Advice on our next "big" vacation

[jrw]

Yes and no. Younger bears, especially males, do cover a lot of territory. Radio collar studies in many large parks, both sides of the border, show that bears do move in and out of the parks covering 60+ miles a day when they are on the move. Larger specimens don't move around as much, presumably because they are able to defend their territory which keeps the smaller ones on the move until they reach full maturity and can then displace the aging residents.

In the more remote areas of the parks the bears are not accustomed to feeding on trash, and have not lost the fear of humans. Even the dump bears, which have no fear anymore, are more interested in doing their own thing and not attacking humans. Considering that raiding the garbage bins in campgrounds is a nightly activity, dump bear watching is/was a nightly attraction in some, they are far more interested in the trash than the campers in their tents or a lot of people would have died by now.

Have had some encounters in very remote areas where humans are a novelty apparently and there is no fear. One time, we came over a small ridge and looking behind we saw a confused looking bear coming downwind towards us. It was cocking its head, pricking up its ears as though it were trying to figure out what we were. We stood and watched it. It came to about 10 yards, circled around us a few times, lots of sniffing and then ambled off.

While felling trees on a property about an hour north of home, I caught whiff of another coming downwind to check me out. I stopped working and started watching for it. About 5 minutes later, the head of a small black bear popped out of some dogwoods. It looked at me for a while and then vanished back into the swamp I was on the edge of. Bears are a novelty in the area, but that was during the time that the spring bear hunt was banned, populations exploded and they moved south. It hung around for two years.

While I have had encounters with black, grizzly and polar bears and recognize that they are an intelligent quizzical species I do have a great respect for their ability to shred me into pieces if they so desire. I make my presence known to avoid surprising them and I keep a very clean campsite when in their territory so as not to attract them.

If the truth be known, I am more concerned about my safety with bull moose during the rutting season than bears.


EDIT: Should exclude white bear from moose comparison. They are more carnivorous than omnivorous. inuit sleep with rifle beside them for a reason when travelling. Only bear species that none of the natives who share the land with them refer to as 'brother bear'. Yet, have woken in the morning and found tracks going straight through campsites. Have come across them feeding on kills with no aggression towards me (distances of 100+ yards thankfully). Definitely wouldn't want to be up close and personal with one.

[nvitalephotography]

The animals haven't been hunted and most have very little fear of humans. .

This is true but Rangers in the parks do intensive bear management work to try and keep bears from becoming to comfortable around people. (Im actually going to be interviewing a job, doing just that) While many in parks are still used to people and not fearful, they also will not attack you unless (like jrw said) startle them or get close to their cubs. Generally speaking if you are mindful that they are around, you have very little to worry about.

I also agree with the Bull moose comment. They have been known to charge trains and chase boats across lakes during rut.

[Daniel Browning]

Oregon: Coastlines are beautiful, but one of my coldest vacations ever was the Oregon Coast in August.

I love this. It's funny because it's true.

[HDNitehawk]

This is true but Rangers in the parks do intensive bear management work to try and keep bears from becoming to comfortable around people. (Im actually going to be interviewing a job, doing just that) While many in parks are still used to people and not fearful, they also will not attack you unless (like jrw said) startle them or get close to their cubs. Generally speaking if you are mindful that they are around, you have very little to worry about.

I also agree with the Bull moose comment. They have been known to charge trains and chase boats across lakes during rut.

I would believe the Rangers do that with the bears. We came across a bear next to the road that was fishing in a small body of water. He was about 50 yards off the road and on all sides the water was surrounded by trees. Within 10 minutes traffic was backed up for a mile in either direction. After about ten minutes the bear suddenly bolted from the water and climbed a tree, just like something was after him. He then jumped from the tree and ran away. The action was out of character for what he was doing and I thought at the time that possibly a ranger had worked his way around and possibly shot him or startled him some how.

The wolves we saw last year were always on a dead run whenever they got close to the road. I have heard from others the rangers do shoot the wolves with rubber bullets to keep them scared of humans.

But it just isn't bear and wolves that are dangerous. Elk have little or no fear of any one, in Mammoth you can get just a few feet from one.

I took a run down to the Tetons and came across a very large Bull Moose close to Jackson Lake Lodge. There were 100 or so people with one ranger watching it eat, within 20 yards. The rangers do more people control than they do animal.

Point is the wildlife in these two big parks, really aren't what I would consider wild. The real danger to people is there own ignorance, because they can get that close to these big animals they think it is ok to get even closer.

[ahab1372]

If the truth be known, I am more concerned about my safety with bull moose during the rutting season than bears.

Agree, and it doesn't even take a moose. Deer can hurt a human pretty bad already.

[Steve U]

Photog82,

I've been to all the places you listed and now live in nearby New Hampshire. All are great choices. You may also want to add Costa Rica (still on a high from the trip), California Parks (Yosemite, Kings Canyon, etc) or Southern Utah (amazing with Bryce/Zion/Arches NP, etc).

A few comments:
Alaska....it is a different land than anything I've ever seen before. I saw some wildlife, but not a ton. But the trip was still amazing just because it is so different. Alaska can be whatever you make of it and I have a feeling all would be good. My trip was 2 days on the water to fish for King Salmon (caught a 58 lb salmon), 1 day at Seward with boat tours of the glacier, looking for whales, a day at Anchorage, a day in Homer, and a day trip from Anchorage to Denali NP. Great trip. If I had to do it over, I'd add a day or two in Denali NP and do the guided tours/hikes arranged by the NP. Alaska is too big to do in one shot...don't try. The other trip that I've planned but haven't done yet is using regional ferries based out of Juneau to go out to the islands and up to Skagway, etc.

Washington State: I think it is great that you consider this a destination. A lot of people don't give Washington state it's due. I believe you mean Steptoe Butte State park and have probably seen amazing photos of the Palouse. If so, just realize it is on the opposite side of the state from Seattle. Among the great things to see in or near Washington state: San Juan Islands, Rainier/Olympic/North Cascades NPs, Seattle, Victoria BC, Vancouver BC, Mt. St. Helens, Columbia River Gorge, Lake Chelan, Dry Falls, wine tasting in Walla Walla and the Palouse. A friend that is a Professor at a local college takes a bunch of students out to do a 2 week Washington/Oregon geology field trip every year. By the way, I grew up in the Palouse (in Idaho).

Oregon: Coastlines are beautiful, but one of my coldest vacations ever was the Oregon Coast in August. Astoria, Cannon Beach, Newport, the dunes...all very good. But Oregon also has the Three Sisters/Bend region, the waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge, John Day Fossil National Monument, Crater Lake NP and the Willamette area.

Hawaii: Maui is a great destination. Just take a look at Kaanapali beach, Road to Hana, and Mt. Haleakala NP. But, as you've been to Hawaii, you know...it's the air and the attitude.

Yellowstone NP: Rick covered it. Staying there is very easy. You have cabins, campgrounds or hotels within the park and just outside. I'd also look at Tetons NP just to the south. Yellowstone is one of my favorite places. But, Rick is right in that it is "developed" and can be crowded. But where else can you see amazing waterfalls, mountains, wildlife (deer/elk/buffalo are so plentiful it almost gets boring...ok, not reallY), geysers, mud pots, high mountain lakes all very accessible in one spot? On the attack bit...I have seen people do some of the dumbest things to get close to animals in Yellowstone. Keep a safe distance, if camping, lock up your food and buy a big lens .

Hopefully that helps a little. Any of those would be a great trip. Good luck planning.
Brant

Way to paint a great picture here Brant, I'm not going, but you have made me want to visit all those locations.