Even though I am rarely seen in public, I have an obsession with survival skills. So, I figured I'd share the things I learn here. They are in no particular order. Just where ever I open my book...
Today's lesson is Polar Bear safety ( I live in the Southern US, so the chances of me meeting up with a Polar Bear are slim ).
Adults stand 8-10 feet tall. Adult males weigh 500-1000 lbs, adult females 400-600 lbs. They are carnivores. They eat ringed seals, young walrus, maybe me. They are silent plodders, fierce fighters with variable personalities. When agitated they hiss, growl, yawn and if they are very upset, they foam at the mouth!
They use their white coats ( I've heard the hairs on their coats are actually clear, but they reflect the white of the surrounding terrain ) as camouflage. It will even cover it's black nose up with it's paw. It moves with stealth, between blocks of ice, travels into the wind so it's prey doesn't realize it's being stalked. Once it's within 30 feet of it's prey, it bounds forward and seizes the front of the body.
Polar Bear Attack: Polar Bears are great, stealthy hunters according to my book. But, all I ever see on the Discovery channel are epic fails. One thing's for sure, they are patient. The most dangerous are the young that have just left their mothers, approx. 2 1/2 years old. They aren't very efficient hunters yet and they are always hungry.
The [b]most[b] important chance for survival is seeing the bear before it sees you. If it sees you first, it will go into stealth mode and be on top of you before you even have time to grab for your weapon. A single unarmed human has a marginal chance of survival. Always carry bear spray and a firearm, if possible. The Inuit usually have dogs near their dwellings to sound an alarm.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's episode.
_________________
Disagreeing with you doesn't mean I hate you, it just means we disagree.
Neurocognitive exam in May 2019, diagnosed with ASD, Asperger's type in June 2019.