Hiking the Adirondacks this summer.?

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I bought a small cabin the southern adirondacks near Lake George. Not being from the area and having never hiked any part of the Adirondacks I'm concerned about bears. Should I be concerned and what types of precautions should I take?
 
I live around Albany Ny and go up there all the time in the summer and fall. I hike, hunt, canoe, fish, and camp in the Adirondacks. I also hunt both bear and deer. First off make noise they will go the other way. They usually don't care to associate with humans. Secondly if you come up on one, DON'T SHOW ANY I MEAN ANY FEAR , just show it respect and back off. Slowly. Especially if it is a mom and cubs. Make sure you stow your "smellies" which are anything that might remotely smell good in a bear proof container. Preferably hoisted in between two trees. If you smell a wet rug you are in the area with a bear, humans can smell bears for some reason.

I would carry bear pepper spray with you it will turn them around. I carry a bullwhip to make noise, but I am pretty good with one. The other thing you have to worry about up there is Timber Rattlesnakes that is why I learned to use a whip. That was why I originally learned.
Same rules back off slowly and you will be ok they let you know that they are there. If you want a gun, a 12 gauge pump loaded with buckshot will do you for both.

All in all though our bears are like Winny the Pooh compared to their western counterparts. Just show them respect and they will do the same. Against the snakes watch where you sit and they will let you know if they are there. In addition to the rattlers, we also have copperheads and poison adders, rule of thumb if the snake does not back off he is poisonous just back off slowly and you will be fine. I have many more tips like these if you have any questions contact me and I will happily help!
 
I've hunted there before. I never saw any bears there, so they probably won't bother you. Bears will normally stay away from humans, unless it is very hungry. To keep them away, make sure to keep all food in the cabin. Don't leave anything outside. Keep your garbage cans tightly closed. If there's a lot of food in the cans, and a bear happens to smell it, it will probably start investigating. Maybe you could keep the trash cans away from the cabin. I think black bears are in the Adirondacks, but I'm not positive. If I'm right, then you shouldn't really worry. They only go after squirrels and small animals, vegetation or carrion. They're not known to attack humans for food.
If you do see a bear, it will probably run away. If it doesn't, and your car or cabin is too far away, you have to appear threatening. The worst thing you can do is run. A bear will easily outrun you, and they may go after you. Animals see running away as a weakness, or easy prey. If you're in a group, stay with the group, because it will make you appear larger. If you have a jacket, spread your jacket out to make you look bigger. Don't bend down or turn around. You want to seem giant and threatening, so the bear will leave you alone.
Carry pepper spray, I hear it is good to fend them off. When going through the woods, you want the bear to be alerted that you're there. It will usually leave when it hears you coming. Don't surprise it by coming out of nowhere. It may feel scared and attack. If you're in a group, it will usually hear you. Wearing bells can help. If you're alone, yell loudly, and make a lot of noise.
 
Eyes. ears. watch and pay attention to were you are ...Most bears will scoot if they see you ...and they will see hear or smell you way before you see them. Eastern Black bears are pretty wary and unless you cut a sow off from cubs you probably wont ever have a problem in the east.

Food and trash management... seal the food you carry. Bag food and trash in camp and hang it from a high tree branch for storage.

Bears will bust up tents, coolers, boxes - looking for camp food on the ground.
 
Eyes. ears. watch and pay attention to were you are ...Most bears will scoot if they see you ...and they will see hear or smell you way before you see them. Eastern Black bears are pretty wary and unless you cut a sow off from cubs you probably wont ever have a problem in the east.

Food and trash management... seal the food you carry. Bag food and trash in camp and hang it from a high tree branch for storage.

Bears will bust up tents, coolers, boxes - looking for camp food on the ground.
 
i live up there [glens falls stony creek] id worry more about the little bugs "no see ums" they are bad...Bears...keep trash inside shed/house... not many there...many in catskills... get good spray...keep eyes/ears open...
 
I live around Albany Ny and go up there all the time in the summer and fall. I hike, hunt, canoe, fish, and camp in the Adirondacks. I also hunt both bear and deer. First off make noise they will go the other way. They usually don't care to associate with humans. Secondly if you come up on one, DON'T SHOW ANY I MEAN ANY FEAR , just show it respect and back off. Slowly. Especially if it is a mom and cubs. Make sure you stow your "smellies" which are anything that might remotely smell good in a bear proof container. Preferably hoisted in between two trees. If you smell a wet rug you are in the area with a bear, humans can smell bears for some reason.

I would carry bear pepper spray with you it will turn them around. I carry a bullwhip to make noise, but I am pretty good with one. The other thing you have to worry about up there is Timber Rattlesnakes that is why I learned to use a whip. That was why I originally learned.
Same rules back off slowly and you will be ok they let you know that they are there. If you want a gun, a 12 gauge pump loaded with buckshot will do you for both.

All in all though our bears are like Winny the Pooh compared to their western counterparts. Just show them respect and they will do the same. Against the snakes watch where you sit and they will let you know if they are there. In addition to the rattlers, we also have copperheads and poison adders, rule of thumb if the snake does not back off he is poisonous just back off slowly and you will be fine. I have many more tips like these if you have any questions contact me and I will happily help!
 
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