Would you rather meet a man or a bear in the woods?

[shadowkat]

So, who would you rather meet in the woods while hiking, a man or a bear?

So, on Twitter - there's been bear memes. I keep responding to them in bewilderment - "you do know if you meet a bear in the woods, you will most likely be dead right?"

Twitter: most women would rather meet a bear than a man in the woods
Me: depends on the bear. You know the bear will kill you right? And with no need of a weapon. Man? Less likely?
Twitter: yes, but it won’t follow you home and gaslight you. Or rape you.
Me: true, but you’ll be dead and eaten?
Twitter: statistically you’re more likely to get attacked by a man.
Me: I don’t put much faith in statistics, they
can be manipulated. But yes, you are more likely to be attacked by a man than pretty much anything really? ( well except mosquitoes and women, but less damage depending on the mosquitoes and women so maybe not less damage?) You can meet and get attacked by a man in a grocery store, a bear not so much.
Twitter: a bear won’t rape you.
Me: no, it’ll take your face off. You can’t outrun a bear.

This is reminding me of the caveman and astronaut debate.

I repeat this conversation to FB. And am told that my lack of experience with bears is probably it. If I was around them more, I'd realize they are perfectly harmless (unless provoked). I think we're talking about black bears? They also advise it is like sharks, they were perfectly comfortable and safe swimming with the sharks.

Then I repeat to Mother.

Mother: well, most men won't attack you either. They'll just walk on by.

Some sense.

I ask my 20 year old niece who is working as a park ranger this summer in Estes, Colorado.

Niece: 1000% bear, they are cute and cuddly.

I'm thinking I'm the only one who listened to Grizzly Bear horror stories while camping.

Comments

[kerk_hiraeth]

I think I misunderstood the question.

I mean big hairy men never seemed to go for me...

kerk

[threemeninaboat]

Bears are great. Never had any bear problems, even alone in the woods.

[shadowkat]

I've admittedly not had any problems with either? Not that I've met any bears. And I've been hiking in the woods.

[iddewes]

As a person from Canada - black bears are ok, they usually will not attack unless you go too close to their cubs. Grizzlies are grumpier, but you really never see them. So yeah, I think generally a strange man behind you in the forest is scarier than a bear, especially a black bear. Besides you can make a lot of noise while walking so the bear knows you are coming and they usually hide then. And yes I have come across black bears in the wild.

[shadowkat]

They moved the Grizzilies out to the back country and more remote areas a while back - to protect the Grizzilies - I think?

While I've been hiking - I've not seen any Black Bears. Did see a Grizzly from a distance while in Yellowstone as a teen though back in the 1980s.

I live alone in a huge city? Not afraid of random men.

[cactuswatcher]

Let's be honest. It's more dangerous for a woman to walk alone outside on a college campus at night than out in the woods in the day.

To 20-year-old niece - some men are also cute and cuddly.

Out in the woods: I spent hours and hours out in woods and forests alone. When I was on foot, I never saw a bear, rarely saw any animal bigger than a squirrel near the trail. Women mostly get into trouble running or walking the same lonely trails over and over, especially very early in the morning or near sunset. In broad daylight, you won't have any trouble from bad men on busy trails where you meet people every few minutes, or striking out across country where you never see anyone. Bears with cubs are naturally the most dangerous; camping with storing food carelessly is dangerous for both men and women. Don't eat inside your tent unless you have no choice. Bears aren't the only animal that will go through a tent looking for food.

[shadowkat]

Neice has a boyfriend. So I think she knows?

She also admittedly has a love of black bears - her last summer job was shooing them away from camp sites.