I've actually read quite a bit on the subject (bear-human interactions) and it's a pretty fascinating topic. Stephan Herrero, author of
Bear Attacks: Causes and Avoidance, as well as several landmark studies on the subject, provides some interesting insight.
While jrichards quoted stats are correct, there has been a significantly larger number of black bear "incidents" with humans than with Grizzly, it's just that the overwhelming majority of those are minor, both in scope and injury. Most of those occur between food conditioned or habituated bears attempting to get food away from people (just as the article describes). The Grizzly on the other hand has less conflicts, but a greater percentage involve serious injury or death. Mathematics plays a part too. There are only about 60,000 Grizzlies in NA, while there are closer to 800,000 Black Bears, and (due to their tolerant nature) they tend to live in areas that bring them into contact with humans more frequently. Larger numbers mean bigger volume of incidents, despite the fact that the BB is documentably more accepting and passive towards humans.
As to the questions asked; It will just be my guess (based on my understanding), but I'll try;
chuck said:
Why does there seem to be more human - bear encounters in the ADKs than the Whites? Is it Just more bears and more people thing? From what I have read these encounters happen at established camp areas. Does it also happen when backcountry off trail camping?
Probably a combination of factors, but suffice to say there may be a larger concentration of bears in the Adirondacks than in the Whites. Also, might have something to do with the fact that there are larger concentrations of very popular backcountry campsites located in areas that are frequented by this greater number of bears. Bears are drawn to these areas due to the "ease at getting a meal". I also remember reading that in 2003-2004, there were really low berry yields in these parts and that often causes bears to expand their ranges in order to forage farther for food, thus creating a greater potential contact with more people. Makes sense, since in those two years, I saw more bears that I ever have before. Not just hiking either, they were in towns, lawns, along roads, you name it, they were everywhere. Haven't seen any this year, lots of sign though (scat, etc.). I've never been visited at backcountry campsites (or even less popular lean-tos areas) so I wouldn’t worry there.
cp2000 said:
What are the odds of a black bear in the northeast attacking for no reason(no food involved). I have only stumbled across bears twice in my life and I just started clapping and they ran away.
As explained by Herrero, despite the fact that Black Bears are much more tolerant and passive by nature, they will, on rare occasions attack and kill humans. The general nature of a Black Bear attack is different than with Grizzlies though. 75-80% of BB attacks, including the 2002 Catskill attack, are predatory in nature, which is to say the bear intends to eat its victim. Grizzly attacks, OTOH, tend to be more defensive or the result of a sudden encounter (startling it while hiking, etc.) than predatious in nature. It may decide to eat its victim later, but the incident was not initially precipitated by predator/prey behavior. Also, close to 50% of BB victims are kids under 18, which I assume is the bear understanding that smaller, means less resistance in the predator/prey struggle. That’s why, unlike the grizzly, the current advice given if attacked by a BB is to FIGHT BACK. Playing dead to a animal that WANTS you dead, will most likely GET you dead.
The good thing, and there is one, is that most of these BB fatal encounters involve rural/non-habituated bears. Meaning they tend to occur in remote areas (out west/N. Canada) with bears that have less contact and experience with humans. While certainly possible, its highly unlikely an adult hiker will be stalked, attacked and eaten here in the east anytime soon . Besides 52 deaths, despite MILLIONS and MILLIONS of potential “meal” opportunities we’ve offered them in the last 100 years ain’t too shabby (unless your one of the 52)
That’s my understanding anyway.
