No, Menstruating Women Do Not Attract Bear Attacks
Women who might think twice about a summer trip to a national park can now officially rest assured: it turns out that menstrual odors do not attract bear attacks, according to a paper by the National Park Service.
The paper was written in response to the long-standing concern that the odors associated with menstruation could lure in hungry bears, putting women at a higher risk than men of being mauled. The concern proved to be little more than an urban legend, at least when it comes to grizzly and black bears.
According to researcher Kerry A. Gunther, who wrote the paper: "There is no evidence that grizzly and black bears are overly attracted to menstrual odors more than any other odor."
The paper also traced the origin of the myth to a single evening on Aug. 13, 1967, when two women were killed by grizzly bears in Glacier National Park. The events caused speculation at the time that the attacks may have been prompted by menstrual odors. Presumably, as years passed without any investigation, the speculation eventually morphed into belief—and, unfortunately, unjustified fears.
<snip>
http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/08/menstruating-women-do-not-attract-bear-attacks
*********************************************
I was told these a zillion years ago in Girl Scouts, and my mother told me it wasn't true. If it was, with all my hiking, camping, and trail running, I would have been mauled by now!
= new reply since forum marked as read
I've gone camping more times than I can count. (Smokey Mountains too.) Only encountered them once... On the side of the road, when I was asleep in the back of the car. 
Dramatic much? Dogs will sense a woman's cycle so why not bears? Good God, indeed. As if this is a feminist issue--smelling like blood and attracting a wild animal. 
Fortunately, hosts here can block trolls before MIRT revokes their privileges.
Womyn, por favor.
And thanks for marginalizing me by mocking my posting from a library. You must be a 'bagger who's against them socialist pinko liebarries, eh?
Women don't "smell like blood" when they have all their clothes on. duh.
If you are bleeding from a WOUND, that will likely be ON THE SURFACE of your skin -- Bleeding under
layers of clothing is quite different, and if they are wearing a TAMPON, they have no blood on the surface at ALL.
believing you are.
As for "smelling yourself", tampon or not, I believe there's only a couple of possibilities here:
You're not wearing any clothes and your head is in close proximity to your vagina..
There's A Problem, be it medical, hygienic, or psychological and, if it's the former, you should see a gynecologist.
Sorry but I menstruated for decades and I could not "smell myself" walking down the street, nor
can I "smell" any other woman and have never heard of anyone else who could.
or both?
P.S. I am on my period! 
Thankfully, no bears in Roscoe Village!