Everyday Biophilia

Bear Country The possibility of a human being mauled or killed by a bear is extremely rare; almost as rare as being attacked by a shark, which is less common than being struck by lightning. Around the world there are roughly 40 attacks by bears each year, and only 11 of those occur in the US, mostly in Alaska, but also in parts of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.   Rarity, however, should not be interpreted as impossibility. Attacks do happen, and if you are hiking or camping in bear country you have two choices: you can mitigate the possibility of an attack, or you can encourage it.  (Grizzly Bear with Some Things to Tell You) Let’s go ahead and assume that your desire to be feasted upon or to have your head popped like a melon is minimal, and that you would prefer to enjoy your time outdoors free of molestation by the creatures that live there. To that end, here are some basic do’s and don’ts regarding venturing into bear country. No Sneaking Off If you plan to spend som...