Bogley

Shan · Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 784 Location: Cache Valley

Is this a dumb idea? Anything I need to know?

My dog Gina is not a hunting dog, she has a low prey drive from what I can tell (well she is fine around cats and chickens and children). But she's big on picking up scents. She is also rather submissive.

We want to go to the Wind Rivers this weekend to canoe, but the couple that usually sits Gina is going also, bringing their dog.

We brought her to Moon Lake, Uintas before in the canoe, and I wasn't really worried about bears then. But it's my understanding there's more bears in the Winds, and grizzlies also. Or maybe the bear population is same per/sq.mi.? Or maybe I'm just more paranoid because I know a grizzly was sighted 3 miles from the trailhead when I was there last?

I just have visions of a grizzly tearing my dog apart in front of my eyes. Hubby says I'm being a paranoid dog freak mom.:roll:

I don't know what she would do if a bear came into camp. maybe bark at it from behind my legs, or what a bear would do if it saw a dog.

Ease my fears; validate my fears?

Sombeech · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 11229 Location: The Rubbish Bin

I would guess that a dog could outrun a bear. :ne_nau:

Also, a dog would be a good "warning bell" if anything was near.

JamisJockey · Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 1023 Location: Woodbridge, VA

Dogs don't like bears. Bears don't like dogs. A Dog is great in bear country, as long as its not overly aggressive. It will sound the alarm long before the bear comes into camp, and the scent of a dog might keep a wary bear out of your stuff.
Back east, Dogs are used to hunt bears. They are scared to death of dogs back there.... :lol8:

icthys · Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 559 Location: Heber

From what I've read and been told a dog is a good idea to take in bear country. The dog can detect a bear sooner than we could letting you know there is one near by, thus taking out the surprise factor. I've also heard of bears backing down to dogs in a confrontational situation. If a bear does decide to attack it will more than likely go after the dog since the dog should be barking and going nuts. I'd rather the bear get my dog than get me or someone else with me. Most dogs don't rush in to an intruder, they keep their distance and just bark and growl like crazy.

I wouldn't worry about taking your dog, in fact you should welcome having it around.

Shan · Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 784 Location: Cache Valley

OK, I'm feeling a little better.

I don't think she'd go after a bear, like you said. She doesn't even go after deer. If anything, hopefully the bear will back away seeing 4 humans and 2 barking dogs.

TreeHugger · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 893

I dont know, from my understanding, dogs and bears dont mix. I'd definately check with a wildlife person or a ranger or someone that would know for sure.

Lehi · Joined: 14 Aug 2005 Posts: 11

Your dog should protect you pretty well. There was a recent story where a guy was hiking with his brittany spaniel (small dog) and he came upon a bear. the bear started to attack and it smacked the guy across the chest, leaving clawmarks and a huge bruise on the guys chest, but without the dog, the bear would have killed him. That little dog kept distracting the bear. Whenever the bear would get close to the owner, the dog would move in and growl like crazy and knip at the bear. So I would feel safer with a dog by my side. But I would bring a .44 mag and some good bear spray also. Dog, Gun, Spray, the deadly trio. :thumb: Hopefully you are allowed a gun up there. :ne_nau:

Shan · Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 784 Location: Cache Valley

Thanks everyone. I survived. Apparently I was the only one freaked about bears. They said the smell of the dogs would keep bears away. Oh, and the .357 mag the boys were shooting.

accadacca · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 7035 Location: The Interwebs

Hey Shan,

I passed a Jeep with a canoe on top in Logan canyon on Friday late afternoon. Was it you guys? :ne_nau:

Shan · Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 784 Location: Cache Valley

Why yes, that could have been us! Green Jeep and green canoe? We left town at 3:45pm. Were you heading to Bear Lake?

price1869 · Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 11:37 am Post subject:

Sombeech wrote: I would guess that a dog could outrun a bear. :ne_nau:

Also, a dog would be a good "warning bell" if anything was near.

Not a chance. Bears are fast as hell. Most dogs wouldn't stand a chance outrunning a bear.

accadacca · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 7035 Location: The Interwebs

Shan wrote: Why yes, that could have been us! Green Jeep and green canoe? We left town at 3:45pm. Were you heading to Bear Lake?
Yup I read that you guys were headed to the Wind Rivers and then I saw the jeep on Friday. :idea: I had just ridden the Rick's Canyon - Steel Hollow Loop. I passed you guys right by the winter storage sheds along the sinks. It is a great place to pass, as you can see for miles. I passed like 16 cars there once. :eek2:

Anyway I was headed back to fish haven. I should have brought some snacks, I was damn hungry after that ride and out of water. :eat: See my TR in the MTB section. BTW...I was driving my Toyota PU. I took evanston initially on Thursday afternoon to avoid the construction. It sucked getting to this trail. I was stopped 3 times....... :frustrated:

Sombeech · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 11229 Location: The Rubbish Bin

accadacca wrote: I took evanston initially on Thursday afternoon to avoid the construction. It sucked getting to this trail. I was stopped 3 times....... :frustrated:

BTW, how is the Evanston route to Bear Lake? I've never taken it. Just Logan Canyon, and the other way through Preston ID.

price1869 wrote: Most dogs wouldn't stand a chance outrunning a bear.

My dog runs away pretty fast when he knows it's time to get back in the kennel. :haha:

I've heard that if you are to run away from a bear, ALWAYS run down hill, because their front legs are shorter, and they have an easier time climbing.

JamisJockey · Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 1023 Location: Woodbridge, VA

http://www.thebigzoo.com/Animals/Grizzly_Bear.asp
Top speed of a Grizzly: 35mph. You ain't out running that. Use the most powerful muscle in your body, your brain, and think man, think!
:lol8:
http://www.bear.org/Black/Black_Bear_Facts.html
Ursus americanus can do 30mph uphill or downhill.

Besides, everyone knows, you don't have to outrun the bear. Just outrun whoever you're with....
:bootyshake:

Shan · Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 784 Location: Cache Valley

Oh, I didn't think dogs could out run bears; I didn't know if they'd be confrontational.

It still irks me how non-chalant the people I was with were about a clean camp. We had pan fried trout and a huge dutch oven dinner. They weren't the tidiest either. I didn't know they needed the fire to cook or else I wouldn't have set my tent up within 60 feet of the fire pit (limited flat spots). The men were going to leave their dirty-dinner-trout-greased dishes out until breakfast. I got on them about how this is "designated grizzly habitat" and they were NOT going to leave dishes out for any critters 60 feet from my head. So in the end the did wash their dishes, but left the the half eaten cobbler in the dutch oven on the ground with a rock on it and their coolers out (not tied or hung).