Woman Banned From Annual Camping Trip After “Honest Mistake” Nearly Cost Friends’ Lives
Even though majestic, nature can be scary at times. Therefore, it’s important to be careful and aware of the potential dangers one might face, especially when stepping foot in the wilderness. After all, the chances of getting attacked by a bear are slim, but never zero.
Unfortunately, for this group of campers, this innocent meme almost became a reality when, during their hike, they came face-to-face with a grizzly. Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue for them, but a new person in the group suddenly made matters much worse after she started screaming and running away from it. Such behavior not only endangered everyone’s lives but also uninvited her from any upcoming camping trip.
Even though majestic, nature can be dangerous at times
Image credits: PNW Production / Pexels (not the actual photo)
However, this woman completely ignored it, endangering her friends
Image credits: Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Alex Green / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: No-Pay-5094
Around 40 people are attacked by bears each year in North America, with 5 of them being fatal
Fortunately, the chance of encountering a bear, at least in the US, is relatively low. That said, their immense size, strength, and occasionally unpredictable behavior can pose significant risks, especially when venturing into their natural habitats. According to Gitnux data, around 40 people are attacked by them each year in North America, with approximately 5 of them being fatal.
One of the most common mistakes people make when visiting bear territories is setting up camps in the wrong spot. It’s usually unsafe to stay close to the same trails and roads these animals use. So before choosing a spot to dwell in, the campers should check the area for any bear activity like their tracks, droppings, rubbed and claw-marked trees, berry bushes, or torn apart rotting stumps and logs (they enjoy looking for yummy treats). It’s also advised to camp in open areas, away from any cover for bears.
Another rookie oversight is leaving food in tents or near them. These animals have a sensitive sense of smell—2100 times better than humans and 7 times better than bloodhounds and won’t pass up an opportunity to have an easy meal. When they learn that they can find yummy snacks in tents, they will start associating humans with a source of sustenance. Therefore, any edible items should be stored away from the shelter, ideally in a bear-proof box or a vehicle, so campers have more time to evacuate when a bear comes looking for a midnight pick-me-up.
An additional wrongdoing is being too quiet. People should make a lot of noise while hiking, sing loudly, or clap their hands frequently to give plenty of time for the bear to avoid them. It’s also advised to hike in groups of three people, as they are usually noisier and smellier than a single individual. This can help the animals sense them from a greater distance. Meanwhile, their size appears more intimidating to them. Thankfully, these animals are usually afraid of humans and just want to be on their merry way. The tips above should help campers steer clear of the majestic creatures instead of coming face-to-face with them.
When an encounter does happen, it’s best to remain calm and collected
When an encounter does happen, it’s best to remain calm and collected. Even though screaming or running might come as a first instinct when faced with the animal, sudden loud sounds can startle it, causing it to act defensively. Instead, try keeping your voice and movements composed, backing away slowly, and avoiding eye contact. Climbing a tree is another no-go, as is trying to approach them closer to take photos. If possible, be prepared to leave the area and perhaps save camping or hiking for another day.
Bear spray should also be taken seriously by campers, as it can be pretty handy when encountering a bear. Unfortunately, not all people take the time to educate themselves on it before coming to the wilderness. Therefore, it’s a good idea to learn how to use and carry it.
Try keeping it in an easily accessible place, like your belt, as it won’t do any good at the bottom of your backpack. In the time of need, slowly pull it out and remove the safety lock. It’s a pepper concoction designated to stop the bear from charging toward you, causing temporary irritation in the eyes and the upper respiratory tract.
Just keep in mind that picking a fight unless your personal safety is at risk isn’t worth it. If a curious bear is sniffing around and knocks some stuff over, it’s nothing that can’t be fixed. Or if a frustrated bear is tearing up your hammock, it’s not an item that can’t be repurchased. Respecting wildlife and learning more about it can help people enjoy bear country safely and minimize animal-human conflict.
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A different take: Agreed that the GF was foolish and endangered herself and others. But, the bear was just being a bear doing bear things in a bear area. If things had gone to plan, it would have ambled on and everyone would have been fine. BUT GF agitated the bear, arousing its own 'fight or flight' instincts. As a result, OP had to harm there bear (albeit temporarily) to defend a group which otherwise wouldn't have needed defending. Thus, through her foolishness, GF caused a wild animal to come to harm and suffering. That is big time AH behavior.
... and if the spray hadn't worked/ they were a bit more separated, the bear would have mauled GF (100% good!) --- making it a 'known killer' and requiring it to be euthanised. For doing 100% foreseen bear things. Poor bear. Husband TA for not speaking the truth when it's the easiest thing to do.
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I can't believe the OP and her husband could stand to be around someone that nearly got them killed afterwards. I'd have blown up right there and informed 'Alex' that I'm not a babysitter. Also, 'Alex' should have been the one to give his GF the safety briefing before they left. He probably knew she'd blow him off and be immature about it and was banking on probability of not running into a bear or other dangerous animal being on their side. Personally I hate immature people like this. It's like dealing with a toddler; except toddlers grow up.
But seriously, a grown woman screamed and ran? I wouldn't want to hang out with her in the front country either. A short noise is surprised is one thing, but screaming dramatically is a reinforced response. Actual involuntary surprise response last less than a second. The rest is how you've conditioned yourself to react. That's a quick noise and at most two steps. But people who have cultivated a scream and big movement, like the drama and like to be the center of attention when startled. Some people don't mind this, but I find this tiresome. Also I will mention I led trips for kids and adults in bear country for more than a decade and never had anyone react this dramatically, even teens. It may not have been her putting on a show, but it's her conditioned response to put on a show when startled. The fact that she's not addressed this as a big deal or even reached out is bad expedition/teammate behavior and I wouldn't trust her.
Yes! Exactly this! A reaction in the moment is just what you've practiced doing until its second nature. That's how you can hit a curve ball, or brake when something is in the road, but not comfortably the first time. You're better at it the more you do it. Reacting to any sort of danger or surprise, there's an initial shock and then the rest is how you've practiced. Are you calm or do you draw maximum attention to yourself? It reveals a lot about what a person has cultivated in themselves.
Load More Replies... A bear will kill you, if it decides to attack. The gf needs to realise this.
Often they are just eliminating you as a threat. Most bear attacks are not fatal, but if you get swattes by a bear you are badly injured.
Load More Replies... In the wilderness, it's better to be alive than polite. You don't let someone you don't trust belay you, etc. It's on gf to apologize and earn back trust, not on the others.
I really don‘t understand that culture. So many AITA posts are like this. „I said the truth/ I let someone see the consequences of their stupid behavior. Now everyone is mad at me.“ Why? Why is it so important for them to appease the culprit and cater to their feelings instead of teaching them how to do it right or to soothe the victim? Idiots all around
I get it in this instance. Their reactions are perfectly understandable. What is at question is whether they should give her a second chance.
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Totally resonably, and her saying the truth and not coming up with excuses - she worded it good. Direct, to the point, and not unneccesarily insulting. You did not say you didn't want to go anywhere with her, but only if she doesn't smarten up. Maybe advice them to go on some camping trips on their own first, and if that goes well, you'll reconsider. But, some people have "joking" as a coping mechanism. Or denial mechanism, more likely.
In one way I get what you're saying, but a bear who attacks a human is often euthanised, especially if the family of the 'victim' makes a big deal of it. So it's funny to think about, yup, just let her get eaten, but the bear will still be affected by her foolishness. I'm an environmentalist and conservationist, and I absolutely love bears, so I hate it when people do stupid things, because they don't realize that the bear will pay the price.
Load More Replies... If you can't trust her to stay calm, don't take her places, and if she doesn't take bear safety seriously, then you can let really trust her with any other safety protocols. People who aren't experienced outdoors often overlook little things because they don't seem dangerous (rope management, water protocols etc) but if she doesn't take bear encounters seriously, she's going to do all the other kess obvious things wrong.
I love being in nature. The Rockies soothe my soul. That being said, I have severe anxiety. No matter how I love it, I do NOT go out into the wilderness unless I know I'm the 'calm' part of my anxiety cycle and know that I'll be able to think through safety protocols. That's just being responsible. This woman expects the environment to adapt to her; she's not willing to adapt to it. She should just stay in the city.
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Not only would I not go hiking with her anymore, I would avoid her altogether. I absolutely hate this immature "I am not to blame for anything and everything is just a big joke and also people are mean to me" behavior. That is something I would expect from (and correct there) from a small child. Not an adult.
GF is the type of person to drive drunk and laugh about it. Stay away.
I have anxiety and panic issues. I only go into bear country when I know I'm mentally able to handle it. If I know I won't react appropriately, I stay home. My issues should not be the cause of harm to someone else.
Load More Replies... So she posted the whole incident on instagram and treated it like a grand joke? She's a silly child, and a danger to herself and others, including wildlife.
I wonder at the 27-year-old staying with someone so immature.
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Just write them off. No need to carry on with stupid people. Sounds like the friendship has ran its course.
OP has every right to be angry especially after gf' social media, but you're hiking in bear country without bells on, you're not as responsible and savvy as your attitude would suggest. You shouldn't be able to surprise a bear if you are in foot. Make enough noise, they don't startle. And check the local updates if you are on a bike, if there have been stings in an area, get off and walk, you don't want to get between mama and cubs.
So Alex, your friend?., took an immature idiot on a hike through bear country. Said idiot blew off safety info. Suddenly a bear appears the idiot does all the wrong things resulting in you having to harm it, temporarily, Now you have to deal with 2 idiots who don't see the big deal. You need new friends, ones who aren't as brain dead as these 2
Just put a bell on her. Probably in town too, then you can avoid her.
But It wasn't honest mistage. You told her how to behave in case you meet a bear. She did not want to carry bear spray and learn how to use it. And when you encountered a bear, she did the opossite of what she was told. Like it was some game where are no consequences.What irritates me even more- life isn't some bad horror movie. People, who are scared - like really scared, rarely scream at top of their lungs. is it possible that she thought it will be funny? Since she treated whole event as big joke afterwards. NTA, but Alex's girlfriend is . She almost got you all killed and poor bear suffered because of her idiotic behaviour.
No one ever learned anything from sugar coating. Take the criticism, apologize, and learn from your mistake.
Have him go on a solo trip with her an say you can't make it this year. She messes up again well then at least you won't die.
Honestly surprised the bear spray worked, it was more likely being outnumbered. Bear spray usually just leads to spicy bear scat. You're much better off wearing bells so you can't surprise the bear, and then showing you're not a threat, rather than attacking.
Twenty years ago a friend and I went to New Zealand for a 5 week holiday. I did a lot of running and hiking the hills around to be prepared, as we had agreed to do. When we arrived, she was not prepared at all and she joked that she had to take the subway stairs each day. I was pissed and left her behind (on a busy path, so no danger for her). Our friendship kinda ended over it, but I don't regret it. This was the most expensive thing I ever had in my life, she had 18 months to prepare, but just couldn't get arsed. And in OP's case it was even about a risk to their lives! OP is so not the AH!
Wait, you mean life isn’t a romantic comedy? And you don’t want to be the expendable crewman in her drama? Rude. Totally agree with OP. The boundary and the truth bomb. All of it. Sometimes YOLO doesn’t mean what you think it does. And I don’t want to spend mine in a pine box or a wheelchair either.
city people vs country/rural people is such a huge divide. i am fortunate to be a bit of both having been raised in both environments so aware of hazards in the wild. once my hubby & i were tootling on his bike through the mountains when there was a sudden traffic jam on the two lane road. we slowly moved until we were behind the last stopped vehicle where i see some idiot's hand offering something to a small bear cub (there were two of them, btw). i hit him on the shoulder and told him to go around and get the hell out of there. at first he blew me off until i was just about to lose it and then we took off when we stopped he asked what the hell that was all about. explained to him cubs are rarely without their mom. the idiots were in a car but we were on a bike. who do you think was more accessible to a mama bear protecting her babies?
More danger to the bears, once you feed them or you are careless with your trash, the likelihood of the bear being killed by officials is high. As a person on both sides of the rural/urban divide I hope you reported the bear if it took food, they monitor it and hopefully can capture and release elsewhere if needed before it escalesnto looking for food from people and they kill it.
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Honestly, if it was really noticeable that she was blowing off the safety lecture, and refused to learn how to use the bear spray, the best possible course of action would have been to go home then and there, and tell her since she isn’t willing to learn safety procedures and take the reality seriously, you are unwilling to jeopardize lives in a potentially deadly situation. But hindsight is 20/20 as they say. Glad OP had bear spray!
They were in the bear's home. When you are in someone's home, you follow the rules and behave respectfully. What GF did was morally no different from visiting someone's house and, after being explicitly told not to, playing with a loaded gun that went off and grazed the homeowner. She endangered everyone's lives, hurt someone, and thought it a joke rather than cruelty. Of course she would not be invited back. That poor bear was probably frightened and in pain for days, and now he's going to be far more afraid of (and likely to harm) humans.
This isn't about a bear encounter at all, the bear is just a meme. It's about how the gf reacts in a crisis. Is she level-headed or does she panic? Clearly it's the latter. And that's really not even her fault. Our primitive brains take over in an instant when situations like that happen, and what someone will do is unknown to everybody until such a situation arises. Now you all know. Spend time with her, hang out with her, but know that you cannot count on her in a crisis. If anything, ANYTHING, difficult or life-threatening or even mildly annoying were to happen out in the wilderness, she would only be a liability. That's a fact, not a grudge.
You cannot outrun a bear. Luckily, you only have to outrun the slowest person in your group. I am not above tripping people if necessary.
Bears will eliminate the threat. If you're still running and they think you're a threat, they'll go after you once they knock down the first one. Except in rare starvation circumstances bears aren't attacking humans as prey, just threat management. So the jokes are great but it's just a joke.
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"I'm not holding a grudge, I'm just not willing to be bear food. You two are free to go and have a ball though." I live in bear country and we've had hikers come up here and disrespect them and lose their lives over it. One guy thought it would be cool to get a selfie with one. Last pic on his phone was of the bear charging him. Yeah, cool pic. Last one he ever took.
If you're really from bear country, you don't worry about being bear food. Unlikely the guy who was killed was eaten. But distinctly possible they decided to kill the bear that attacked.
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NTA OP. Would love for those two to go camping by themselves. Just keep your eye on the news, lol...
From a comedy sitcom situation you can't deny this would make a great skit. Unfortunately this was real life and she bolted and yelled like it was gonna be about whoever is the slowest is lunch. Totally blissfully unaware that she is the freak who Ra g the lunch bell ON HER GROUP, she is both immature and really selfish.
They should have brought up the issue straight away especially when she was joking about it on her socials. No way would I have waited for them to start asking about the next trip before saying anything.
They may have thought bf was on it. I would have been too mad to let it wait, but inwouldnhave assumed bf was going to address it privately, or break up with her.
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Everyone here is TA except her. Id never go on a trip or perhaps out to dinner with someone like that again. She deserves to be eaten by a bear.
"Well, we'll think about it but only if you agree that we can trip her or knock her down if we meet another bear."
I would not consider allowing that child on any hike until she could recite the bear safety lecture from memory and mean it. That being said there are fully mature adults whom I will not take into the wilderness because they have proved to me that they always panic when the fecal matter hits the air moving device.
What makes OP think this fool would be safe in the city? Idiocy does not change when the surroundings changs.
To be fair you're all AH & very stupid. You went hiking during bear peak season with an inexperienced not so outdoorsy person. As the saying goes expect the unexpected at all times. Also your friend should've given her the rundown, his chosen mate is not your responsibility. Maybe she would've taken his advice more seriously since the boyfriend after all.
Everyone has their first hike, so someone brought you into the woods unprepared. There's no technical knowledge, they didn't bring her ice climbing with no prep, this is just walking. And when is bear season exactly? Do you mean when the snow isn't on the ground? With mild winters, bears aren't even all hibernating every year in places they used to 10 years ago. If it isn't real winter, it's bear season. I love winter camping but lots don't.
Load More Replies... Leaves the bears alone, but if you live in a place with bears, you share the space with them. Are you not going hiking? Swimming? Fishing? Why would you live in a beautiful place? The places with the closest to intact ecosystems are by far the most beautiful. Why would I want to hike where the land is so destroyed and cultivated it's not healthy enough for bears?
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When rural people come to town, they don't question traffic rules, and stay in the sidewalk, which don't exist in rural areas, why should they think a city person doesn't understand bears are a danger?
Load More Replies... A different take: Agreed that the GF was foolish and endangered herself and others. But, the bear was just being a bear doing bear things in a bear area. If things had gone to plan, it would have ambled on and everyone would have been fine. BUT GF agitated the bear, arousing its own 'fight or flight' instincts. As a result, OP had to harm there bear (albeit temporarily) to defend a group which otherwise wouldn't have needed defending. Thus, through her foolishness, GF caused a wild animal to come to harm and suffering. That is big time AH behavior.
... and if the spray hadn't worked/ they were a bit more separated, the bear would have mauled GF (100% good!) --- making it a 'known killer' and requiring it to be euthanised. For doing 100% foreseen bear things. Poor bear. Husband TA for not speaking the truth when it's the easiest thing to do.
Load More Replies... I can't believe the OP and her husband could stand to be around someone that nearly got them killed afterwards. I'd have blown up right there and informed 'Alex' that I'm not a babysitter. Also, 'Alex' should have been the one to give his GF the safety briefing before they left. He probably knew she'd blow him off and be immature about it and was banking on probability of not running into a bear or other dangerous animal being on their side. Personally I hate immature people like this. It's like dealing with a toddler; except toddlers grow up.
But seriously, a grown woman screamed and ran? I wouldn't want to hang out with her in the front country either. A short noise is surprised is one thing, but screaming dramatically is a reinforced response. Actual involuntary surprise response last less than a second. The rest is how you've conditioned yourself to react. That's a quick noise and at most two steps. But people who have cultivated a scream and big movement, like the drama and like to be the center of attention when startled. Some people don't mind this, but I find this tiresome. Also I will mention I led trips for kids and adults in bear country for more than a decade and never had anyone react this dramatically, even teens. It may not have been her putting on a show, but it's her conditioned response to put on a show when startled. The fact that she's not addressed this as a big deal or even reached out is bad expedition/teammate behavior and I wouldn't trust her.
Yes! Exactly this! A reaction in the moment is just what you've practiced doing until its second nature. That's how you can hit a curve ball, or brake when something is in the road, but not comfortably the first time. You're better at it the more you do it. Reacting to any sort of danger or surprise, there's an initial shock and then the rest is how you've practiced. Are you calm or do you draw maximum attention to yourself? It reveals a lot about what a person has cultivated in themselves.
Load More Replies... A bear will kill you, if it decides to attack. The gf needs to realise this.
Often they are just eliminating you as a threat. Most bear attacks are not fatal, but if you get swattes by a bear you are badly injured.
Load More Replies... In the wilderness, it's better to be alive than polite. You don't let someone you don't trust belay you, etc. It's on gf to apologize and earn back trust, not on the others.
I really don‘t understand that culture. So many AITA posts are like this. „I said the truth/ I let someone see the consequences of their stupid behavior. Now everyone is mad at me.“ Why? Why is it so important for them to appease the culprit and cater to their feelings instead of teaching them how to do it right or to soothe the victim? Idiots all around
I get it in this instance. Their reactions are perfectly understandable. What is at question is whether they should give her a second chance.
Load More Replies... Totally resonably, and her saying the truth and not coming up with excuses - she worded it good. Direct, to the point, and not unneccesarily insulting. You did not say you didn't want to go anywhere with her, but only if she doesn't smarten up. Maybe advice them to go on some camping trips on their own first, and if that goes well, you'll reconsider. But, some people have "joking" as a coping mechanism. Or denial mechanism, more likely.
In one way I get what you're saying, but a bear who attacks a human is often euthanised, especially if the family of the 'victim' makes a big deal of it. So it's funny to think about, yup, just let her get eaten, but the bear will still be affected by her foolishness. I'm an environmentalist and conservationist, and I absolutely love bears, so I hate it when people do stupid things, because they don't realize that the bear will pay the price.
Load More Replies... If you can't trust her to stay calm, don't take her places, and if she doesn't take bear safety seriously, then you can let really trust her with any other safety protocols. People who aren't experienced outdoors often overlook little things because they don't seem dangerous (rope management, water protocols etc) but if she doesn't take bear encounters seriously, she's going to do all the other kess obvious things wrong.
I love being in nature. The Rockies soothe my soul. That being said, I have severe anxiety. No matter how I love it, I do NOT go out into the wilderness unless I know I'm the 'calm' part of my anxiety cycle and know that I'll be able to think through safety protocols. That's just being responsible. This woman expects the environment to adapt to her; she's not willing to adapt to it. She should just stay in the city.
Load More Replies... Not only would I not go hiking with her anymore, I would avoid her altogether. I absolutely hate this immature "I am not to blame for anything and everything is just a big joke and also people are mean to me" behavior. That is something I would expect from (and correct there) from a small child. Not an adult.
GF is the type of person to drive drunk and laugh about it. Stay away.
I have anxiety and panic issues. I only go into bear country when I know I'm mentally able to handle it. If I know I won't react appropriately, I stay home. My issues should not be the cause of harm to someone else.
Load More Replies... So she posted the whole incident on instagram and treated it like a grand joke? She's a silly child, and a danger to herself and others, including wildlife.
I wonder at the 27-year-old staying with someone so immature.
Load More Replies... Just write them off. No need to carry on with stupid people. Sounds like the friendship has ran its course.
OP has every right to be angry especially after gf' social media, but you're hiking in bear country without bells on, you're not as responsible and savvy as your attitude would suggest. You shouldn't be able to surprise a bear if you are in foot. Make enough noise, they don't startle. And check the local updates if you are on a bike, if there have been stings in an area, get off and walk, you don't want to get between mama and cubs.
So Alex, your friend?., took an immature idiot on a hike through bear country. Said idiot blew off safety info. Suddenly a bear appears the idiot does all the wrong things resulting in you having to harm it, temporarily, Now you have to deal with 2 idiots who don't see the big deal. You need new friends, ones who aren't as brain dead as these 2
Just put a bell on her. Probably in town too, then you can avoid her.
But It wasn't honest mistage. You told her how to behave in case you meet a bear. She did not want to carry bear spray and learn how to use it. And when you encountered a bear, she did the opossite of what she was told. Like it was some game where are no consequences.What irritates me even more- life isn't some bad horror movie. People, who are scared - like really scared, rarely scream at top of their lungs. is it possible that she thought it will be funny? Since she treated whole event as big joke afterwards. NTA, but Alex's girlfriend is . She almost got you all killed and poor bear suffered because of her idiotic behaviour.
No one ever learned anything from sugar coating. Take the criticism, apologize, and learn from your mistake.
Have him go on a solo trip with her an say you can't make it this year. She messes up again well then at least you won't die.
Honestly surprised the bear spray worked, it was more likely being outnumbered. Bear spray usually just leads to spicy bear scat. You're much better off wearing bells so you can't surprise the bear, and then showing you're not a threat, rather than attacking.
Twenty years ago a friend and I went to New Zealand for a 5 week holiday. I did a lot of running and hiking the hills around to be prepared, as we had agreed to do. When we arrived, she was not prepared at all and she joked that she had to take the subway stairs each day. I was pissed and left her behind (on a busy path, so no danger for her). Our friendship kinda ended over it, but I don't regret it. This was the most expensive thing I ever had in my life, she had 18 months to prepare, but just couldn't get arsed. And in OP's case it was even about a risk to their lives! OP is so not the AH!
Wait, you mean life isn’t a romantic comedy? And you don’t want to be the expendable crewman in her drama? Rude. Totally agree with OP. The boundary and the truth bomb. All of it. Sometimes YOLO doesn’t mean what you think it does. And I don’t want to spend mine in a pine box or a wheelchair either.
city people vs country/rural people is such a huge divide. i am fortunate to be a bit of both having been raised in both environments so aware of hazards in the wild. once my hubby & i were tootling on his bike through the mountains when there was a sudden traffic jam on the two lane road. we slowly moved until we were behind the last stopped vehicle where i see some idiot's hand offering something to a small bear cub (there were two of them, btw). i hit him on the shoulder and told him to go around and get the hell out of there. at first he blew me off until i was just about to lose it and then we took off when we stopped he asked what the hell that was all about. explained to him cubs are rarely without their mom. the idiots were in a car but we were on a bike. who do you think was more accessible to a mama bear protecting her babies?
More danger to the bears, once you feed them or you are careless with your trash, the likelihood of the bear being killed by officials is high. As a person on both sides of the rural/urban divide I hope you reported the bear if it took food, they monitor it and hopefully can capture and release elsewhere if needed before it escalesnto looking for food from people and they kill it.
Load More Replies... Honestly, if it was really noticeable that she was blowing off the safety lecture, and refused to learn how to use the bear spray, the best possible course of action would have been to go home then and there, and tell her since she isn’t willing to learn safety procedures and take the reality seriously, you are unwilling to jeopardize lives in a potentially deadly situation. But hindsight is 20/20 as they say. Glad OP had bear spray!
They were in the bear's home. When you are in someone's home, you follow the rules and behave respectfully. What GF did was morally no different from visiting someone's house and, after being explicitly told not to, playing with a loaded gun that went off and grazed the homeowner. She endangered everyone's lives, hurt someone, and thought it a joke rather than cruelty. Of course she would not be invited back. That poor bear was probably frightened and in pain for days, and now he's going to be far more afraid of (and likely to harm) humans.
This isn't about a bear encounter at all, the bear is just a meme. It's about how the gf reacts in a crisis. Is she level-headed or does she panic? Clearly it's the latter. And that's really not even her fault. Our primitive brains take over in an instant when situations like that happen, and what someone will do is unknown to everybody until such a situation arises. Now you all know. Spend time with her, hang out with her, but know that you cannot count on her in a crisis. If anything, ANYTHING, difficult or life-threatening or even mildly annoying were to happen out in the wilderness, she would only be a liability. That's a fact, not a grudge.
You cannot outrun a bear. Luckily, you only have to outrun the slowest person in your group. I am not above tripping people if necessary.
Bears will eliminate the threat. If you're still running and they think you're a threat, they'll go after you once they knock down the first one. Except in rare starvation circumstances bears aren't attacking humans as prey, just threat management. So the jokes are great but it's just a joke.
Load More Replies... "I'm not holding a grudge, I'm just not willing to be bear food. You two are free to go and have a ball though." I live in bear country and we've had hikers come up here and disrespect them and lose their lives over it. One guy thought it would be cool to get a selfie with one. Last pic on his phone was of the bear charging him. Yeah, cool pic. Last one he ever took.
If you're really from bear country, you don't worry about being bear food. Unlikely the guy who was killed was eaten. But distinctly possible they decided to kill the bear that attacked.
Load More Replies... NTA OP. Would love for those two to go camping by themselves. Just keep your eye on the news, lol...
From a comedy sitcom situation you can't deny this would make a great skit. Unfortunately this was real life and she bolted and yelled like it was gonna be about whoever is the slowest is lunch. Totally blissfully unaware that she is the freak who Ra g the lunch bell ON HER GROUP, she is both immature and really selfish.
They should have brought up the issue straight away especially when she was joking about it on her socials. No way would I have waited for them to start asking about the next trip before saying anything.
They may have thought bf was on it. I would have been too mad to let it wait, but inwouldnhave assumed bf was going to address it privately, or break up with her.
Load More Replies... Everyone here is TA except her. Id never go on a trip or perhaps out to dinner with someone like that again. She deserves to be eaten by a bear.
"Well, we'll think about it but only if you agree that we can trip her or knock her down if we meet another bear."
I would not consider allowing that child on any hike until she could recite the bear safety lecture from memory and mean it. That being said there are fully mature adults whom I will not take into the wilderness because they have proved to me that they always panic when the fecal matter hits the air moving device.
What makes OP think this fool would be safe in the city? Idiocy does not change when the surroundings changs.
To be fair you're all AH & very stupid. You went hiking during bear peak season with an inexperienced not so outdoorsy person. As the saying goes expect the unexpected at all times. Also your friend should've given her the rundown, his chosen mate is not your responsibility. Maybe she would've taken his advice more seriously since the boyfriend after all.
Everyone has their first hike, so someone brought you into the woods unprepared. There's no technical knowledge, they didn't bring her ice climbing with no prep, this is just walking. And when is bear season exactly? Do you mean when the snow isn't on the ground? With mild winters, bears aren't even all hibernating every year in places they used to 10 years ago. If it isn't real winter, it's bear season. I love winter camping but lots don't.
Load More Replies... Leaves the bears alone, but if you live in a place with bears, you share the space with them. Are you not going hiking? Swimming? Fishing? Why would you live in a beautiful place? The places with the closest to intact ecosystems are by far the most beautiful. Why would I want to hike where the land is so destroyed and cultivated it's not healthy enough for bears?
Load More Replies... When rural people come to town, they don't question traffic rules, and stay in the sidewalk, which don't exist in rural areas, why should they think a city person doesn't understand bears are a danger?
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