Ask A Bear: Do Bear Bells Really Work?

READERS COMMENTS

About 5 years back I was hiking alone in Glacier National Park. As I passed by a group of 4 or five young men they laughed and made fun of my bear bells. But I just continued on in one direction and they continued on in the other. But just a mile furthur up the trail, guess what I encountered.. a bear. He was up in a tree only 20 feet off of the trail. As I unknowingly passed by him, the bear jumped out of the tree and ran off out of sight. I don't know for sure if my bear bells are what made him aware of me, but lucky for me, the bear appeared to be more afraid of me than I was afraid of him.
Posted: Feb 03, 2012 Jeffery T

I wil hike the at next year, to bell or not to bell.
Posted: Dec 26, 2011 ron

I used bear bells in Glacier Park in 1982 and I'm still here!
Posted: Jul 08, 2011 Meg Schmidt

I used bear bells in Glacier Park in 1982 and I'm still here!
Posted: Jul 08, 2011 Meg Schmidt

Pavlov
Posted: May 17, 2011 Capt Lefty

I've pack horses into the Cascades for 20 years. Horse response is not a fair comparison to a bear's response. Horses are the prey. They are herd animals like elk. They respond to a cracked twig like something might eat them. Since they focus on that one unusual item as a survival threat, the hiker needs to take the downhill side, or flight as the means of escape could send the horse and rider over the cliff. Bear bells are not necessary with horses. The bear I've seen hear us in advance, and take off, which is fine with me. The only sounds I want to hear is the creaking of saddles, and thud of hoof beats against a backdrop of nature.
Posted: Mar 03, 2011 Mountaingal

I'm a solo hiker having hiked in Alaska, Canada and the Northwest USA, including Glacier National Park. I use bear bells knowing the controversy surrounding the efficacy, but when hiking solo how can one all day use his voice singing, shouting and talking? Interestingly, while hiking outside Banff, Alberta Canada a horseman leading a pack train of horses stopped and shouted to me to stop too. His reason for asking me to stop? He said my bear bells were scaring his horses, and asked that I stop walking until he past completely with his team of horses. I found that request speaking volumes in saying that animals notice the bear bells and whether that cowboy pokes fun at them or not, he had to contend with me wearing them by asking me to stop walking so as not to scare his pack train of horses. Interesting.
Posted: Mar 03, 2011 Jerry Doyle

I think the distinction between surprising/startling a bear and scaring one away is important. If the bear wants your food, the bell is worthless. And I want Mama bear to call her cub well before I arrive.
Posted: Mar 03, 2011 Argosinu

A few years ago I attended a bear lecture by a ranger at Banff National Park, who said bells are worthless because (1) they aren't loud enough for a bear to hear before you are up to the bear, and (2) bears don't associate the sound of a bell with humans, so they won't run away. As for the 1982 "study" in Glacier, I would guess that non-bell-wearers were charged because almost no one wore bells in 1982.
Posted: Mar 03, 2011 James

Trail running in bear country is fool hardy. One sure way to attract a grizzly-RUN! Better to leave the running in non bear habitat.
Posted: Mar 03, 2011 Debby Nelson

Some old timers used to tie items like tin cups, pots, canteen onto the outside of their packs. The "clang, clang" with each step certainly alerted wildlife (and everyone else) to their coming.
Posted: Mar 03, 2011 Steve C

In Complete Walker IV page 731, the late Colin Fletcher and co-author Chip Rawlins seem to think that bear bells are more of a nuisance to two legged folks, than a bear repellent. Rawlins sometimes sings, makes noise or talks "in a conversational tone." Who knows what's best? I backpacked in black bear country (the Smokies and Cranberry Backcountry) back in the 60s and 80s, and saw no bears at either time.
Posted: Mar 03, 2011 Floyd

We have black bears and wolves near our house. We bell the dogs when we're hiking with a cow-type bell, as wolves like a tasty dog snack. There are quite a few wolf-eat-dog events every year, but only non-belled dogs have been consumed. The mechnical sound has been shown to protect dogs in our area.

I can't compare this to grizzlies, of course, but the cow bells are loud and have a much lower tone. Worth a try.
Posted: Mar 03, 2011 dog handler

I once had a family of three black bears cross the trail in front of me as I hiked the AT. At first I thought they were shadows or boulders but realized there was a baby and two larger adults. The biggest sat down on the trail, rolled over tree stump and seemed to eating something he found under the stump. As I photographed them, my hiking partner, a very experienced hiker, whispered to me, "don't make noise or they will run away". After a while I wanted them to get off the trail so I could pass. We banged our trekking poles together, we shouted at them, I blew my very shill and loud whistle as load as I could, I sang several verses of the "teddy bear's picnic". They totally ignored us and remained on the trail blocking our passage. We decided to get off the trail. Using my GPS we bushwhacked a big loop around them.
Posted: Mar 03, 2011 Davethehiker

I love Ask A Bear. Just the premise of it being written from a bears point of view makes me laugh. Informative too.

Q: Do you know how to tell the difference between black bear scat and grizzly bear scat?

A: Grizzly bear scat has bells in it.
Posted: Mar 03, 2011 NY Gus

As a biologist, I've worked and played - often alone - in some of the most bear-heavy country in the lower 48. I agree that the high frequencies produced by little, clinking bear bells fail to travel through vegetation or get much attention against a background of running water or birdsong. Our voices, though, are very distinctive - they will generally differentiate us from most other critters on the planet. In areas with human activities, it makes sense that bears will associate certain things (sounds, smells, visual cues) with humans. I suspect that someone singing 'I want to be an Airborne Ranger' is unmistakable to a bear; the sounds produced by various cheap-model bear bells are ambiguous at best.

Bear spray and bear bells and yakking and groups don't make up for careless or unwise behavior. Hint: 'trail running' in bear country is an inherently bad idea. Use trails for hiking (unplug the iPod, take your time, pay attention to the world around you) and save runing for the track.
Posted: Mar 03, 2011 TD

Here in NJ (yes we have a lot of bears) the bells work not to scare them away, but to make them aware of your presence and direction of movement. The bears are more aggressive when they're surprised by a hiker or a mountain biker, the bells negate that element of the encounter.
Posted: Mar 03, 2011 Tom

This is all great advice. I do try to make noise when I hike but...When hiking alone, does anyone really talk, sing or call out? It just seems awkward to make a fool of myself when I run into another hiker. Regardless, I guess appearing as a fool is better than being bear lunch.
Posted: Mar 03, 2011 Craig

Bear Bells sound preferable. Yodeling or talking to yourself may get you on medication. A Bear Bell would do double duty by also giving Cougar a heads up too. ( Cougars want nothing more than to avoid humans) Live next to Cougar Mountain and Tiger Mountain. Renton, WA. We have quite a few mind there own business Black Bear

Anyway, it is a well known saying in Washington State that the only hikers or school children in a play ground that need to fear a cougar, is the one who runs the slowest.

Also, Dogs kill more people per year than Cougar, Bear
and Alligator combined! ( Do love my dogs )




Posted: Dec 04, 2010 Martin Walters

I still prefer to use a Bear Bell, regardless.
Posted: Oct 05, 2010 Nicole

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