From: CoopWright@aol.com
Date: Tue Dec 04 2001 - 05:55:12 CST
I thought you would like to see the latest Philmont policy on bear pr=
ocedures. Both fact sheets were passed out last summer by Philmont a=
fter two separate bear encounters with hikers. They are included in =
the 2001 Philmont Advisor's Guide.=0D=0A=0D=0AAPPENDIX F=0D=0AINFORMA=
TION ON BEARS=0D=0A=0D=0AThis is a summary of information your Ranger=
will provide your crew:=0D=0A=0D=0AI. What attracts bears?=0D=0A =
=0D=0A Bears have an acute sense of smell. The smell of food or =
any other odor (except human scent) may attract bears, which are curi=
ous by nature. Bears are opportunistic feeders. They will investiga=
te any different odor as a food sources and will take advantage of an=
y easy meal, which may be presented. Bears typically search for food=
at night, but also roam during the day.=0D=0A =0D=0AII. How can e=
ncounters with bears be avoided?=0D=0A =0D=0A Adhere to good Sc=
out camping practices including:=0D=0A =0D=0A Cooking – P=
repare and cook food close to a fire ring. Sleep away from areas whe=
re food has been eaten or prepared, including cleaning of fish. Neve=
r eat food in a tent; the odor remains even after the food is gone.=
=0D=0A =0D=0A Cleanup – Put wet garbage and uneaten food =
in plastic bags and hang them in a bear bag. When the crew reached t=
he next staffed camp, consult the staff on what to do with the wet ga=
rbage. Never leave your trash or garbage on a porch without a staff =
member being made aware of it. Use a sump to dispose of dirty dishwa=
ter and cooking liquids.=0D=0A =0D=0A Food Storage – Stor=
e food and other smellables in a properly hung bear bag at night. Sm=
ellables include soaps, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lip balm, =
sunscreen, insect repellent, unused film cartridges and first aid kit=
s. Hang your bag(s) on the cable that is provided in every camp. Th=
e weight of the rope will enable it to be tossed over the cable ̵=
1; a serious injury may result from using a rock. In the Valle Vidal=
area where there are no bear cables, tie up a couple of handfuls of =
dirt in a bandanna for a weight to hang your bear bags. If you leave=
your campsite or pack during the day, hang your food and smellables.=
Do not leave your packs unattended while you take program of visit =
a conservation site. Hang your food and smellables as soon as possib=
le upon arriving at camp.=0D=0A =0D=0A Personal Sanitation R=
11; Using scented lotions, soaps, deodorants and shampoo may attract =
the attention of bears. Wash early in the day (before 2:00 pm) so th=
at residual smells will dissipate before night. Avoid using hair ton=
ic, perfume and deodorants. Brush your teeth as you usually do.=0D=
=0A =0D=0A Sleeping – Wear sleeping clothing at night tha=
t is stored inside a sleeping bag. Store “trail clothing”=
;, clothing soiled with spilled food and containers that have or have=
had drink mix or fuel, away from the tent at night.=0D=0A =0D=
=0A Bear Sightings – Report any bear sighted in a staffed ca=
mp to a staff member as soon as possible. Report a bear sighted in a=
trail camp when your itinerary takes you to a staffed camp. Note th=
e bear’s size color, and whether or not it had cubs or an ear t=
ag.=0D=0A =0D=0A Firearms – No one is permitted to carry =
a firearm in the backcountry. Philmont management enforces this poli=
cy rigidly.=0D=0A =0D=0AIII. What should you do if you encounte=
r a bear?=0D=0A=0D=0A=B7 Never provoke a bear to act aggressively. =
Do not throw rocks, use flash bulbs, approach, or go close to a bear=
. A mother with cubs is very protective and easily provoked. Give t=
hem a wide berth.=0D=0A=B7 If a bear approaches your campsite (50-1=
00 yards away), make loud noised to discourage it from coming closer.=
Never risk injury by attempting to save your food or gear. Both ca=
n be replaced if necessary.=0D=0A=B7 If a bear enters your campsite=
, gather your crew and quickly leave the area until the bear is gone.=
Contact the staff that may attempt to chase the bear away.=0D=0A=
=B7 If you awaken with a bear curiously examining you, do not play =
dead and do not strike the bear. Talking with a calm tone of voice w=
ill tell the bear know you are alive and well. If the bear is severa=
l feet away, you may be able to slip out of your sleeping bag and ret=
reat. Running may provoke a bear. If possible, back away slowly.=
=0D=0A=B7 If you are attacked by a black bear or mountain lion do n=
ot play dead, but rather fight with everything you have using rocks, =
sticks or anything else in hand.=0D=0A =0D=0A IV. These recomme=
ndations are based on our best knowledge or bears, and are designed t=
o minimize bear-human encounters, but Philmont cannot guarantee that =
an individual camper will not be injured by a bear even if these reco=
mmendations are followed. Bears are wild animals and it is ultimatel=
y your responsibility to be cautious when camping in bear habitat.=
=0D=0A =0D=0A APPENDIX G=0D=0A ADDITIONAL BEAR PROCEDURES=
=0D=0A =0D=0A NOTIFCATION:=0D=0A=B7 A nuisance bear is one th=
at is hard to chase away and returns to your site – or –h=
as investigated any camp items. At night, if you suspect a nuisance =
bear, gather the crew, build a small fire, and stay up to keep watch.=
During the day, notify the nearest staff camp.=0D=0A=B7 In trail =
camps: notify all other crews in camp of any bear sightings. Also no=
tify the next staff camp you come to.=0D=0A=B7 In staff camps: noti=
fy staff and any crews in your immediate area of any bear sightings.=
=0D=0A =0D=0A TENTS:=0D=0A=B7 Keep tents grouped in clusters =
– no isolated tents.=0D=0A=B7 Keeps tents away from smellable=
s, backpacks, wooded areas, and slopes.=0D=0A=B7 Strive to be at le=
ast 50 feet from any point on the bearmuda triangle.=0D=0A=B7 DO NO=
T STORE DAY-CLOTHES IN THE TENT=0D=0A =0D=0A SMELLABLES:=0D=
=0A DO NOT LEAVE THE AREA OF THE BEARMUDA TRIANGLE WITH ANY SMELLA=
BLES=0D=0A=B7 ALL cameras and film=0D=0A=B7 Water bottles –=
smellables go up, all others go in the fire ring. Smellable water b=
ottles include those that have had any drink mix, duct tape, stickers=
, adhesive material, or were once soda or beverage bottles.=0D=0A=
=B7 Clothes that have been worn – unless they have been washe=
d=0D=0A=B7 When conditions permit, discourage wearing warm clothes =
or rain gear while cooking=0D=0A=B7 Vomit: while hiking, move off t=
he trail and kick dirt over vomit. While in camp, clean it up and ha=
ng it in the bear bag=0D=0A =0D=0A OOPS BAG:=0D=0A=B7 Use for=
any last minute or forgotten items such as: sump Frisbee, yum-yum b=
ag, trash, advisor coffee dishes, pudgees (Ranger food supplies), clo=
thes=0D=0A=B7 Hang rope and bags as normal, but leave the loop at t=
he midpoint open. Do this by tying the knots to the right and left o=
f the loop. Use the loop as a pulley, and thread the oops rope throu=
gh. Leave the oops rope dangling so that the oops bag can be hoisted=
without dropping the primary bear bag complex.=0D=0A =0D=0A AD=
DITIONAL INFORMATION:=0D=0A=B7 If you have cooked or washed dishes,=
be sure to rinse thoroughly your hands and arms with clean rinse wat=
er to wash away any food particles or smells.=0D=0A=B7 Strive to us=
e hand sanitizer before 6 pm. Try to cook earlier in the evening.=
=0D=0A=B7 Be diligent at picking up trash EVERYWHERE!=0D=0A=B7 At=
trail camps, conduct campsite checks to see that bear procedures are=
being followed. At staff camps, off to help conduct campsite checks=
.=0D=0A=B7 If you go back out to visit a crew on the trail, DO NOT =
hike out pizza, ice cream, or any messy treats. This includes Rayado=
Treks and Mountain Treks, ROCS, OATC.=0D=0A=B7 Report poorly arran=
ged campsites to the Conservation Department, (i.e. juxtaposition of =
sump, bear cable, and fire ring). The bear cable and sumps should be=
on the uphill side of camp or closest to wooded areas. The area for=
setting up tents should be no less than 50 feet from the bearmuda tr=
iangle. When reporting campsites, know the camp, site number, and wh=
at needs to be changed.=0D=0A=0D=0ACooper Wright=0D=0AAdvisor, Crew 1=
519=0D=0ACo-author of the Philmont Advisor's Guide=0D=0A=0D=0A=0D=
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