How far animals can detect human scent- graph

BigBad has the wrong chart ..... this one is the correct one .... 😁

Did you know that bears can smell humans from 100 kilometers away .... impressive!!!!

new-chart-smell.jpg
 
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0faustus0 said:
BigBad has the wrong chart ..... this one is the correct one .... 😁

Did you know that bears can smell humans from 100 kilometers away .... impressive!!!!

new-chart-smell.jpg
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"Sir, step away from the alcohols. All of them":ROFLMAO:

My rule of thumb is to just assume everything can smell me as good as a dog can, and act accordingly. I honestly don't understand how an amount of my human smell could stay contained together over extreme distances in the wind though.
 
scotteboy said:
The bears on the BC coast can probably smell people in Calgary for all the cologne people wear these days.
I suggest showering but to each their own.
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There’s a guy where I work is just drenched in the stuff. Personally I think it’s to cover the alcohol smell.
Anyway, as soon as I get to work I can tell if this person has arrived yet or not. And it’s a big store.
 
In Yukon, I spent an hour watching a grizzly, up on a mountain, eating berries. He was about 2 miles away roughly.

We went about 7 miles west of him and killed a moose. He got wind of it and was in our spike camp that night. 7 miles.......he winded it.
 
Google AI says
Under ideal conditions on flat ground, human scent can travel and remain detectable for over 0.5 miles (800–1,000+ yards) downwind. While "normal" scent travel might be shorter, a steady, light breeze (5–10 mph) in high humidity acts as a conveyor belt, allowing scent molecules to easily carry for over 500 yards.

Optimal Scent Conditions
  • Wind: A consistent, light breeze (5-10 mph) carries scent far in a linear direction.
  • Humidity: High humidity (50–70 percent) prevents scent molecules from evaporating, allowing them to hang in the air longer.
  • Terrain: Open, flat ground offers no obstacles, allowing for maximum, uninterrupted dispersion.
  • Temperature: Cool, calm mornings or evenings (before the sun causes rapid vertical air movement) keep scent close to the ground, increasing the range of detection.
Factors Impacting Travel Distance
  • Scent Control: While scent cannot be fully eliminated, active reduction methods (e.g., carbon clothing, scent-free sprays) reduce the strength of the scent, forcing animals to be closer to detect it.
  • Thermal Currents: On calm days, natural air currents (thermals) that rise or fall based on air temperature can carry scent up or down a slope.
  • Weather: Rain or snow will wash scent molecules out of the air, significantly reducing the distance scent travels.
Animal Detection Ranges (Ideal Conditions)
  • Whitetail Deer: 1/4 to 1/2 mile (400–1,000+ yards).
  • Bears: 2–3 miles, or more.
  • Wolves: 1–2 miles.
  • Bloodhounds (Tracking): 10–12 miles.
 
iron cat said:
I always wonder just how much and what the dogs is smelling when they have their heads stuck out of the truck window when we are driving - their olfactory senses must be in overload function! LOL
Cat
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We really don't understand the world that animals with good senses of smell live in. For instance, driving a family dog (not mine) between family homes across town, she would just curl up on the passenger seat of my vehicle and doze off, She was mostly blind anyway, a Lasa Apso with the shaggy bangs over her eyes. But I noticed that, time after time, when with got within about a km of her home away from home, a place she really liked, she would perk right up all eager for the treat and start licking my hand and stuff, showing her approval- she was smelling the outlying neighbourhood before we even got close to the house.
 
Big Bad said:
We really don't understand the world that animals with good senses of smell live in. For instance, driving a family dog (not mine) between family homes across town, she would just curl up on the passenger seat of my vehicle and doze off, She was mostly blind anyway, a Lasa Apso with the shaggy bangs over her eyes. But I noticed that, time after time, when with got within about a km of her home away from home, a place she really liked, she would perk right up all eager for the treat and start licking my hand and stuff, showing her approval- she was smelling the outlying neighbourhood before we even got close to the house.
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I can relate!
My son's GSP, Louie , would be fast asleep on the way down to our first stop on our yearly pheasant hunt. We would turn left off the pavement, and he would still be zonked- UNTIL we made the last turn about a mile from where we park, then he was up and alert as all get out.
Same scenario every year!
Cat
 
Big Bad said:
We really don't understand the world that animals with good senses of smell live in. For instance, driving a family dog (not mine) between family homes across town, she would just curl up on the passenger seat of my vehicle and doze off, She was mostly blind anyway, a Lasa Apso with the shaggy bangs over her eyes. But I noticed that, time after time, when with got within about a km of her home away from home, a place she really liked, she would perk right up all eager for the treat and start licking my hand and stuff, showing her approval- she was smelling the outlying neighbourhood before we even got close to the house.
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It's the same thing here, coming back from the vet with our mini werewolves...about 1/2 mile out they seem to notice they're back in home territory through the smell rolling in the window.
 
I was out in the bush with my male German Shepherd. Not scent trained just a family member. Benny wandered off maybe 75 yards and had his back to me so I walked quickly around a corner in the forestry gravel road, went another 15 yards and then zigged 10 yards into thick bush.

Two minutes later I see him tracking my scent in the gravel. Nose down, focussed. He turned off where I had left the road and came right up to me in the thick bush.

Untrained. It was scary to think how bad it would be to be tracked by trained scent dogs.
 
geologist said:
I was out in the bush with my male German Shepherd. Not scent trained just a family member. Benny wandered off maybe 75 yards and had his back to me so I walked quickly around a corner in the forestry gravel road, went another 15 yards and then zigged 10 yards into thick bush.

Two minutes later I see him tracking my scent in the gravel. Nose down, focussed. He turned off where I had left the road and came right up to me in the thick bush.

Untrained. It was scary to think how bad it would be to be tracked by trained scent dogs.
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My parents had a Miniature Schnauzer that loved the woods but also had a strong home instinct and I was the only person that would get her there. The thing about her is that she was no bird hunter, would scare up the grouse before I had a shot, and so one time when I wanted some I left her behind. That wasn't going to work though, I bet I was 3-4 miles out on a zig zag course through in the dense maples when along she comes, nose to the leaves and stubby tail wagging, caught me out with no trouble I'm sure.
 
I always wondered if animals can determine distance just by the scent?

I mean ..... lets say a deer smells me ... would it know if I am 5 meters away or 200 meters away ... or even further?

Same goes for scent trails ..... would a dog know if I passed around an hour ago .... or a day ago ... or maybe just minutes ago?
 
0faustus0 said:
I always wondered if animals can determine distance just by the scent?

I mean ..... lets say a deer smells me ... would it know if I am 5 meters away or 200 meters away ... or even further?

Same goes for scent trails ..... would a dog know if I passed around an hour ago .... or a day ago ... or maybe just minutes ago?
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After watching and listening to hounds work and bird dogs as well, I'm going to say yes - absolutely .
Cat
 
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iron cat said:
After watching and listening to hounds work and bird dogs as well, I'm going to say yes - absolutely .
Cat
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Yep, you can tell by the tone of their vocalizations when you’re getting close to the game they’re tracking. I had one hound that would almost sound like she was getting ripped apart alive when getting close to game. She couldn’t control herself when the scent was strong.


I can’t help but laugh at some people who strongly doubt how far some animals can actually scent things. If they can’t believe the scent thing, talking about how some animals migrate thousands of km’s annually must really get them going :ROFLMAO:
 
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