Just when you thought it was safe to be outdoors and hunting, Louisiana’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) reminds hunters to be cautious because black bears are actively foraging at this time of year in preparation for the winter.
Bears are foraging more actively at this time of year in order to gain the body weight necessary to survive food shortages during winter. Corn is a bear favorite, and when placed in areas inhabited by bears, it will attract them. Louisiana’s black bear populations are growing and their ranges are expanding, as noted in record numbers of trail camera photos capturing bear activity at deer feeders in the state.
The department also issued guidelines on handling encounters with black bears—and on taking precautions. One topic of interest was that of coaching younger hunters on how to respond to different types of bear encounters and for providing those hunters with bear spray and teaching them how to use it. Hunters were also cautioned not to run from any bear they encounter.
In the unlikely event that a black bear does attack, the Department reminded hunters — DO NOT PLAY DEAD. Playing dead is a technique used for grizzly bear attacks. During encounters with black bears, hunters should fight back with anything available (sticks, rocks, knives, etc.) as black bear attacks have successfully been stopped when the person fought back violently.
One other word of caution from the department reminded hunters that in the brush black bears and wild boars could be mistaken, so hunters should exercise extra caution to correctly identify their targets.
More details are at: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/35974