Because Black Bears are excellent climbers. However it is always worth a crack Trev.
If you see a grizzly throw yourself at his feet and assume a star shape so he can’t roll you over. How this is useful I am not entirely sure but the little wildlife preparedness card in our Motel room tells us so.
If you see a cougar do not break eye contact. I am not sure exactly how long one must engage in a staring contest with the big cat who I am assured has really nasty breath as they do not floss, but I think he has to blink first then you can shake hands (paws) say great game mate and be on your way.
And always stay at least three bus lengths away from an elk. “Stay right there Elk,” you must call out. “The wildife information card says three bus lengths”. If he asks whether you mean Chicago buses or those long bendy London Buses then you have met a sassy Elk and it is best to climb a tree. Unless there is a black bear in the tree already. Then you might like to try eye contact. Or maybe throw the information card at said Elk to frighten it away with words. Words are powerful you know.
Simple really.
Keeping all this in mind have a lovely walk in the forest around the outskirts of Canmore.
Beautiful.
Good morning. The best thing for a hang-over (not that I would know as after you turn 40 you don’t get them anymore) is a good walk. I have tested this theory frequently since I turned 40, um, some time ago. So a good walk was had by all.
Though I don’t think we thought enough about elevation a the symptoms of altitude sickness’ the repercussions of flying up all this way then landing here. Canmore is 4296 feet (1076 metres) up in the air, not too high, but Wellington where the others are from is at sea level, and the prairies are around 800 (120 metres) feet above sea level. So it is a consideration. Tiredness, nausea, lack of appetite and a headache are symptoms of mild altitude sickness. It feels like a hang over. (Or it is a hangover but at the wrong end of the party) Luckily I do not have any of these symptoms but one member of our party does. So I made a big potato salad, we went for a long walk, drunk heaps of water and green tea and then early to bed. Mama said. Hopefully everyone is back on form for today.
We have woken up to thunder and lightening and heavy rain. A good old storm. Without a car we have been walking everywhere so I hope it does not last too long!
Have a lovely day.
your friend celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
71 responses to “Climbing Trees won’t save you from Black Bears”
I see you’ve found John’s new car 😉
Those nasty bendy buses are in the process of being phased out – the new Boris busses have gone into service this month.
Beautiful photos, Celi, hope the head has recovered. I’m not sure I could throw myself on the ground in a star shape in front of a black bear – just don’t think my nerve would hold. 🙂 I read something similar recently about a guy who visited the Northern Territory in Aus – he was told that if he saw a crocodile, the good news was that it couldn’t climb trees, so he was safe if he could get to one fast enough. The bad news however is that the croc could sit at the bottom of the tree and wait for him to come down…for 18 MONTHS. 🙂
I am having a mental image of a wildlife expert standing one bus length away from an Elk. The Elk says “No, doesn’t feel right, better go another bus length.” The expert moves away a bus length. The Elk say “You know, I hate to be so picky, but just one more bus length would really be more comfortable. Sorry”.
Brilliant! So well put! Who decides this stuff! c
The only animals that stare are predators. That’s why staring at a deer will make it bolt. By staring at the cougar, you’re sending the message that you’re the top predator. That doesn’t mean it’ll believe you, but cats tend to pick the easiest targets. You just have to outstare the rest of your party.
The moral of this story is: know your true enemy.
Animals and hangovers seem to have something in common, don’t they?
I know it’s a little late but I thought you might find this interesting: http://deadspin.com/local-reporter-hilariously-demonstrates-how-to-survive-755243032.
oh excellent! Never too late!! c