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Lions and Tigers and Bears. Oh My!
March 3, 2025 Dear Buck Well, it happened again. This weekend I was in conversation with someone about my time in the back country. Critter encounters came up and the inevitable question is put on the table “Aren’t you afraid of the wolves and the bears?”
I’ve started to come up with a stock answer I can fall back on, and it goes something like this: “The short answer is “no”. I’ve been close to them many times over the years and have never had a problem. In fact, I’ve never heard of anyone being attacked by wolves in this area and only once have I heard of a person being injured by a bear. I’ve been less than twenty feet from both animals many times. In fact, I once accidentally stepped on the back of a wolf, and he quickly fled from me. I am well aware that they COULD hurt me. They are certainly capable of it. I respect them and don’t go out of my way to create conflict with them.
Sometimes they’ll show curiosity, but most often they prefer to stay away from humans.
No, I’m not afraid of wolves and bears. But there are many other things in the backcountry that concern me. Unfortunately, there are multiple deaths, serious injuries and other dangers that you will find in the BWCA and surrounding Superior National Forest.
More people drown in the Boundary Waters each year than encounter a wolf. Biggest factor?
Not wearing a life jacket. I’m a good swimmer. I taught Red Cross Lifesaving for many years.
Yet, I wear my life jacket almost 100% of the time. Why? If there is an accident where I end up in the water, I may have sustained injuries where I cannot swim or save myself. Or there will probably be equipment that needs to be rounded up or other people that may need help. Not having to worry about saving myself allows me to take care of those other problems. Not having respect for cold water or high winds will put people into dangerous situations that otherwise wouldn’t exist.
County and Forest Service personnel are called out to perform rescues anytime wind speeds exceed 20 mph. Unexpected swims in water under 60 degrees will cause hypothermia in a surprisingly short amount of time. We don’t have a lot of whitewater here, but it seems there are some that are caught unexpectedly in fast current or want to tempt their skills when maybe they don’t have many of those skills.
Poor decisions around early ice have put many people in danger.
Thin ice around sunken islands, creek currents and shorelines get tested too many times. Ice that may be four inches thick here, might be an inch or less a few feet away. Common sense goes away when fishermen are anxious to go hardwater angling in late November and early December.
Seems as if underwater recoveries of snowmobiles, 4-wheelers and pickup trucks are happening more and more often.
Speaking of snowmobiles and 4-wheelers, there have been several fatalities this winter in the northland. Speed, combined with unfamiliar terrain is deadly.
As to critters that can get you, I’m scared more often by moose than I am of bears. Don’t get between a cow moose and her calves. She will stomp you into the ground. September and October are notorious for bulls in rut challenging not only each other, but hikers, canoeists, grouse hunters and even pickups for the right to a particular cow or territory. A half a ton of muscle and antlers can make a mess out of anyone – or any vehicle!
Deer are much more docile than moose but have a tendency to wander across the road when you don’t expect them. Night is bad, but around dawn and dusk is even worse. About the time you’re leaving for a canoe trip or just getting back.
I came close to having a life changing experience this past summer due to one of the smallest critters in the forest. I contracted Lyme’s disease from the bite of a tick. I lost much of the control of my legs for several days until a diagnosis was made and an aggressive antibiotic regimen taken. This disease is on the march northward, and my exposure happened along the Fernberg corridor. Other tick-borne diseases are not far behind the researchers say.
Even smaller, giardia infects many every year who aren’t careful with how they gather their drinking water.
Axes, knives and fishhooks can be a painful reminder of what can happen with carelessness, inattention or poor decisions.
Sliced fingers, cleft toes and barbs buried deep in your face can take the joy out of any trip. Safety issues around splitting wood and safe distances when flinging Rapala’s and spoons should be discussed with all members of a back country party.
Summer storms can be life threatening. Setting a tent up in the wrong place at a campsite might mean branches, a tree top or even an entire tree could flatten your tent. Lightning strikes both in camp and on the water have claimed several lives over the years. You don’t always have control over these, but awareness may reduce the chances of a problem.
Fortunately, forest fires are few and far between. However, campfires can produce local burns and much discomfort. I’ve been on many trips where someone in the party stumbles and falls into a campfire. Spattering grease and burning leftover grease in a fire have caused major discomfort all too often. Even boiling water spilled onto bare skin or even clothing can spoil an outing.
Yes, there are a lot of things that can “get ya” if you’re traveling in the Boundary Waters and surrounding forests. Wolves and bears just don’t fit into that category. Some sound planning and knowledge coupled with a large dose of common sense goes a long way to keeping you safe in your travels.”
So, Buck. That is my rant for this week. Safe travels.
Hoops
