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DeadEyeDoubter t1_iw0gmc4 wrote

The bell thing isn't true.

Black bears will mostly leave you alone. And grizzly bears as a whole will as well. But grizzly bears are definitely more territorial than black bears.

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iamlucky13 t1_iw0w557 wrote

> Bears aren’t interested in attacking you.

They aren't usually interested in hunting people, but it does happen from time-to-time.

Once they've established a home range, however, they can be very interested in defending their territory, especially during mating season. Having read a variety of stories about bears attacks as part of trying to be an aware hiker, they always make me relieved we only have black bears in our area.

Reading a book on the Lewis and Clark expedition in particular made an impression on me. When the natives were telling them stories about grizzlies, they could couldn't wait to encounter one to show off how much braver and better hunters they were.

Actually encountering grizzlies cured the party of that enthusiasm, and Lewis actually almost died in one of the encounters.

https://lewis-clark.org/sciences/mammals/bears/grizzly-bear-encounters/

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