Black bear are very common in the Keweenaw. It is estimated that there is one bear for every five square miles in the good habitat so prevalent here. The black bear, an animal that can weigh up to 500 pounds and outrun a horse over short distances, is omnivorous (meaning it’ll eat almost anything.) Fortunately, they are not a threat to humans. Although 90 percent of their diet consists of nutritious plants and berries, they love human food, garbage, bird seed and pet food. When they are not feeding or searching for food, black bears rest in day beds—next to a log, in a windfall, in thick brush or in a natural depression in the ground.

While the black bear is not a predator of humans, as you backpack, picnic or camp in the back country, a few precautions are necessary to insure that you don’t put out the welcome mat for Mr. Bear.

Catching sight of a bear while hiking through the woods never fails to produce a rush of adrenaline. It is an experience unique to the sparsely settled and heavily wooded areas frequented by hikers and campers. Although bears are generally shy by nature and will flee the presence of humans, they have poor eyesight and depending on the direction of the wind, they may not be aware of you.

Should you encounter a bear while on the trail—stay calm. If the bear hasn’t seen you, leave the area. As you move away, talk out loud to let the bear discover your presence. If the bear spots you, stop immediately and back away slowly while facing the bear. Avoid eye contact with the animal as this may be interpreted as a threat. Speak softly in the presence of a bear as this may reassure the animal you mean it no harm. Also, try not to show fear. Like the neighborhood dog, bear can sense fear and may react accordingly.

Finally, give the animal plenty of room to escape. The bear will want to escape unless it feels cornered or otherwise provoked. If you are on a trail, step off on the downhill side. Don’t run or make any sudden movements as running could prompt the bear to give chase and you can’t outrun a bear.

When camping or picnicking, in addition to the precautions already mentioned, there are several more rules to follow when it comes to bear safety.

> Pitch your tent at least 125 feet upwind from your cooking area and your food and garbage.

> Don’t eat or store open snacks in your tent.

> Try to place your tent door near climbable trees.

> Suspend food and garbage in sealed plastic bags at least 10 feet above the ground, five to 10 feet from the tree trunk and three to six feet below the limb on which they hang.

> Remove leftover food, grease, fish guts, etc. well away from camp, and bury them not more than 6 inches deep and 100 feet from any stream or lake.

> When a bear wanders into your camp, shine a light on him and make some noise. He should leave. Then take care of the problem which lured him in or he may pay you another visit later.

In 30 years of camping, hiking, hunting, canoeing and trapping in the Keweenaw, I have never had a problem with bears in camp. I have, however, always followed the rules above. If you do encounter a bear in the woods, day or night, the best action to take is to calmly retreat. Remember, you are the visitor in his backyard. Respect him.

No matter what your outdoor activity, keep in mind that a bear’s eyesight, although not keen, is good, and its sense of smell is acute. If a bear stands upright or moves closer, it may not be aggressive behavior but merely an attempt to identify what you are. Although bear attacks are extremely rare, should you be attacked, fight back! Black bears have been driven away when people have fought back with rocks, sticks, binoculars and even their bare hands.

The main provocation for bear trouble is usually thoughtlessness on the part of hikers and campers. Bears have learned to associate people with food and they know what it takes to scrounge a meal. Please do not feed the bears! These are not cute, cuddly toys to fool with at your pleasure. If you act responsibly in bear territory, seeing one of these animals will be a positive experience.