears, as well as from mature males-dominants who do not have enemies in wild nature and forgetting how to give way.

When in bear areas, don't forget to look around sometimes! There is nothing worse than running into a beast suddenly - it may take it as an act of aggression. Some hunting stores sell a protective aerosol spray containing red pepper extract, which has been successfully used to protect against a bear . These sprays are effective at a distance of about 5-6 meters. If you carry a spray, keep it handy and know how to use it.

Bears can be ardent protectors of their cubs. Standing between a she-bear and her cubs is a big mistake. A mother bear can react violently to anything she considers a threat to her cub.

The bear's rutting period begins in June and ends in late July - early August. During this period, the animals are excited, often there are groups of adult animals. Demonstrative competitions and fights arise between males, as a result, the female remains with one male, while the others stay nearby. Males show high activity and aggressiveness, and the entire period of estrus is near the female.

Bear cubs appear in January-February. In the Urals, it is not uncommon to meet a female with three cubs.

The most likely places to encounter a bear

The daily activity of a bear is determined by the season of the year, the availability of food and the general life cycle of the animal. In spring and the first half of summer, bears can feed around the clock, especially in cloudy weather. The high daily activity of the bear persists until the start of the run of salmon and grayling. During the day, the bears lie down without going far from the feeding place, usually in thickets of shrubs, in closed glades, in small forest clumps, on hot days they can be located in the floodplain high grass or willow of the river.

During the mass run of salmonids, daytime activity decreases and shifts to the evening, morning and night hours. With a lack of food (especially with a weak course of fish), the activity of bears increases, and they feed on berry fields, in cedar elfin forests or in mountain meadows at almost any time of the day. For rest, the bear usually settles under the canopy coniferous trees, and beds can be used repeatedly. In the twilight and in the forest thicket, the bear feels much more confident than a person.

The bear is omnivorous. In the Urals in the spring, after leaving their lairs, the animals come out onto the warm slopes of the mountains, warmed up and quickly freed from the snow cover, where they dig for rhizomes and bulbs. Later in May, they begin to go out to the rivers or to the berry fields, pick up carrion, eat the remains of berries. Animals often visit the coasts of rivers and lakes in search of animal and plant waste.

With the start of the fish to spawn, most of the bears are located near the spawning rivers. On the mountainous Ural rivers, fish is the main source of animal protein food. Having eaten on fish, the bears go to the berries or grass, in order to return to the river after some time. Thus, the menu diversifies, the diet becomes richer. In the autumn before the occurrence (October-November), the bears leave the rivers and gradually move, eating berries and nuts of the dwarf pines, go to the wintering grounds.

In their environment, bears are cannibals. A larger bear may catch and devour a cub (which most often happens during the mating season when the cubs are close to the bear). Cases of attacks and eating by bears of smaller (more often young) individuals have been registered.

Bear winter shelters are usually located in the ground or caves. Two or three animals can sleep in one lair. With an abundance of food, individuals of good fatness may not go to dens at all, arranging surface nests.

A person is not an object of food for a bear. Most bears under normal conditions try to avoid meeting a person, and, having found him first, they try to leave unnoticed. If the meeting happened, then the vast majority of bears take flight. However, you should always remember and clearly know that the behavior of a particular bear that you meet in a particular situation is UNPREDICTABLE!

Summing up

In order to avoid dangerous situations when meeting with a bear, the following rules can help you:

1. When moving along the route, hunting in the forest, picking mushrooms or berries, relaxing in picturesque taiga places, always remember that a meeting with a bear can happen at any time, in any place, and You must be mentally prepared for this.. Plan your possible actions in advance. Listen to the birds around you. Nutcrackers are especially talkative. By the behavior of birds, you can predict in advance the place and time of the appearance of the beast.

2 . To avoid the critical approach distance and not unexpectedly collide with a bear, it is necessary to move in the forest noisily talking freely and loudly, and preferably in a group of at least 3 people. Avoid close encounters with bears. Look out for signs of a bear that it is nearby and make as much noise as possible. Let's know about ourselves.

3 . To avoid the appearance of trained beggar bears, it is important to ensure that not to create conditions for their complementary feeding. Food scraps and carcasses of slaughtered wild animals must be disposed of so that predators do not take advantage of them.

4 . Do not leave in the forest in places of your rest and intermediate stops food leftovers, garbage. You can not arrange near the bases, camps, trails, on halts and routes such objects as garbage dumps, dumps, warehouses of food waste. Do not attract the bear through improper storage of food and garbage.

5 . When moving through the taiga and river banks, the maximum try to avoid areas of high grass, willow trees, thickets of elfin cedar, closed cozy glades, thickets of "burdocks" in the floodplains of rivers and streams, places of possible rest for a bear on day trips. Move to open areas where you can see the bear far enough away.

6 . Seeing a bear in the distance don't get close to him, carefully leave this place, bypass it. Keep calm.

7 . Post camp in the open, with sufficient field visibility. Carefully monitor the cleanliness of their territories, burn all food waste. Do not store food in accessible places, isolate them so that smells cannot attract animals.

8 . In no case do not stay overnight, do not put up tents and do not set up camp on bear and other forest trails.

9 . Avoid walking along river banks and streams during the spawning season of salmon in the evening and morning twilight and at night. At all avoid walking in the taiga dull twilight and night. Remember, night is Bear time! If fate forced you to walk at night, you need to at least move around with an electric flashlight on.

10 . Under no circumstances don't come near in places where bears may be found the remains of dead animals, masses of abandoned fish, other possible baits. A bear disturbed on prey in most cases goes on the attack.

11 . Don't push the bear Please respect his "private space". In case of an unexpected meeting "short", even if you are unarmed, categorically it is impossible to run away from the beast(this is useless and can only additionally provoke the bear to pursue). It is necessary, trying to keep calm as much as possible, to remain in place (no matter how scary it is), calling for help with a loud cry, or, slowly backing away, retreat. In this case, you can try to scare away the bear with the ringing of metal objects, a loud cry, voice, shots in the air, rockets, hand flares.

13 . Never, do not, under any circumstances, approach bear cubs no matter how sweet and cute they seem to you. Do not try to feed or lure them. If you meet them by chance, or they come out to your resting place, stop immediately, look around quickly and look for an escape route as quickly as possible. Bear cubs are curious and if they are heading towards you, drive them away with loud cries. Remember - somewhere near the she-bear, and GOD FORBID You will find yourself between a she-bear and a bear cub. A bear attack, if she thinks that you are a threat to her baby, will be the last thing you will see in your life.

14 . Protect you, your camp only strong, brave and vicious dogs can. Even among the huskies, not everyone is able to attack a bear. Under no circumstances should dogs be used to guard against a bear without the skills, dexterity and strength to at least briefly detain a bear on the spot.

15 . Scaring away the bear with shots, don't try to shoot the beast itself. A wounded bear is extremely dangerous! Even if he leaves you, he can become a serious danger to other people. You can only kill a bear with a large-caliber weapon, and even a shot "on the spot" can not always stop it immediately. Reliable shot exactly in the brain or spine.

16 . IN last resort you can save yourself from a bear on a tree if you manage to get on it. An adult large bear, due to its weight, will no longer be able to climb on it. Such cases of rescue, or rather sitting out, on trees are known. If there are several trees, try to choose the largest one.

17 . Being in the taiga always be very careful, do not go into thickets of elfin, tall grass. Do not climb in floodplain thickets of bushes. Settling down to rest, carefully look around for signs of the presence of a bear. On clay outcrops, swamps, banks of streams, you can see traces of a bear, and in floodplain places, feeding places (kopanki), where he dug marsh plants. If you suspect that a bear has been here, leave the area immediately and look elsewhere.

18 . Even if the bear nevertheless went to you, there is still hope that he will turn aside. Never DO NOT turn your back on an attacking bear! The man who escaped is almost certainly doomed. When attacked by a bear, you cannot manifest external signs fear. If there is no reliable shelter or shelter nearby, it is necessary to face the danger by standing face to face. There are more people who survived the attack of the bear in this way than those who were able to flee. Don't run.

19 . Seeing bears accidentally on the trail, never, never feed them no matter how harmless and cute they seem. The bear does not need your feeding, but, having started to feed the bear, you bring up a beggar in him, who will very quickly begin to demand food, and if he does not receive it, he becomes aggressive and is able to attack a person, the fear of which he loses. Remember that by your actions you endanger the lives of others.

20 . Upon detection of a bear showing aggression, a wounded bear, a bear caught in a samolov (loop), a bear attacking dogs and people, other people should be warned immediately located in the same place or in close proximity to it.

21 . And last - ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE: Having met a bear, regardless of its size, behavior and appearance treat him like a formidable and powerful predator with unpredictable behavior.

Studies conducted in our country and abroad have shown that there is no single universal means of protection against bears, and the above recommendations cannot be considered as an absolute guarantee against an accident, but they will help reduce the likelihood of a conflict situation.

Svitov Evgeniy

If you find yourself in the forest, and you do not have a goal to hunt, then meeting with a bear will be an unpleasant surprise. Not every hunter is able to rationally make decisions about how to scare away a bear or defend himself, not to mention an unprepared and unarmed person. The bear lives in mixed or coniferous forest, preferring it instead of the plains. He chooses a habitat in such a way that all conditions are created for the construction of a winter den. As a rule, this is a dense forest with the presence of reservoirs, swamps, with old plantations and clearings. The animal is most active closer to dusk, but during the day it can be found while searching for food.

As a rule, a bear can attack a person in the following cases: if he was disturbed during hibernation, injured or taken by surprise with prey. Bears attack more often if there are cubs nearby. In December, a meeting with a bear in the forest is unlikely; by this time, he falls into hibernation, even if the winter turned out to be warm. But, if a collision occurs in winter, run away from the beast, because the connecting rod bear will not miss the opportunity to deal with a person. This animal is least dangerous in summer, when there is enough food in the forest.

The surest way to stay unharmed is to avoid a bear. If you're in deep dense mixed forest, the danger of such a meeting is very likely.

In summer, it can be difficult to clearly identify a bear trail on the ground in order to respond in time by changing your route. In the spring, when the snow has not yet melted, this is easier to do. The bear rarely walks in deep snow for a long time, so the trail left will probably be fresh, which will allow us to draw conclusions about the presence of the animal nearby.

The easiest way to protect yourself from encountering a bear is not to walk into the forest lands alone. As a rule, he is afraid of a group of people.

You should move away as quickly as possible, barely noticing a group of cubs. Next to them is always a formidable predator.

In order not to lure the beast, you should never leave leftover food, food debris, other garbage and a landfill after folding the camp. In no case should he have associations about the connection between a person and the smell of food. It is also not necessary to bury the remains of food, because the beast will be able to dig them out from a considerable depth underground. Food waste should be taken out to a place strictly defined for this, if this is not possible, then it should be burned. During the night, all food should be inaccessible to the animal - carefully hidden and packaged. If the camp is set up for a long time, storehouses should be built, on which boxes of food are raised. In addition, you can not take food with a strong smell (smoked meats, herbs or spices, etc.) into the forest.

Do not approach the remains of animals or fish that could be prey for a bear.

It is not recommended to carry a can of gasoline or similar chemicals with you, as the bear is attracted to their smell. If gasoline is needed to refuel the car, it is best to leave it near the vehicle.

You must not stand in the animal's only escape route. In this situation, there is nothing left for him but to attack a person.

How to scare away a bear

To avoid this, you need to follow the route laid in the woodlands and open flat areas. In these places, you can notice a bear in time in order to take measures for self-defense, to frighten him. Being in the wilderness, you need to talk loudly, periodically shouting to each other. In this case, you can make loud noises using a regular bicycle bell, or by tapping a bowler hat or an iron flask with a spoon. Making noise in order to scare away a bear is due to the fact that he has a good sense of smell and eyesight, but poor hearing. Therefore, if you behave quietly and imperceptibly, an unexpected meeting of a bear with you can frighten it away, or it can provoke an attack. Therefore, it will be better if the animal hears you from afar.

You should not make your way along animal paths and go through dense thickets for a long time. Closer to dusk or at night, you should avoid passing along the coast, where salmon is found or along the spawning ground.

Traveling by bike can lead to a faster encounter with a bear than walking, because the path is faster and quieter, along animal trails. The faster the tourist moves, the higher the probability of an unexpected collision with an animal. To avoid this, as with walking, you need to make loud sounds and signals from time to time.

It is widely believed that if a dog runs nearby, it scares away the beast. Contrary to this misconception, when meeting with a bear, even a large dog will not save a person, but, on the contrary, is able to attract him with his smell and anger him even more.

Meeting Behavior

The main rule when meeting with this animal is not to underestimate it, but to treat it as a formidable, strong and dangerous predator.

If the bear is caught while fishing, you should immediately stop it, if the fish is not removed from the hook, you need to cut the fishing line. The animal may think that an attempt is being made on its prey and react extremely aggressively. In addition, the association between a person and available food is undesirable.

The main thing to do when meeting with brown bear- keep calm. You can not make sudden movements, turn sharply and run. Seeing how a person runs away, the hunting instinct wakes up, which provokes the animal to chase. You need to let the animal know that you have noticed it, and identify yourself. As a rule, when meeting a bear, it stands on its hind legs in order to better examine the person in front of it. If he does not take a step forward, you should slowly and carefully move away along a diagonal path. If he is determined to move towards him, it is better to freeze in one place, take off his backpack and put it next to him. The bear is afraid of those who are taller than him and larger in size. If a person is not alone, one should climb onto each other's shoulders, raise sticks, oars, and other objects above their heads, waving their arms, speak loudly or whistle, clap their hands. At the same time, it is impossible to scream piercingly or imitate a bearish roar. You can take off the jacket and open it up, simulating a large object. If the group consists of several people, you can join hands to form a large unified whole.

You can not look the animal directly in the eyes. It is better to look at him with peripheral vision so as not to let the situation get out of control, while slowly backing away.

When meeting a sleeping bear, you need to make as little noise as possible and leave as quickly as possible. If you caught him during a meal, the main thing to do is to show complete indifference to bear prey with all your appearance. You should say something loudly, slowly stepping back, without turning your back.

A collision with a group of animals is the most dangerous, because it can be either animals during the rut, or a she-bear with offspring, or a group of young individuals. The last option is easier in terms of scaring away, because they have not yet encountered a person and are afraid of him.

In case of an unplanned meeting on the hunt, it is better to shoot in the air, but not in it. A wounded animal is especially dangerous. If you have a rocket launcher with you, it will be effective in scaring away an animal.

If you spot a bear on the road while driving, do not stop or feed it. Firstly, it will turn him into easy prey, and secondly, it will cause a strong association between a person and available food, which is dangerous when meeting him in the forest.

Protection methods

Unfortunately, the beast does not always attack a person if there is any provocation, for example, it sees a fleeing creature. He often attacks for no apparent reason.

If you do not have any weapons with you, you need to proceed as follows:

• Put any large object in front of you, for example, a backpack, a bucket, a basket. A voluminous object will divert the attention of the beast from you.
• You have to pretend to be dead. Lie flat on the ground with your stomach down, covering your head with your hands, and do not move. At the same time, you need to try to maintain this position even when the animal sniffs. There is an opinion that you need to curl up without moving. However, this may awaken curiosity in the animal, and it may begin to turn over its prey. Considering the size of bear claws, few people can stand it.
• You should not move as long as the animal is nearby, so as not to provoke a new attack.

When hiking in the forest, where a meeting with a bear is most likely, you should keep a special pepper spray with you, designed to resist large predators. It is better to put it in your pocket, not a backpack, so you can get it as soon as possible. It is worth using it only if the bear is attacking, and the minimum distance between them is maintained by the victim. Otherwise, the aerosol will serve as an unnecessary irritant. A similar situation with a gun: it should be used only when you are sure that you will hit right on target, and do not injure the beast. The weak points of the bear are the eyes and nose. In the absence of a gun, you can use any sharp object, observing the accuracy of the blow. It is for this that it is necessary to remain calm: life in bear paws depends on the accuracy and confidence of movements.

Going to the forest for mushrooms, or going on a long hike with tents, remember that you, first of all, go to someone else's house, the inhabitants of which are wild animals. It can be a harmless squirrel, a peaceful elk, or a female bear with cubs, who, having seen a person, will certainly decide that you are a threat to her.

Most cases of human bites by wild animals are provoked by people themselves. We get too close to them, we are curious, we want to photograph, touch, feed, we neglect safety measures when communicating with animals.

Most recently, a video appeared on the Internet from Arkhangelsk region. Five builders filmed bear cubs on camera, had fun. A minute later, an angry bear came out of the forest and rushed at people. Three builders died on the spot.

Going to the forest

If you follow the safety rules, as well as be careful and observant, meeting with forest dwellers can be quite safe. When going to the forest, you need to take the necessary standard set: a folding knife, a charged phone, matches, a bottle of water, pepper spray.
It is better to go to the forest with a company of two or three people. If you are going to stay in the forest for the night, be sure to decide who will be on duty and make sure that the fire does not go out. As a rule, at night, any wild animal will be afraid of fire and will not come close to the parking lot. Around the perimeter of the tent city, you can mark the area with your own urine or pull on a rope with something ringing, such as tying bottles or cans. In order not to attract animals with smells, it is better to put leftover food in a tight bag.
Let us examine in more detail what forest animals most of the inhabitants of our country can meet, and how to behave so that the animals do not show aggression.

Bear

Bears are extremely rare in the forests of the European part of our country due to their extermination. The largest populations live in the Leningrad and Novgorod regions, Bashkiria, Siberia, on Far East. As a rule, they do not prey on humans, unlike wolves. In summer, bears are mainly provided with plant and animal food, so they do not pose a danger to humans. The exception is the period from May to June - the time of active breeding of bears. In winter, these animals hibernate for 3-6 months.

Bear attacks on people usually happen for two reasons.
1. First - if you accidentally woke up the bear after winter hibernation. During this period, he will be especially hungry and aggressive.
2. Second possible reason bear attacks - bear meeting with cubs on your way.
That's why The best way protection from a bear is to try not to meet him.

How to prevent a meeting with a bear in the forest?

It is important to be cautious and careful in the forest, especially if the forest is in the habitat of bears. It is better to avoid a dense overgrown forest, as it reduces the likelihood of seeing an animal from afar and having time to get away from it. Most often, encounters with bears occur in places where there are a lot of berries, or along the banks of the river.
As a rule, bears do not behave aggressively in places of food extraction, but, on the contrary, smelling a person or hearing him, they will move away from him. Therefore, in order to avoid a meeting with a bear, behave loudly, talk, step on crackling branches, sing in the forest, whistle.
Particular attention should be paid to bear trails. If in the spring you see a bear's footprint in the snow, this may be evidence of its awakening from hibernation. You need to get around this place and go to the side, reverse direction animal movements.

Proper waste disposal, especially food waste, is also a guarantee of the safe coexistence of man and bear. By creating spontaneous dumps in the forest, right next to the village or in the fields, we thereby attract wild animals closer to humans and form a lack of fear in them. Bears should not have associations between food and humans. For the same reason, if you stay overnight in the forest, try to hide the leftover food as best as possible, put it in a tent, wrap it in several bags.

If you unexpectedly meet a bear

If you notice a bear in the forest not far from you, you need to move away as quietly as possible to a safe distance without panic.
If the bear has noticed you, but does not run, you need to try to drive it away with a cry or a shot in the air. Hand flares and a rocket launcher, which are sold in fishing stores, are suitable as deterrents. You can also use pepper spray to repel a bear, or set your clothes on fire.
Do not quickly run away from the bear. It is necessary to slowly, turning to face him, move away. You can only run when you are far enough away that the bear disappears from your field of vision.
There are situations in which you can see a bear cub in the forest. You can not try to touch him or take a picture, since the bear is most likely somewhere nearby.

If the bear is at a distance of 5-7 meters from you, then, most likely, his attack will follow. It is important to note that before the attack, the bear may not show any external signs of aggression. The video above is a witness to this. Conversely, if a bear stands up on its hind legs, this may not mean that it wants to attack. Therefore, admiring bears in the forest leads to tragic consequences.

What to do if you are attacked by a bear

Most the best remedy when the bear notices you, it is to distract him. If there is a mountain or hill somewhere nearby, then this will help to win a few minutes in a fight with a bear. The fact is that due to the massive weight, it will be difficult for him to see you on a hill.
If you have a basket of berries or a backpack in your hands, then you need to put it in front of you. Many stories testify that in such cases people were saved by the fact that they pretended to be dead. It is best to lie on the ground in a fetal position, while protecting your head with your hands. A dressed backpack can be used as a shield.
Even if you feel that the bear has already lost interest in you, but is nearby, you should not move and get up.
If, nevertheless, the bear attacked, then you need to try to inflict strong blows on him with a knife, for example, in the eye, nose. You can throw any objects that you have at the bear, while trying to hit it precisely in its sensitive muzzle. It's good if you have a pepper spray with you, which you can spray directly into the bear's eyes. At the same time, try not to look the bear in the eyes. There is always a chance to survive in a fight with an animal, but in the case of a bear it is small, since it is very strong and fast.

Since bears are very good at climbing trees, especially young ones, do not try to hide from him on a tree. Big bears can knock down a tree, and then you will have even less chance of surviving. If you have already climbed a tree from a bear, then the only thing that can save you is holding onto thin high branches that will not allow the bear to hang.

Bears swim very well, so it is unlikely to succeed in hiding from it in the water.

Wolves

There are six subspecies of wolves in Russia. In the European part of the Russian Federation, it is most often found gray wolf from fairy tales - the Central Russian wolf.
In the south of Russia, in the steppes and in the Lower Volga region, the steppe wolf is found.
The way of life of a wolf differs in many ways from that of a bear. Wolves, as a rule, move in packs of 5-11 wolves and track their prey for a long time. Often you may not even notice that wolves are hunting you. One huntsman described the incident as he walked along an abandoned road in the forest. After 20 minutes, he decided to go back along the same road and noticed even tracks of wolves on it. The tracks were laid literally a meter or two from his own. So he realized that he almost became the prey of hunting wolves.
In summer, the flock may temporarily split into smaller ones. At the same time, it is unlikely to meet them during the day in the forest. They live in very dense spruce forests, thickets of reeds, overgrown ravines and swamps, where often a person will not pass.
In winter, from January-February, the so-called rut begins for wolves, that is, the wedding period, the most dangerous in terms of the aggressiveness of wolves. In winter, wolves hunt even during the day.
And yet, in Lately cases of wolf attacks on people in central Russia are extremely rare. Over the past 50 years, there have been only eight fatal wolf attacks on humans. Statistics note that wolves attack more often in Belarus, in second place are the Kirov and Irkutsk regions, the Republic of Karelia and Ukraine. Wolves will only prey on humans if there is no food available, or if they have bitten humans before. Such cases were recorded in the period after the Second World War, when there were many people killed in the forests. After that, the wolves began to attack the inhabitants of nearby villages and cities more intensively. Rabid wolves are also often attacked. Most of these incidents occur in spring and autumn.

Signs of a rabid wolf
1. Rabid wolves often run alone, run out onto public roads, enter villages and cities.
2. A sick wolf, as a rule, has dripping saliva, a tail between his legs, his head is lowered, his eyes are cloudy.

How to behave when meeting with a wolf

Wolves most often attack lone tourists in the forest, as well as women and children. Cases of wolf attacks on men are extremely rare.
If you saw a wolf from afar, then it is best to quietly retire. You can’t look the wolf in the eyes and turn your back on him. If the wolf flattened his ears and crouched, this is a sure sign that he is preparing to jump. In such a situation, it is best to climb a tree or throw whatever food is available to the wolf to distract it. Do not be afraid that you will sit on a tree for a long time, as a rule, after a few hours, the wolves leave the intended victim.
People who met wolves in the forest note that if the wolf is already very close, then you need to visually increase your size. Wolves do not attack those who are bigger and stronger than them. This can be done, for example, by picking up a log and twisting it in different sides. It is important at the same time to make a roar like a wolf.
If the attack cannot be avoided, then the best position remains the fetal position. It will allow you to cover your face and neck, the sites of a typical wolf bite. However, do not pretend to be dead, as in the case of a bear. The wolf is a very intellectually highly developed creature. If he feels that you are afraid of him, it will immediately make you defenseless.
Pepper spray or a knife will also work to disarm an attacking wolf. If this is not at hand, then any sharp stick will do. The most sensitive thing about a wolf is its head and nose. If you fought off the wolf and he ran into the forest, he will probably attack you again. In this case, we advise you to make a fire or strong smoke (throw leaves into the fire). Wolves are very afraid of smoke. If you are still bitten by a wolf, you need to go to the hospital as soon as possible to avoid infection with rabies.

When a wolf attacks a person, it will be effective to hide in a deep pond. In such a situation, the wolf will be less likely to attack, since he will not reach the bottom with his paws, and you have a chance to swim far away.

Boars

Wild boars inhabit almost all forests of our country and Europe. Especially a lot of wild boars lives in fruit and oak massifs. Therefore, traces of this animal can be found quite often. However, wild pigs they go out to feed in the forest only at night, because they are very cautious, and a person can be heard from five hundred meters away. Noticing a person, as a rule, the boar will hide itself. However, if you accidentally come across a wild boar with small cubs (April-May), then the boar may show aggression here. If you meet such animals, it is better to move away from them as soon as possible. If the boar attacks, then the best remedy is to climb a tree. Boars cannot look up, so they will lose sight of you on a tree and quickly move away.

Elk

Elk is a rather large wild animal, its weight can reach 600 kg. They live in almost all forests of Central Russia and Europe. In the summer, moose go out into the forest only at night; during the daytime, they escape from the heat in overgrown ponds. In normal times, moose are peaceful and even vice versa, shy, non-aggressive animals. According to Ivan Yutkin, head of the moose biostation in the Moscow region, often people themselves are to blame for the moose attacking them. Many, seeing an elk in the forest, try to approach it, touch it, feed it. This cannot be done, as the animal will begin to defend itself and beat with its hooves.
The only time when moose themselves can attack a person is the rut period from August to October. If you meet an aggressive male or a female with cubs in the forest, then such animals can be very dangerous. If at the same time the elk is excited, his ears are pressed to his neck, and his head is lowered - this means that he is preparing for an attack. Hiding from an elk in the water is pointless, because these animals are very good swimmers.
There are several tips from foresters on how to scare away an approaching elk. Since the elk has poor eyesight, you can simply hide behind a tree trunk, so he will lose sight of the person. And yet, as discussed above, any animal is afraid of an object that is larger than itself. One journalist told the story of how he scared an aggressive elk by opening a large cape in front of him. To frighten away the moose, the option of making a fire or setting fire to the removed clothes is also suitable. Almost all animals are afraid of fire and smoke.

______________________

Despite the danger of wild animals in the forest, recently there has been more and more talk about the disappearance of some species. So over the past few years, the number of large predators around the world has decreased by 90%, the role of which in the food chain is irreplaceable. Predators often destroy sick animals, thereby preventing the spread of contagious diseases within the species. In countries where large predators were completely exterminated, other problems. For example, in the forests of Lithuania, due to the lack of large animals, the population of roe deer has increased dramatically. As a result, natural food reserves were depleted, and some of the animals simply died. Today, you can often observe that wild animals are freely sold on the Internet, they are kept in city apartments and houses, and you can take pictures with them. Exterminating wild animals or taking them into captivity, first of all, the biological balance inside the forest is disturbed, which can certainly lead to a global environmental catastrophe in the future.