How common are bears on the Pinhoti?

[stevebo]

 Just a quick question----------how common are bear sightings/bear problems on the Pinhoti?  Any particular areas?   

[wyleone]

On our first trip up we saw Bear scat, but no bear. This was a Clairmont gap. When we were on the trail few weeks ago, use did camp like there were bears in the area. Bear bags in the trees and packs away from camp.

[blisterbob]

I talked to a hiker this AM that saw a bear in the Clairmont Gap area 2 years ago.
Apparently there aren't many and as yet no problems reported.

[wyleone]

There are two threads at the top of the General section, one about bears in North AL and North GA.

[Mountain Dog]

They are NOT a problem.  If it were not for the possibility of Raccoons getting into my food I would not even worry about leaving my food out at night.  It might change but at this time I'd put bears at the bottom of my things to worry about. 

[WolfVanZandt]

I've seen evidence of bear all over Alabama and north and central eastern Georgia but I've never seen a bear and I've never heard of them ever causing a problem. I think they avoid humans.

[wyleone]

I've seen evidence of bear all over Alabama and north and central eastern Georgia but I've never seen a bear and I've never heard of them ever causing a problem. I think they avoid humans.

I agree. There are reports of bear in Mobile County, about them having to be moved out of populated areas. But I have yet to see them. There are Bear crossing signs all over the area and the Panhandle. But I have yet to hear of anyone I know seeing one.

I know they exist in this type of country, so I don't plan to let my guard down. It only takes one bear encounter to make you regret it. Besides it is good practice to keep your food away from you anyway. Raccoon can be nasty if you corner them, or they perceive they are cornered, as with other critters that may want a snack.

[vapor]

Chances are probably slim on the Pinhoti sections in Alabama but nothing is impossible as bear don't know the rules of where they should or shouldn't be & could pop up anywhere at anytime.  I have hiked 140+- miles of completed sections in Alabama & didn't come across any on my trips. Most of my sections covered however were in the colder months so bear should be scarce at that time anyways. I plan to complete the Georgia sections by end of this year & will post back on those but expect the results to be the same. I have heard that Bear are more likely in Georgia & that hanging food is a must and is what I will be doing. Don't let it scare you and enjoy your hike! If you do see one consider yourself lucky as not many people encounter them.

[Don Newcomb]

Following my experience at McDill point last Saturday (9/17/11) I'm going to start carrying a can of pepper spray, nothing to do with bears, but rather with uncontrolled vicious dogs. I'd say you're much more likely to have to defend yourself from dogs than from a bear.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Much more likely to run into an angry armadillo or feral hog than a bear, either one responding far less rationally to an encounter with a human than a black bear.

[jbassplayer]

I saw bear sign at McDill this past Tuesday. I saw feral hog destruction on cave creek a couple weeks ago between the pinhoti connector and Nubbin. I posted pics of the hog sign on everytrail. Here's a link

http://www.everytrail.com..._trip.php?trip_id=1294878

[Firedog]

1st time I've heard of hogs that high up on the mtn.