Bear brains and bear noises are so sensitive to odors that that their perception of their surroundings is totally unlike humans.
Story on bear brains by Michael Jamison. Missoulian (mirrored in the Casper Star Tribune).
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Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
Fascinating. I wonder how much the bears’ sense of smell factors into a confrontation with us. I guess there’s not much we can do regarding what we smell like to a bear when confronted. I know I’d be scared. But I’d certainly be looking away and moving away slowly.