Bear+Information

Conflicts with bears can be avoided. Bears will avoide human contact, and will only be seen when they are searching for food or encounters on trails. This page will help inform you what to do to prevent such encounters and what to do if your encounter a black bear. At camp Tomahawk, in 60 years there has been only one incident in which a bear encounter has led to human injury. These precautions will make sure nothing happens in the future.

This is why we practice leave no trace around bears:

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__**Campsite Precoutions:**__
 * Never take any food what so ever in your tents.
 * Never store "Smellable" items in your tent, such as, toothpaste, deodorant, soaps, and shampoos, that give off appealing odors that could attract bears.
 * Personal Hygiene. Make sure no odors from food you eat stay on your body, or don't keep clothes that you have spilled food on in your tent..
 * Food should be stored in a bear box and be prepared as far as possible from the sleeping area and tents.
 * Immediately after the meal, dishes should be done and all food cleaned up.
 * Garbage must be disposed in the approved sites at all camps.
 * Fish should not be cleaned in the campsite.


 * __What to do when a bear enters your campsite:__**
 * Go to the opposited side of the campsite of where the bear is. At least 40 ft from the bear.
 * Stick together. Strength in numbers.
 * Post scouts in pairs at the entrance of the site warn those who are about to enter.
 * Make plenty of noise.
 * Never throw thing or charge the bear, it'll just make it angry. Bear spray might not work and make it angry, also
 * Immediately report the bear's enterance to a staff member.
 * If the bear found food, clean the site so the bear doesn't find it again. Also expect the same bear to come back the same time the next day because they think that the site is a good place to find food.


 * __It is unlikely that a bear will go into any tent, but in the rare event that it does it is good to be prepared:__**
 * Remain calm.
 * In a calm loud voice alert those outside your tent that there is a bear there.
 * Do not attack the bear
 * Stay in your sleeping bag.
 * It is very unlikely that the bear will attack you but if it does you should try to fight back with any means and yell for help.

__**If you encounter a black bear when hiking:**__
 * Use the Buddy System always when hiking.
 * Make noise while hiking, bears will leave the area if they hear you.
 * Remain calm with no sudden movement if you encounter a bear.
 * Give the bear plenty of room and stay out of its personal space.
 * Detour quickly and quietly away from the area if the bear is not aware of you.

For More Information Check Out This Bear Manuel From The Tomahawk Website

This Video can also give you more information on how to handle a bear that is aproching you. media type="custom" key="10020619"

"Wow, you just learned me a whole lot about bears!!!" user:AnthonyMcNair

__Has had at least 1 training session regarding black bears:__

Mr. Daugherty Ryan Daugherty Mr. Schaefer Ron Schaefer Anthony McNair Adam Pfeuffer Samuel "Ten Thumbs" McKoola Mr. Mark McKoola-Still thinks the Bears will win the Super Bowl again someday. Andrew McNair Nick Hohs and - Michael Ryan andand - Steven Hohs Mr. Pfeuffer