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Never ride alone in bear country
A large male black bear can exceed 600 lbs in weight while females seldom exceed 200 lbs.
BEAR COUNTRY SAFETY GUIDELINES
Avoid riding alone if possible. A group makes more noise
than a single rider, increasing your chances of giving any
bears in the area a heads up. Hiring a local guide is always
a good idea. And be sure to have some veteran or local
mountain horses with you on the ride. Horses that are
acclimated to the area get pretty trail-savvy, and it takes a
lot to spook them. A horse spooking can sometimes pose
more danger than the bear itself.
Make a lot of noise by talking, clapping and singing to avoid
startling a bear. Chances are a bear isn’t going to linger on
the trail if he expects a circus to crest the hill at any moment.
Despite what you may have heard, bear bells may not be
enough to alert a bear of your presence so don’t rely on
them.
Stick to the trail. It may take some of the adventure out of
your ride, but by staying on the trail you’ll minimize
potential bear encounters.
Avoid bear food. If you smell something dead or see a
carcass or see birds circling overhead, avoid the area. You
don’t want to encroach on a bear food source. Never
approach a carcass. Riders should detour around carcasses
and any bears they encounter, or turn around and return
the way they came.
be aware of your surroundings. Headwinds, running water, a curve in the trail or dense vegetation all increase your
chances of surprising a bear. Use caution and make plenty
of noise before approaching areas where a bear may not
hear, smell or see you coming.
Trail ride during the daylight hours. Bears are most active
during early morning and late afternoon hours in the spring
and summer. We all love trail riding at sunrise or sunset,
but in bear country, this can increase your odds of coming
across a bear.
Avoid areas known to have a high bear population. Research
the location you plan to ride and find out if it is known for
bear activity.
Watch for signs of bear – tracks, scat and markings on trees
are all good indicators. Find out what kind of bears might
be in the area you plan to trail ride and what kind of specific
signs to look for.
Avoid wearing scented lotions or perfumes on the trail.
Don't test a bear's nose.
You’ve probably heard it before, but if you encounter a bear
while trail riding, fight the urge to run away. Your attempt
at flight could trigger the bear’s predatory response.
Instead, stand calmly and assess the situation.