Are the bears dangerous?

SkuDah · Aug 20, 2014

Have to share this funny article I saw today. I love a good sense of humour.

pyreneanway.com / blog / french-pyrenees-gr-10-walk-guide / ?lang=en

Are the bears dangerous then?

Statistically speaking, no. You are more likely to be killed in a plane crash in the Pyrenees than by a bear. Nobody has been killed by a bear since the invention of the airplane, but the wreckage on the GR 10 on the slopes of Canigou is testimony to the unreliability of aircraft.

In fact, there are only 20 bears in the Pyrenees, so you are unlikely even to see one. You definitely will see marmottes.

If you do see a bear it will probably ignore you. If you are still uneasy, extensive advice on bears is available on backpacker.com. Questions in the forum include such interesting topics as “Will back country sex attract a bear?”, “Do Tasers stop bears?” and, for the really paranoid, “Will my farts attract a bear?”.

Whatever you do, don’t wear a sheepskin coat. Several hundred sheep are killed by the bears each year (out of a population approaching half a million).

scruffy1 · Aug 20, 2014

tyrrek · Aug 20, 2014

Indeed. Don't waste God's time praying for deliverance from bears. Instead pray that the sheep don't organise.

Felipe · Aug 20, 2014

Actually, in France it is more probable to meet a wild-boar or two, even near villages, when the road crosses a ravine and it is late afternoon. It is recommended to wait patiently until they leave, especially when it is a female with offspring (how do you call them? in French, they are "marcassins")

bystander · Aug 20, 2014

Do pilgrims s*** in the woods?

whariwharangi · Aug 20, 2014

You are more likely to meet bears in the Cantabrian mountains, portions of which are traversed between Astorga and Sarria. The population of bears is small so the odds of seeing one are minimal but it is bear country.

Cantabrian Brown
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantabrian_brown_bear

whariwharangi · Aug 20, 2014

tyrrek said:
Indeed. Don't waste God's time praying for deliverance from bears. Instead pray that the sheep don't organise.

What, Me worry?

ranthr · Aug 20, 2014

I must admit I was worried about meeting the pyreneean bear when I walked from Oloron to Somport. There were warnings! Even if I live in an area. in Norway with bears, I have never seen or met some of them, but thé pyreneean bear sounded more scareful. Some pilgrims have met them and were pretty scared. In Galicia I was more worried about the wolves that I heard hauling on a very foggy day up to O' Cebreiro.

natefaith · Aug 21, 2014

You guys are making me paranoid! I'd never even heard there were bears, wolves, or boars along the Camino and always thought blissfully of walking solo! Although, our friend did get bit by a dog near Sarria. Moral of the story is always have a trekking pole handy....?

natefaith · Aug 21, 2014

Felipe said:
So, I should not not mention the vultures sometimes circling over pilgrims' heads, high in the sky, in the mountains passes?

Haha, No. Thank you for your consideration .

Kanga · Aug 21, 2014

You don't need to worry about the vultures unless you fall over a cliff and die. In which case they will have picked your bones clean before rescue workers can get to you.
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3224746

Urban Trekker · Aug 21, 2014

Here in the states they recomend that when in bear country carry pepper spray and wear a bell or bells to let the bears know you in the area. That being said, you can tell if the bear is a black or brown bear or a grizzly bear by their scat (poop). Black or brown bears scat will be full of seeds and smell like berries. Grizzly bear scat will have bells in it and smell like pepper spray.

Happy Trails. 12 days and counting

wayfarer · Aug 21, 2014

natefaith said:
You guys are making me paranoid! I'd never even heard there were bears, wolves, or boars along the Camino and always thought blissfully of walking solo! Although, our friend did get bit by a dog near Sarria. Moral of the story is always have a trekking pole handy....?

You might encounter a few"bare" feet, and the odd "bore" but that will be about as dangerous as it gets.

scruffy1 · Aug 21, 2014

Pyreneean bears? If you had done your Camino history homework you would have known that the locals, the Basques - who are always personified as dangerous and possessing both a perfidious nature and long knives - the Basques would have long ago chopped up all the bears into chorizos.

scruffy1 · Aug 21, 2014

No no no, just before the good people of Pamplona finished him off, Roland chopped up an elephant for his pintxos, nothing was left except for one of the tusks, too little and too late.

Stephen · Aug 21, 2014

That's a question was in my mind as I prepared to cross the Pyrenees. So I tagged along with a group containing some people who appeared even more decrepit than myself. I knew I'd never be able to outrun a hungry bear, but saw that I didn't need to. All I had to do was outrun one of my companions.

natefaith · Aug 21, 2014

wayfarer said:
You might encounter a few"bare" feet, and the odd "bore" but that will be about as dangerous as it gets.

Hahaha, perfect

natefaith · Aug 21, 2014

Stephen said:
That's a question was in my mind as I prepared to cross the Pyrenees. So I tagged along with a group containing some people who appeared even more decrepit than myself. I knew I'd never be able to outrun a hungry bear, but saw that I didn't need to. All I had to do was outrun one of my companions.

Well, if that ain't the Camino spirit, what is?!

natefaith · Aug 21, 2014

Urban Trekker said:
Here in the states they recomend that when in bear country carry pepper spray and wear a bell or bells to let the bears know you in the area. That being said, you can tell if the bear is a black or brown bear or a grizzly bear by their scat (poop). Black or brown bears scat will be full of seeds and smell like berries. Grizzly bear scat will have bells in it and smell like pepper spray.

Happy Trails. 12 days and counting

DEFINITELY not sticking my nose down there to sniff! I pity the researcher who had to come to those conclusions!

newfydog · Aug 21, 2014

We frequently had bears on our porch in Canada and they never bothered anyone. Worry about the cars in Burgos,or some confused cow running over you. Bears are really very nice animals.

bystander · Aug 21, 2014

from Iberianature.com

"not a single person has been killed by a bear in the last 150 years in the Pyrenees."
"150 to 300 sheep are killed by bears each year in the Pyrenees"

Kanga · Aug 21, 2014

newfydog said:
We frequently had bears on our porch in Canada and they never bothered anyone. .... Bears are really very nice animals.

Newly, I worry about you! Not only do you cuddle up to vicious dogs, now you are swinging on the porch with bears. I still think of Steve Irwin getting himself killed by a friendly stingray.

Felipe · Aug 21, 2014

bystander said:
"not a single person has been killed by a bear in the last 150 years in the Pyrenees."
"150 to 300 sheep are killed by bears each year in the Pyrenees"

So, the Pyrenees are not a good place for feeling sheepish?

bystander · Aug 21, 2014

Felipe said:
So, the Pyrenees are not a good place for feeling sheepish?

How true, you'll be fleeced!

annelise · Aug 21, 2014

Stephen said:
That's a question was in my mind as I prepared to cross the Pyrenees. So I tagged along with a group containing some people who appeared even more decrepit than myself. I knew I'd never be able to outrun a hungry bear, but saw that I didn't need to. All I had to do was outrun one of my companions.

Ha - so now I see the reason why a walking companion is occasionally sollicited! - And of course the most unfit and elderly person will be the choice ... (I fear I would myself be an obiously fit candidate here )

annelise

bystander · Aug 21, 2014

annelise said:
(I fear I would myself be an obiously fit candidate here )annelise

Do you mean "fit" or "unfit" ?!!

annelise · Aug 21, 2014

bystander said:
Do you mean "fit" or "unfit" ?!!

'Unfit' as to outrunning a bear, 'fit' as a candidate for accompanying a faster runner with a bear at our heels

- but as to outrunning a 'beer', that is quite another equation ...

annelise

whariwharangi · Aug 21, 2014

natefaith said:
DEFINITELY not sticking my nose down there to sniff! I pity the researcher who had to come to those conclusions!

Its easily observable from a distance ... no need to taste ...

newfydog · Aug 21, 2014

You just need a guard kitty.

GerryDel · Aug 21, 2014

There's no need to worry about bears. If they want to eat you, they will. I was in a group charged by black bears once in the Smoky Mountains. They were just toying with us. They run extremely fast. There's no getting away.

jennie · Aug 21, 2014

Stephen said:
That's a question was in my mind as I prepared to cross the Pyrenees. So I tagged along with a group containing some people who appeared even more decrepit than myself. I knew I'd never be able to outrun a hungry bear, but saw that I didn't need to. All I had to do was outrun one of my companions.

excellent solution ,, pity though as i think i will most likely be the bear bait in a situation like that

bystander · Aug 21, 2014

MendiWalker said:
The last bear of the Pyrenees by the name of Camille was killed by a Frenchmen in 2004.

Ondo Ibili !

Do you mean if they are not called "Camille" they're safe from French hunters?!!

jennie · Aug 21, 2014

MendiWalker said:
What I was saying was that the last of all the Pyrenees bear was killed by a Frenchman who was warned not to go in that direction as Camille ( the bears name) was wandering in that area. The mentioned Frenchman wanted to have the "honor" of ending the Pyrenees bear.

I refrain from typing what I think of this so called hunter.

On the other hand in Picos de Europa there still remain a colony of about 180 bears.

Ondo Ibili !

Really in 2004 ?thats amazing as you would have expected/hoped that by now people would realise the long term value of keeping animals like this alive ? i suppose that we should even expect NOW that some one out there would pay a fortune to have the privilage of being THE ONE that killed the last Tiger or the last any creature,some claim to fame ????

Tincatinker · Aug 21, 2014

I spent three weeks in the Picos looking for bears. Found mark, found scat, found a well mangled sheep - never saw a bear. The grumpy old ex-hunter who ran a bar in Cosgaya explained that that was because "bear see you, you no see bear". This seemed plausible, as did his second comment, "bear no see you, bear bumf you up good!" A good friend did once incur a severe bear related injury - watching a bear through binoculars while walking slowly and carefully toward said bear - he stepped off a 15ft drop into thorn scrub. His companions also suffered but their trousers dried quite quickly in the autumn sun.

Felipe · Aug 21, 2014

I' ve read that the current bear population in the French Pyrinees is not native -it has been brought from Slovakia, by a government program. It is a quite controversial and emotional issue in France.
Apparently, it is not unusual to see bears in the Galicia mountains -particularly, around Piedrafita do Cebreiro, not far from the Camino.
http://www.galiciaparaelmundo.com/blog/?page_id=51&recurso_id=3225

jennie · Aug 21, 2014

Felipe said:
I' ve read that the current bear population in the French Pyrinees is not native -it has been brought from Slovakia, by a government program. It is a quite controversial and emotional issue in France.
Apparently, it is not unusual to see bears in the Galicia mountains -particularly, around Piedrafita do Cebreiro, not far from the Camino.
http://www.galiciaparaelmundo.com/blog/?page_id=51&recurso_id=3225

in a couple of sites here in Ireland they have been trying to reintroduce eagles however after years of work alot of the birds are being found shot or poisened,so i can imagine the problem facing the groups trying to reintroduce the bears may be its a sad fact that once its gone its lost FOREVER

SkuDah · Aug 24, 2014

Guard kitty to protect us.??

That's decided it. I am buying a kitty to put in my pack. It won't weigh much.
Better safe than sorry

Rachael · Aug 24, 2014

My backpacking haunts here in Washington state are popular with black and grizzly bears. As long as one takes care with properly bagging and hanging one's food in a tree for the night; or carrying food in a bear canister and burying it away from your campsite, you are unlikely to see them "up close and personal."

Camembert · Aug 24, 2014

SkuDah said:
Have to share this funny article I saw today. I love a good sense of humour.

pyreneanway.com / blog / french-pyrenees-gr-10-walk-guide / ?lang=en

Are the bears dangerous then?

Statistically speaking, no. You are more likely to be killed in a plane crash in the Pyrenees than by a bear. Nobody has been killed by a bear since the invention of the airplane, but the wreckage on the GR 10 on the slopes of Canigou is testimony to the unreliability of aircraft.

In fact, there are only 20 bears in the Pyrenees, so you are unlikely even to see one. You definitely will see marmottes.

If you do see a bear it will probably ignore you. If you are still uneasy, extensive advice on bears is available on backpacker.com. Questions in the forum include such interesting topics as “Will back country sex attract a bear?”, “Do Tasers stop bears?” and, for the really paranoid, “Will my farts attract a bear?”.

Whatever you do, don’t wear a sheepskin coat. Several hundred sheep are killed by the bears each year (out of a population approaching half a million).

You do see the bears on the road, but not the road itself !(a Dutch proverb)

supersullivan · Aug 24, 2014

As good peregrinos, we mustn't forget to bring some spare toilet paper - as the question goes: does a bear cr*p in the woods?

Thengel1 · Aug 25, 2014

Of all the things I worried about while planning for the camino, bears never entered into my thoughts. But then, I live in Vancouver, and virtually every hiking trail in SW British Columbia has at least the possibility running into a bear. Seen a couple over the years, fortunately from a reasonably safe distance.

Heck, in some suburbs of Vancouver, bears will get into garbage if it is not secured properly.

Rachael · Aug 25, 2014

We had an adolescent bear scaring everybody in my neighborhood a couple of years ago. As much as I've seen many deer, raccoons, and coyotes in the back yard, I refused to believe that it was a real live BEAR. I figured somebody's Newfoundland had wandered away.

Two days later the state wildlife rangers captured a black bear a mile away, near the university. I never scoffed about seeing bears again.

Icacos · Aug 25, 2014

Thengel1 said:
Of all the things I worried about while planning for the camino, bears never entered into my thoughts........

Same here. Must say that the only time on the Camino Frances when I felt aware of the 'unknown', even though I was with a companion, was during that stretch through the woods between Villafranca Montes de Oca and St. Juan de Ortega.

GerryDel · Aug 25, 2014

Rachael said:
We had an adolescent bear scaring everybody in my neighborhood a couple of years ago.

That's the same as we encountered in the Smoky Mountains. Two young bears, almost full size, ran at us from a ridge while Momma bear looked on. I think they just wanted to play, but it was pretty frightening seeing how fast they moved.

newfydog · Aug 25, 2014

I was very pleased to see a pile of bear business on the side of the road just a few km out of town this weekend. He had eaten a lot of berries, but no pilgrims.

I have seen tracks and steaming piles here, but never saw one in person around here.

In Canada we had one trying to get to our barbeque and having a stand-off with the dog. my wife went out and yelled at them both----- the bear went up a tree, the dog into the house.

jirit · Aug 25, 2014

Bears in Spain?

Reminds me of a story I heard about two guys walking in the Canadian woods

The two guys see in the far distance an angry bear that proceeds to charge towards them.

The first guy promptly sits down and pulls out a brand new pair of running shoes

The second guy stands there in shock and explains " you can not out run a bear! "

The first guy replies " yes, you are correct, but all I need to do, is out run you! "

Moral of the story:

"Beware of Canadian pilgrims wearing brand new running shoes when confronted with angry wild Spanish bears!"

We know better...

Icacos · Aug 25, 2014

jirit said:
Bears in Spain?

Reminds me of a story I heard about two guys walking in the Canadian woods

The two guys see in the far distance an angry bear that proceeds to charge towards them.

The first guy promptly sits down and pulls out a brand new pair of running shoes

The second guy stands there in shock and explains " you can not out run a bear! "

The first guy replies " no you are correct, but all I need to do, is out run you! "

Moral of the story:

"Beware of Canadian pilgrims wearing brand new running shoes when confronted with angry wild Spanish bears!"

We know better...

Oooooooooooh! And as natefaith said:

Well, if that ain't the Camino spirit, what is?!

RENSHAW · Aug 26, 2014

bystander said:
Do pilgrims s*** in the woods?

The only other option is in the pants

karenfromcali · Aug 26, 2014

wayfarer said:
You might encounter a few"bare" feet, and the odd "bore" but that will be about as dangerous as it gets.

The only 'bear' I saw was a 'bare' bum or two! (Not my fault!!! Walked around the corner and voila!!....) But the Pyrenees is a long hike with nowhere to pee!!

Anniesantiago · Aug 27, 2014

What bears?

whariwharangi · Aug 27, 2014

Anniesantiago said:
What bears?

Cantabrian Brown
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantabrian_brown_bear

Alyssa · Sep 17, 2014

Haha, maybe few bears but according to an elderly Spanish man outside La Virgen, there are plenty of wolves on the Meseta.

As I headed toward Mazarife less than a mile after La Virgen, an old man hobbling along the road with his cane, sporting a jaunty cap called out to me.

"Hey," he yelled, "you're not walking alone are you?"

"Yes," I replied. "Why not?"

"It's dangerous for a woman alone on the Camino," he said in his raspy voice. "There are wolves!"

"That's ridiculous!" I retorted.

"No, it's true," he persisted. "There are many wolves along this route of the two-legged variety."

I laughed and resumed walking as he continued calling out behind me, "Be careful, girl! It's dangerous! Those wolves...."

Stephen · Sep 17, 2014

As long as they're not werewolves.

Alyssa · Sep 18, 2014

Stephen said:
As long as they're not werewolves.

No kidding.

Stephen · Sep 18, 2014

You'll know there's a great specific which is said to offer protection from werewolves, and perhaps the two legged variety of wolf, too...eat plenty of garlic.

tpmchugh · Sep 20, 2014

whariwharangi said:
You are more likely to meet bears in the Cantabrian mountains, portions of which are traversed between Astorga and Sarria. The population of bears is small so the odds of seeing one are minimal but it is bear country.

Cantabrian Brown
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantabrian_brown_bear

I never knew there were bears anywhere on the Camino. The only wild life I seen were two storks and a dead baby owl. I was more frightened by cows coming down the trail from La Faba. Have you seen the length of those horns. I just froze and prayed as they passed each side of me. Think I might prefer a bear

whariwharangi · Sep 20, 2014

Alyssa said:
Haha, maybe few bears but according to an elderly Spanish man outside La Virgen, there are plenty of wolves on the Meseta.

As I headed toward Mazarife less than a mile after La Virgen, an old man hobbling along the road with his cane, sporting a jaunty cap called out to me.

"Hey," he yelled, "you're not walking alone are you?"

"Yes," I replied. "Why not?"

"It's dangerous for a woman alone on the Camino," he said in his raspy voice. "There are wolves!"

"That's ridiculous!" I retorted.

"No, it's true," he persisted. "There are many wolves along this route of the two-legged variety."

I laughed and resumed walking as he continued calling out behind me, "Be careful, girl! It's dangerous! Those wolves...."

Cougars too!

Alyssa · Sep 20, 2014

whariwharangi said:
Cougars too!

Clever!

Alyssa · Sep 21, 2014

Stephen said:
You'll know there's a great specific which is said to offer protection from werewolves, and perhaps the two legged variety of wolf, too...eat plenty of garlic.

Which is not difficult to do on the Camino...a little sopa de ajo, perhaps?

whariwharangi · Sep 21, 2014

Alyssa said:
Which is not difficult to do on the Camino...a little sopa de ajo, perhaps?

The sopa de ajo would be an attractant for bears ... which really are dangerous even if the probability of an encounter on the camino is very low.

You don't know the meaning of fear until an upset mama grizzly/brown takes a charge at you.

Alyssa · Sep 21, 2014

whariwharangi said:
The sopa de ajo would be an attractant for bears ... which really are dangerous even if the probability of an encounter on the camino is very low.

You don't know the meaning of fear until an upset mama grizzly/brown takes a charge at you.

Whari, if you take a look at the posts above, you will see that the sopa de ajo is for warding off the werewolves and wolves.

whariwharangi · Sep 21, 2014

MendiWalker said:
No grizzlies in Europe.

Ondo Ibili !

Cantabrian Brown would be considered a Grizzly here in Canada.

Wikipedia articles provide:

Eurasian brown bears (Ursus arctos arctos)

The grizzly bear (Ursus arctos ssp)

When it received its scientific name in 1815, the grizzly was classified as a separate species from all other bears. However, modern genetic testing reveals the grizzly to be a subspecies of the brown bear (Ursus arctos). So in Eurasia, it is the "brown bear"; in North America, it is the "grizzly".

whariwharangi · Sep 21, 2014

Alyssa said:
Whari, if you take a look at the posts above, you will see that the sopa de ajo is for warding off the werewolves and wolves.

Yeah, but the thread is about bears ... an actual hazard even if it is low probability. Unlike werewolves ...

Alyssa · Sep 21, 2014

whariwharangi said:
Yeah, but the thread is about bears ... an actual hazard even if it is low probability. Unlike werewolves ...

whariwharangi said:
The sopa de ajo would be an attractant for bears ... which really are dangerous even if the probability of an encounter on the camino is very low.

You don't know the meaning of fear until an upset mama grizzly/brown takes a charge at you.

True, true. No more sopa de ajo, peregrinos!

bystander · Sep 21, 2014

Timeo ursae et dona ferentes

Stephen · Sep 22, 2014

Surely, wooden horses could present no threat.

Rachael · Sep 22, 2014

IF YOU RECEIVE A GIFT IN THE SHAPE OF A LARGE WOODEN HORSE DO NOT DOWNLOAD IT!!!! It is EXTREMELY DESTRUCTIVE and will overwrite your ENTIRE CITY!

bystander · Sep 22, 2014

Timeo ursae et dona ferentes

"if you go down to the woods today....."

Stephen · Sep 23, 2014

bystander said:
Timeo ursae et dona ferentes

The limits of my meagre education are exposed. I half remembered that as, 'Beware of Greeks bearing gifts'.
Hence, my mention of the Wooden horses.

waveprof · Sep 25, 2014

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us...mepage=yes&video_referrer=http://www.cnn.com/

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Are the bears dangerous?

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