So, what does a black bear smell like?

[ColbyBruce]

My wife decided we would hike to the top of Rabun Bald mountain today, so off we went. Most of the trail up was narrow and basically a tunnel through the rhododendron, about 1/4 mile from the top, my wife froze. The air was very pungent, sort of like a swamp of urine, and something off the trail gave a deep, guttural growl that certainly was neither cat or dog. We sort of moved along at a good clip after that, came across another whiff of the smell further up that was considerably weaker, as though it was starting to fade.

We warned another hiker we met at the top and headed back down about an hour later. We did not hear, smell or see anything on the way back. But I was concerned.

 

[StatesRightist]

Sounds more like a mountain lion to me......it's close to prime mating season and they lay scent down when in heat. But who knows.......

 

[jkc]

My wife decided we would hike to the top of Rabun Bald mountain today, so off we went. Most of the trail up was narrow and basically a tunnel through the rhododendron, about 1/4 mile from the top, my wife froze. The air was very pungent, sort of like a swamp of urine, and something off the trail gave a deep, guttural growl that certainly was neither cat or dog. We sort of moved along at a good clip after that, came across another whiff of the smell further up that was considerably weaker, as though it was starting to fade.

We warned another hiker we met at the top and headed back down about an hour later. We did not hear, smell or see anything on the way back. But I was concerned.

I've been fairly close (within a few feet) to a few live black bears, and in direct contact with a few that were very recently deceased, and never noticed any peculiar smell. Coyotes sometimes smell pretty rank, mountain lions often smell of skunk spray, elk often emit a sort of pungent odor, and our locally smallest "big game", javelina, are often as easily smelled as seen, but none of these examples pertain to the locale you mentioned. Maybe member BearBio will weigh in with other experience...

 

[s&wchad]

I don't know what it was, but I'm pretty sure one of them was at our local Walmart.

 

[DeathGrip]

If you get a chance to be near him again tell him he owes my cousin a cow.

I was just giving up looking for some old news reports to show my wife.

I think it was the early '70's and my cousin's cow got it's head riped off. News reports all over the local stations said it was the Skunk Ape.

I heard some things that weren't normal out in the swamp and I know and can id. what I hear.

I can't find the news old story.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Funny that you should mention a Skunk Ape. There have been reported sightings of Sasquatch type critters in that vacinity. Black bear or Sasquatch, a Glock 26 is not that much comfort in a thicket.

I had this S&W #1006 with me, but did not leave the house planning on hiking, other than through the local Wal-Mart. This thumper was back at the house.

 

[rburg]

I'm just speculating here. Almost anyone who has spent their fair share of times out in the woods or mountains (or deserts, I guess) has probably smelled something they couldn't identify. Some guys get spooked easily and run for cover or safety. Others of us have circled where we caught wind of it, looking for tracks or whatever. But only the lucky ones found what they smelled. From time to time if you share the experience with others, they'll tell similar stories.

My limited experience is bears kind of stink. Its a musk type of smell. Not overpowering unless they've been dead for a while.

But then during the mating season most animals give off and odor. Since its often urine related, its not very pleasant to humans. For that matter, human urine smell isn't very pleasant. For an example, sit next to a homeless person sometime. Depending on the temperature outside, I'm guessing the odor is variable.

If the question is an honest one, I'd suggest the OP visit a few zoos and maybe an exotic animal farm that houses black bears. The answer should be known instantly. Its not weird to ask it, or to seek the answers. Its probably an advantage for any outdoorsman to know the answer. But be careful, you may realize you've been around them more than you think!

 

[feralmerril]

I have smelled rattelsnakes and to me they reminded me of cucumbers. Anyone else think that?

 

[1morethan8]

I guess my answer may surprise you?

I know the Chattahoochee National Forest very well, so don't discount what I have to say to much.

...may be a very good chance the smell was coming from a plant called "galax". Many other plants have a strong sour/urine smell too.

 

[jkc]

I have smelled rattelsnakes and to me they reminded me of cucumbers. Anyone else think that?

Not the scent of cucumbers, but to my sense of smell, much more musky, more like skunk scent or etc., but sometimes with distinctive odor.

Once, while skinning refrigerated Sunday-killed rattlesnakes on Monday night, I left one on the counter while answering a long phone call, during which a I heard a small "thud", and then "rattling" --- one of the decapitated snakes had sort of reanimated, and worked its way off the counter and fallen to the floor ... This was very disconcerting, as might be imagined... During the course of this process, I learned that like other snakes, rattlers have glands from which they can emit, sometimes forcefully, a foul-scented fluid, which I have occasionally smelled in the field --- always an occasion for pause...

 

[GKC]

I don't know, but I'm fairly sure that if I ever encountered a bear face to face, I would smell like urine.

 

[Gunslinger808]

Musk and poop.

 

[redlevel]

My wife decided we would hike to the top of Rabun Bald mountain today, so off we went. Most of the trail up was narrow and basically a tunnel through the rhododendron, about 1/4 mile from the top, my wife froze. The air was very pungent, sort of like a swamp of urine, and something off the trail gave a deep, guttural growl that certainly was neither cat or dog. We sort of moved along at a good clip after that, came across another whiff of the smell further up that was considerably weaker, as though it was starting to fade.

We warned another hiker we met at the top and headed back down about an hour later. We did not hear, smell or see anything on the way back. But I was concerned.

Wampus cat.

 

[Hillbilly77]

I don't know what it was, but I'm pretty sure one of them was at our local Walmart.

Only one? Slow day at Walmart, eh?

 

[jkc]

Musk and poop.

Please, keep your scatological interests to yourself --- this being an ostensibly family-friendly forum ...

 

[Edmo]

Bigfoot...

Edmo

 

[pownal55]

I have come across very fresh bear sign and noticed a real sour smell in the air. That odor is worse when it's raining or has been.

 

[peyton]

If your "spidey senses" were going off, then you were correct in wondering if you needed to prepare for "Flight or Fight". We were in the woods and walking around trying to figure where to hang some deer stands. All of a sudden we hear a rattle snake making all kinds of noise, right next to us!! We all leaped about 20 feet in the same direction. Neil Armstrong had nothing on us making that giant leap!! My buddy killed the snake, it was 8 foot long and it's skin is mounted over his fireplace. We all laugh about our near brush with death now, but his wife asked a question we never could answer, "How did you know WHICH WAY TO JUMP"??

 

[StatesRightist]

Wampus cat.

I haven't heard that term since my grandad died, that one made me smile.

 

[LazyKB]

What does a black bear smell like? Depends on what he has been doing in the woods.