Columbian White-Tailed Deer

Lewis and Clark were the first explorers to comment on this subspecies of mule deer, which evolved along the lower Columbia River between the Willamette River and the Pacific Ocean. These deer look much like their larger cousins but are smaller and have a slightly longer tail and a white underside. By the 1960s, their numbers had dwindled to just 230. The population has rebounded, but they remain endangered. Find them at the Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge (just west of Cathlamet on Hwy. 4, 360/795-3915, www.fws.gov/jbh).

Roosevelt Elk

The Roosevelt elk live on the Olympic Peninsula, mostly inside the boundaries of Olympic National Park, where they are not hunted. They are a subspecies of their Rocky Mountain relatives, which were almost killed off in the Cascades, and have smaller antlers than their cousins. Roosevelt elk are named for President Theodore Roosevelt, who was instrumental in their preservation.

Cougars

Attitudes toward these big cats have changed dramatically over the years. Cougar populations are increasing in Washington at the same time as human developments push homes and people onto land that was previously wild. This combination has led to an increase in cougar attacks throughout the West; of 14 fatal cougar attacks in the last century, four took place in the last decade. None of the fatalities occurred in Washington, but brazen attacks have taken place in recent years, particularly on small children. If you come face to face with a mountain lion, maintain eye contact while backing slowly away. Try to appear larger than you are by raising your arms or by spreading a jacket or shirt. If you have children with you, pick them up. Talk loudly. But never, never run. Wildlife officials say compressed-air horns and pepper spray may ward off cougar attacks, and cougars are less likely to attack more than one person traveling together. The North Cascades National Park website (www.nps.gov/noca/naturescience/cougars.htm) has additional safety tips for travel in mountain lion country.

Bears

Black bears are fairly widespread in Washington, with large populations on the Olympic Peninsula and in the northeast corner of the state. All of the black bears on the Olympic Peninsula are black; in other areas they may be black, brown, or honey-colored. They’ll eat anything, from carpenter ants to berries to dead elk to salmon, plus anything you pack in from the supermarket.

Grizzly bears are rare in Washington, but there are a few in the North Cascades and in the Selkirk Mountains. Grizzlies once roamed throughout the western states, but now they are a threatened species with a total population of fewer than 1,000 in the Lower 48. Most of these survive in remote parts of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, with just a handful in Washington, so encounters are rare.

Avoid unexpected confrontations with bears by letting them know you’re there. If you walk with a breeze hitting your back, any bears ahead of you will know you are coming. If you’re unable to see everything around you for at least 50 yards, warn any hidden animals by talking, singing, clapping your hands, tapping a cup, rattling a can of pebbles, or wearing a bell. Safety is also in numbers: the more people hiking together, the more likely a bear is to sense you and stay away. Don’t let your dog run free—it may sniff out a bear and lead it back to you. When camping in the backcountry, store all food, soap, garbage, and clothes worn while cooking in a sack hung from a tree branch at least 10 feet up and four feet out from the tree trunk. In an established campground, keep those items in your car’s trunk. Don’t sleep where you cooked dinner, and keep sleeping bags and gear away from cooking odors.

If you do encounter a bear, here’s how to identify it: A grizzly is generally lighter in color than a black bear, though color alone can’t be used for identification. Look for the grizzly’s shoulder hump (behind its head) and a concave (“dish face”) profile from its eyes to the end of its nose, with a distinct snout. (Black bears have no hump and a straight profile.) While you’re looking for identifying marks, slowly detour out of the bear’s path and stay upwind so the bear will know you’re there; don’t make abrupt noises or movements. While retreating, look for a tree to climb—one in which you can get at least 12 feet up and stay there until you’re certain that the bear has left the area. If no tree is close, your best bet is to back slowly away. Don’t try to outrun the bear—grizzlies can hit 40 mph in short bursts, and you can’t beat that, no matter how scared you are. Sometimes dropping an item such as a hat or jacket will distract the bear, and talking also seems to have some value in convincing bears you’re a human. If the bear sniffs the air or stands on its hind legs it is probably trying to identify you. When it does, it will usually run away. If a bear woofs and postures, don’t imitate, as this is a challenge. Keep retreating! Most bear charges are a bluff; the bear will often stop short and amble off.

Bear authorities now recommend against dropping to the ground if you are attacked by a black bear, since they tend to be more aggressive in such situations and are more likely to prey on humans. If a black bear attacks, fight back with whatever weapons are at hand; large rocks and branches can be surprisingly effective deterrents, as can yelling and shouting.

In the rare event of a night attack in your tent, defend yourself very aggressively. Never play dead under such circumstances, since the bear probably views you as prey; it may give up if you make it a fight. Before you go to bed, try to plan escape routes should you be attacked in the night, and be sure to have a flashlight and pepper spray handy. Keeping your sleeping bag partly unzipped also allows the chance to escape should a bear attempt to drag you away. If someone is attacked in a tent near you, yelling and throwing rocks or sticks may drive the bear away.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website (http://wdfw.wa.gov) has additional safety tips for travel in bear country.

© Ericka Chickowski from Moon Washington, 8th edition