Dogs & Bears – Not an Ideal Situation
Do you live or travel to bear country and own a dog? You may encounter a bear, and it is essential to know the safety tips. Unfortunately, dogs have a history of being involved in incidents involving black bears. Most dogs were injured or killed, and their human companions did not fare well. Many dogs were off-leash, which resulted in bad situations.
Allowing your four-legged friend to run free in the neighborhood or woods is usually illegal. Not to mention, it is very dangerous! Dogs that get into confrontations with bears are seriously injured or killed when they are off-leash. You may be wondering why bears and dogs do not get along. Black bears evolved in forested habitats, where they learned to respond to danger and avoid trouble by climbing a tree or disappearing into the woods. One of their instincts is to defend themselves, their food, or their cubs.
Bears can see barking, lunging, or chasing as a threat. Commonly, a bear will respond by defending itself. Furthermore, a black bear’s instinct is to avoid confrontation. If you encounter a bear and your dog is on a leash, keep it from lunging at the bear. Once again, if your dog is not on a leash, you increase the chances that the bear encounter will escalate into a dangerous situation.
Living with dogs in the bear country may be challenging, but there are specific tips that you can follow to ensure safety.
- Utilize motion-activated security lights. Check the yard before you let your dog out.
- Feed your pet indoors.
- If you see a bear, bring your dog inside. Do not allow your dog to bark at the bear, even from a fenced-in yard.
- If your dog gets into an encounter with a bear, do not attempt to rescue it. You may consider rescuing from a safe distance using bear spray or a high-powered garden hose.
As you can see, dogs and bears will not result in a good situation. It is very dangerous, and you should take it seriously. We hope you follow our recommendations to keep you and your four-legged friend safe.
