Bear Encounter Report Form

1. Bear Encounter Report Form for A.T. Hikers and Campers

THANK YOU FOR REPORTING YOUR BEAR ENCOUNTER!

As bear encounters increase all along the A.T. it will be very helpful to A.T. managers to know the specifics so that we can help future A.T. hikers and campers avoid bear problems and injuries, and minimize the chance that bears will become habituated to human food and ultimately need to be removed or euthanized. This report will take about 10 minutes - all the answers are designed to help managers learn how to best minimize human/bear conflict.

Your personal information will not be shared or used for any purpose other than to clarify responses.

Thank you for your help!

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1. Reported By:

Name

E-mail

Phone #

State Where You Live

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2. Individual filing report if not #1:

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3.
When did this bear encounter occur?

Date / Time

Date

Time

AM/PM

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4. In which A.T. state did this bear encounter occur?

Georgia

North Carolina

Tennessee

Virginia

West Virginia

Maryland

Pennsylvania

New Jersey

New York

Connecticutt

Massachusetts

Vermont

New Hampshire

Maine

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5. What type of A.T. hiker/camper are you? Please check all that apply to this trip/bear encounter.

Section Hiker

Thru-hiker

With an organized group

"Weekend" hiker

Day hiker

Northbound

Southbound

Flip Flopper

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6. Specific Bear Encounter Location and/or Coordinates

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7. Encounter Description: Please provide a brief summary of this bear encounter - some detailed questions come later in the incident report.

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8. # of Humans Involved, i.e. Human Group Size

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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9. Have you also alerted the local land management agency?

C-ONF = Chattahoochee NF; NNF = Nantahala NF; GRSM = Great Smoky Mt. NP; CNF = Cherokee NF; PNF = Pisgah NF; GWJNF = George Washington, Jefferson NF; BLRI = Blue Ridge Pkwy; SHEN = Shenandoah NP; APPA = NPS Appalachian Nat. Scenic Tr.; MD = Maryland Park Service; PA = Pennsylvania DCNR or Game Commission; USFW = US Fish & Wildlife NWR; DEWA = Delaware Water Gap NRA; NJ = New Jersey State Parks; NY = NY State Parks; CT; MA; GMNF = Green Mt. NF; WMNF = White Mt. NF; APPA = most of A.T. in Maine

Yes

If Yes, what agency did you notify?

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10. Did the person providing this report see the bear(s)?

Yes

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11. Do you have photos or video of this bear encounter?

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12. Number of Bears Involved In Encounter?

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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13. Age of Bear(s)

Cub

Juvenile

Adult

Adult with Cub(s)

Don't know

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14. Did the bear(s) have distinguishing features?

N/A

Markings

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15. Was the Bear Behavior non-threatening?

The bear did NOT threaten me

The bear DID threaten me

If the bear did NOT threaten you, why is the bear's behavior note worthy?

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16. How close did the bear approach?

0 Feet

50 Feet

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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17. Was the Bear Behavior - Aggressive/Bold?

N/A

Bear tried to or did enter a tent or hammock

Bear tried to or did enter a camping shelter

Bear tried to or did enter a building

Bear tried to or did enter a vehicle/RV

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18. Did the Bear Follow a human?

YES

If Yes, How far (ft) & How much time (min.) did the bear follow a human?

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19. Did a Bear Charge a Human?

YES, bear charged a human

NO, bear did NOT charge a human

If Yes, Bear charged a person by themselves

If Yes, Bear charged a person from a group (2 or more humans)

If bear charged a person from a group of humans, what was the size of the person charged relative to other humans in the group?
i.e. Smallest, Middle of group, Largest in Group?

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20. Was there Property Damage?

None

Food damage only

Food Container damaged

Tent/Pack/Camping Gear damaged

Vehicle/RV damaged

Building damaged

$ Damage Estimate:

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21. Was a Visitor Injured?

Yes

If Yes, type of Injury:

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22. Was the bear injured?

Yes

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23. Length of encounter - Example: 5 minutes; 10 min.; all night

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24. Was there food/garbage/trash nearby before the bear encounter?

N/A

Food nearby

Garbage nearby

Trash nearby

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25. Front Country BearEncounter Location

N/A

Picnic Area

Campground

Building

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26. Backcountry Visitor Location During Bear Encounter

N/A

In camp Awake

In camp Asleep

Hiking along the Trail

Resting along the Trail

Off Trail

If off Trail, describe bear encounter area:

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27. Backcountry Visitor Location at a Campsite

N/A

Designated Campsite/Overnight Facility

Existing campsite, but not designated site

User selected new campsite (previously unused)

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28. Visitor Sleeping Location

N/A

Under the Stars

In a tent

In a hammock

In a camping shelter

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29. Were on-site bear-resistant food storage, box or cables provided?

N/A

Yes

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30. Was the on-site bear-resistant food storage used by the campers in the incident?

N/A

Yes

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31. Was personal food storage used by the campers in the incident?

N/A

Yes in a regular Stuff Sack

Yes, in a Bear-Resistant Canister/Bear-Resistant Stuff Sack

The Bear-Resistant Canister/Stuff Sack was closed and secured properly per manufacturer instructions

The Bear-Resistant Canister/Stuff Sack was NOT closed and secured properly per manufacturer instructions

I used a traditional hang - rope tied to tree trunk

I used a PCT type food hang

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32. Did a bear get the food?

N/A

Yes

If Yes, what did the bear eat?

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33. If a bear got food, where?

N/A

From a table in campground

From a table in a camping shelter area

Inside camping shelter, tent, tarp, etc.

While cooking

From Food Hang

From bear-resistant canister/bear-resistant stuff sack

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34. If a bear got food, how?

N/A

Food was attended, bear scared off humans or was unnoticed

Food was unattended

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35. How did bear get in personal food storage device? Examples: ripped off lid, bit or ripped a hole in it, defeated food hang, etc.

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36. List Make & Model of personal food storage device used. Example: Bear Vault BV450, Ursack AllMitey (spectra exterior, golden kevlar interior), Counter Assault Bear Keg, etc.

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37. Was your bear-resistant canister or stuff sack moved?

N/A

It was moved, but remained within sight

It was moved out of sight, but later found

Yes it was moved and never found

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38. Was there a dog with you?

Yes

If Yes: the dog was on leash

If Yes: the dog was NOT on leash

If Yes: the dog attacked the bear

If Yes: the bear attacked the dog

If Yes: was the dog injured?

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39. What size was the dog?

N/A

The dog was small (< 25 lbs.)

The dog was medium (26-57 lbs.)

The dog was large (> 58 lbs.)

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40. Visitor Response to Bear

Visitor Ran Away

Yelled/made noise

Threw items at bear

Used air horn/noise maker

Used bear spray

Comments:

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41. Bear's Reaction to Visitor Response

Bear stopped behavior

Bear ran away/retreated

Bear continued behavior

Bear made defensive noises like jaw-popping, huffing/blowing, groans

Bear bluff charged

Bear attacked

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42. Bear's Reaction to Visitor Response

Bear stopped behavior

Bear ran away/retreated

Bear continued behavior

Bear made defensive noises like jaw-popping, huffing/blowing, groans

Bear bluff charged

Bear attacked

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43. If you are NOT a Trail administrator, please scroll to the end and click "DONE"

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44. Admin Use: Prior Nuisance Report

Yes

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45. Admin Use: Management Action

None

Bear jam breakup

Monitoring

Warning signs/message/alert posted

Aversive conditioning

Area closure

Capture/relocate bear

Capture/euthanize bear

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46. Admin Use: Violation?

None

Feeding/baiting

Improper food storage

Harassing

Hunting/trapping

Other (please specify)

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47. Admin Use: Law Enforcement Action

None

Verbal warning

Written warning

Violation Notice

Other (please specify)

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48. Admin Use: Bear Population Density?

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49. Admin Use: Hunted/non-hunted bears?

Hunted

Non-hunted

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50. Admin Use: Mast Available

Yes

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* 1. Reported By:

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* 2. Individual filing report if not #1:

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* 3. When did this bear encounter occur?

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* 4. In which A.T. state did this bear encounter occur?

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* 5. What type of A.T. hiker/camper are you? Please check all that apply to this trip/bear encounter.

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* 6. Specific Bear Encounter Location and/or Coordinates

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* 7. Encounter Description: Please provide a brief summary of this bear encounter - some detailed questions come later in the incident report.

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* 8. # of Humans Involved, i.e. Human Group Size

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* 10. Did the person providing this report see the bear(s)?

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* 11. Do you have photos or video of this bear encounter?

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* 12. Number of Bears Involved In Encounter?

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* 13. Age of Bear(s)

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* 14. Did the bear(s) have distinguishing features?

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* 15. Was the Bear Behavior non-threatening?

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* 16. How close did the bear approach?

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* 17. Was the Bear Behavior - Aggressive/Bold?

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* 18. Did the Bear Follow a human?

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* 19. Did a Bear Charge a Human?

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* 20. Was there Property Damage?

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* 21. Was a Visitor Injured?

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* 22. Was the bear injured?

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* 23. Length of encounter - Example: 5 minutes; 10 min.; all night

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* 24. Was there food/garbage/trash nearby before the bear encounter?

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* 25. Front Country BearEncounter Location

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* 26. Backcountry Visitor Location During Bear Encounter

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* 27. Backcountry Visitor Location at a Campsite

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* 28. Visitor Sleeping Location

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* 29. Were on-site bear-resistant food storage, box or cables provided?

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* 30. Was the on-site bear-resistant food storage used by the campers in the incident?

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* 31. Was personal food storage used by the campers in the incident?

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* 32. Did a bear get the food?

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* 33. If a bear got food, where?

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* 34. If a bear got food, how?

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* 35. How did bear get in personal food storage device? Examples: ripped off lid, bit or ripped a hole in it, defeated food hang, etc.

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* 36. List Make & Model of personal food storage device used. Example: Bear Vault BV450, Ursack AllMitey (spectra exterior, golden kevlar interior), Counter Assault Bear Keg, etc.

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* 37. Was your bear-resistant canister or stuff sack moved?

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* 38. Was there a dog with you?

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* 39. What size was the dog?

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* 40. Visitor Response to Bear

Question Title

1. Reported By:

2. Individual filing report if not #1:

3.
When did this bear encounter occur?

4. In which A.T. state did this bear encounter occur?

5. What type of A.T. hiker/camper are you? Please check all that apply to this trip/bear encounter.

6. Specific Bear Encounter Location and/or Coordinates

7. Encounter Description: Please provide a brief summary of this bear encounter - some detailed questions come later in the incident report.

8. # of Humans Involved, i.e. Human Group Size

10. Did the person providing this report see the bear(s)?

11. Do you have photos or video of this bear encounter?

12. Number of Bears Involved In Encounter?

13. Age of Bear(s)

14. Did the bear(s) have distinguishing features?

15. Was the Bear Behavior non-threatening?

16. How close did the bear approach?

17. Was the Bear Behavior - Aggressive/Bold?

18. Did the Bear Follow a human?

19. Did a Bear Charge a Human?

20. Was there Property Damage?

21. Was a Visitor Injured?

22. Was the bear injured?

23. Length of encounter - Example: 5 minutes; 10 min.; all night

24. Was there food/garbage/trash nearby before the bear encounter?

25. Front Country BearEncounter Location

26. Backcountry Visitor Location During Bear Encounter

27. Backcountry Visitor Location at a Campsite

28. Visitor Sleeping Location

29. Were on-site bear-resistant food storage, box or cables provided?

30. Was the on-site bear-resistant food storage used by the campers in the incident?

31. Was personal food storage used by the campers in the incident?

32. Did a bear get the food?

33. If a bear got food, where?

34. If a bear got food, how?

35. How did bear get in personal food storage device? Examples: ripped off lid, bit or ripped a hole in it, defeated food hang, etc.

36. List Make & Model of personal food storage device used. Example: Bear Vault BV450, Ursack AllMitey (spectra exterior, golden kevlar interior), Counter Assault Bear Keg, etc.

37. Was your bear-resistant canister or stuff sack moved?

38. Was there a dog with you?

39. What size was the dog?

40. Visitor Response to Bear

41. Bear's Reaction to Visitor Response

42. Bear's Reaction to Visitor Response

43. If you are NOT a Trail administrator, please scroll to the end and click "DONE"

44. Admin Use: Prior Nuisance Report

45. Admin Use: Management Action

46. Admin Use: Violation?

47. Admin Use: Law Enforcement Action

48. Admin Use: Bear Population Density?

49. Admin Use: Hunted/non-hunted bears?

50. Admin Use: Mast Available