re: Bear attack- kid jumps on back of bear to save friend

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WHAT IS A BEAR BELL?

A bear bell is a small 1.5-inch bell with either a thick velcro strap or a carabiner used for attachment. You can attach it to the outside your backpack, waist belt or any other external piece of gear.

HOW ARE BEAR BELLS DESIGNED TO WORK?

Contrary to popular belief, bear bells are not meant to scare a bear. They are designed to warn a bear (and other animals - cougars, etc) of your presence, so you don't accidentally startle them. It's this surprise meeting between a hiker and a bear that can lead to a tense standoff or, potentially, an attack. As your body moves while hiking, the bell will inevitably jingle loud enough that anyone or anything in the immediate area can hear it.

DO BEAR BELLS ACTUALLY WORK?

People might be comforted by having a bear bell on their pack, but there are arguments made that challenge their effectiveness. Some say they do work; others say they don't work.

--Yes-they-do-work: Supporters of bear bells point to a 1982 study on bear and hiker interactions in Glacier National Park, which found that hikers who wore bear bells were less likely to be charged by a grizzly bear.

--No-they-don't-work: A more recent study by U.S. Geological Survey scientist, Tom Smith, suggests that bears in the wild ignore bear bells, treating them as they would a bird or some other background noise. Therefore, negating the entire purpose of carrying it all.

They-make-things-worse: If bears do hear the bells, some bear experts like Dr. Stephen Herrero believe the bear bells may actually attract bears who are curious about the strange jingling sound.

With conflicting results and opinions, we really don't know for sure if bear bells actually work or not.

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