Bear Safety for Encounters in Angel Fire NM

Bear safety is not something you want to ignore if you are visiting Angel Fire. While you may never see one, we have heard of plenty of encounters from people in Angel Fire. One woman at the visitor's center told us that one had broken into her car (in the garage no less!) to snack on some leftover food left inside. Another told us about one she had seen that morning before dumpster diving in town. And our favorite park ranger Randy King says he has seen many in the area.

But by our last trip, we hadn't seen a single bear. We were kind of hoping to see one...at a safe distance.

Nevertheless, one day in August we rode the ski lift to the top of the mountain and were hiking. It was the three of us (Kevin, Gerriellen (me), and Sydney) and our friends Barb and her daughter Celeste.

All of the sudden, we heard something moving ahead and saw a black shape in the woods -- perhaps 100 yards away. We all stopped dead in our tracks.

"Is that a bear?" Barb asked. "It is!"

We'd read all the advice about what do to in this situation, and we did just the opposite.

Barb and I turned around to run. We didn't even stop to protect our daughters!

"Don't run," Kevin ordered, and we stopped. A few moments later we determined we were looking at a black cow.

So when it comes to safety, do as we say, not as we did!

Black Bear Safety in New Mexico

• You will see dumpsters in town with locks. Use them! Make sure you lock them, or they can and will open the heavy lids. Don't make a trip to the dumpster after dark though.
• Don't leave food in your car or on your balcony, porch, campsite etc.
• When hiking let a bear know you are coming by talking, singing or even wearing bells on your shoes. (We used the bells when hiking in Alaska in Denali National Forest.)
• DON'T RUN! Try to move slowly away keeping your eye on the bear, but avoiding eye contact. Try to make yourself "big" by slowly waving your arms.
• Drop a backpack or coat to distract the bear
• Carry a bear spray and use it if necessary

Find more bear safety tips here

Did you know the real Smokey the Bear came from New Mexico?

Bear graphic provided by artist Karle Murdock - visit her free clipart factory