10 / Sport and Trail Magazine
when trail riding out into the backcountry, with every new trail we enter, we enter into Bear Country!!! How often do people really see bears when out on the trails? Is it really that big of a deal? That of course depends of in what part of the country you ride in. But in the three days of riding around Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons National Park we saw five bears. That serves as a powerful reminder of how wild Yellowstone truly is, and why it’s so important to go prepared.
Horse trails make good bear trails as well, and without a bit of knowledge and a bit of proper prior preparation to prevent poor performance, things could become a problem and invite conflict, then either bears get shot or trails get closed, or in some cases people or horses get hurt. When people say bears can be dangerous, it’s no joke! Your safety cannot be guaranteed, but you can play an active role in protecting yourself and the bears. Review the best practices before you trail ride in bear country, and learn what to do if you encounter a bear. Learn about bear spray, a highly effective, non-lethal bear deterrent. Make sure you know what areas are closed for bear management.
While most bears do their best to avoid the people riding around their backyard, every time you embark on an adventure into bear country you’re opening the door for a bear encounter. Bears are naturally afraid of humans, but as the lines between bears and humans become less defined, bears become more audacious in our presence. This is especially true in areas where they’re accustomed to seeing us, like on the trails. As the saying goes: "Prior proper preparation prevents poor performance". You can protect yourself, and the bears, by following these safety guidelines.
The truth is, we are seen by wildlife far more than we ever see wildlife.
A grizzly cub. You are more likely to be attacked by a grizzly bear if you scream out loud, fight back, or run away. Only about 1,500 grizzlies are left in the lower 48 states of the US.