What to Do When You Encounter a Bear

Except in some remote areas, most bears have had some previous experience with people. Whatever a bear has learned from these experiences will influence its behavior during the next encounter.

While it's always safest to prevent encounters, there are many situations in which bears and humans interact. The most common situation is when a bear avoids you without you knowing it was there.

There are reasons why a bear may not avoid you. It might be defensive, that is, threatened by your presence to the point it shows aggression.

Defensive behavior is usually a result of you entering a bear's personal space, surprising or crowding it. Occasionally an unaware bear approaches you and is surprised by your presence. A common example of defensive behavior is a sudden encounter with a female grizzly and cubs.

A defensive bear perceives you as a threat to itself or its cubs or it may be protecting its food. It will most likely appear agitated or stressed. The signs of stress vary with the level of a bear's agitation. These may range from low stress to high level aggression... such as a charge.

The closer you are to a bear when it becomes aware of you, the more likely it is to react in a defensive manner. You also have less time to react. Though most defensive interactions with bears stop short of contact, they do sometimes result in attacks.

In contrast to defensive behavior, there are other reasons a bear may approach. The bear may be just curious or used to people. It could be after your food. It could be a bold bear testing its dominance or, in rare cases, it may think you are potential prey. These non-defensive approaches may appear similar to each other.

A curious bear might come from a distance to investigate human activity. Sometimes they circle downwind to get a scent. At closer range they usually make a slow, hesitant approach with their ears cocked forward and their heads and noses raised as they use their senses to identify what you are.

Human-habituated bears tolerate people at close distances without apparent concern - especially in places they are used to encountering them. Don't take this as an invitation to approach. A bear's personal space shrinks as it's habituated, but it's still there. To crowd it can be dangerous.

Some bears avoid larger more dominant bears by using areas close to human activity. This increases their risk of conflict with people.

Food-conditioned bears may be bold and approach deliberately to get to your food. They can come right into your camp, rip into your tent, or enter a building.

Although all bear attacks are rare, grizzly bears are more dangerous to people than black bears. Most serious and fatal grizzly bear attacks are defensive, while such attacks by black bears are typically predatory. However, grizzly bears may attack predaceously and black bears defensively. Your response to a bear encounter or attack should be different depending on the bear's behavior and the circumstances, not just the species.

PREDATORY BEARS

A predatory bear will be intensely interested and focused on you as a potential meal. A bear that is initially curious or testing you may become predatory if you do not stand up to it. These bears may not show much stress. It probably will have its head up and ears erect as it persistently or suddenly closes in on you. Predatory bears, especially ones that have been food-conditioned, have been known to enter human structures and attack people. Contrary to our greatest fear, however, predatory attacks under any circumstances are exceedingly rare.

AVOIDING UNAWARE BEARS

To be as safe as possible while in bear country, avoid bears, just as most bears avoid you. Anytime you see a bear stop, remain calm, and assess the situation. Does the bear know you're there?

If it appears to be unaware of you and you can move away undetected, do so quietly when the bear is not looking toward you. Keep your eye on the bear. If it's moving in your general direction, watch for any change in its behavior. Make a wide detour or leave the area the way you came.

Be most careful not to crowd or surprise bears, especially grizzly bears. Shouting at a grizzly bear that is unaware of you may provoke an attack.

BEARS YOU CANNOT AVOID

If you cannot leave the area without the bear becoming aware of you, calmly, and in a non-threatening way from as far away as possible identify yourself as human. Talk to the bear in a low respectful voice and wave your arms slowly. Increase your distance; try to move upwind to give the bear your scent.

The safest thing to do after the bear has moved on is to leave the area. If you must continue, give the bear some time, proceed with caution. Stay alert and make noise.

If you hear bear vocalizations, or see young bears on the ground or in a tree, be extremely cautious and leave the area silently the way you came.

When a bear is aware of you and appears unconcerned, you should take this opportunity to leave. Do not run... it could invite pursuit. Keep track of the bear as you move away. Give it plenty of room as you continue to increase your distance.

Never approach a bear even if it appears calm. That just means you're outside its personal space. If you insist on approaching, you may provoke an aggressive response.

ANY BEAR APPROACH

A more serious encounter is with a bear that approaches. Your best response is to stop for a moment, stay as calm as possible and quickly assess the situation. Is the bear acting defensively or in some other way? Don't run unless safety is near and you're absolutely sure you can reach it. Climbing a tree can sometimes be an option, but is still no guarantee of safety. Group together if possible. Prepare your deterrent.

It's very important to understand the difference between defensive bears and those with other motives because your responses will be different from this point on.

FACING DEFENSIVE BEARS

A defensive bear is a stressed bear. You have entered its personal space and the bear perceives you as a threat. The bear may retreat, or remain nearby, nervous and uncertain. It may approach you... or charge.

Whenever a bear approaches or charges... Stand your ground!

This may be difficult. Facing a defensive bear can be a terrifying experience... but physical contact is rare. Most charges stop short.

Try to appear non-threatening. Talk to the bear in a firm voice. This may calm the bear as well as yourself.

Do not shout or throw anything at a bear acting defensively. It may provoke an attack.

When the bear is not moving toward you, cautiously try to increase your distance keeping your eye on the bear. Remember, you have entered its personal space. Increasing your distance is the best way to resolve the situation.

Usually the bear will calm down as you retreat.

If the bear continues to advance, stop! Stand your ground and keep talking calmly. If it stops its approach, try again to increase your distance.

If you have a deterrent such as bear spray or a firearm, use it as a last resort if the bear charges and appears intent on contact.

An attack is when a bear physically contacts you.

If it's a defensive attack, fall to the ground... at the last moment possible. Lay on your stomach with your legs spread slightly apart. Lock your fingers behind your head. This position will protect your face and neck. Bears often focus defensive attacks on a person's face if unprotected. If the bear flips you over, continue rolling until once again your stomach and vital organs are protected against the ground. If you've kept your pack on it may provide some protection for your back and neck. Do not struggle or cry out.

Typically, a defensive bear will stop attacking once it thinks you are no longer a threat. When the attack stops, remain still. Wait for the bear to leave. If you start moving before the bear is gone, it may resume the attack. If an attack is prolonged or the bear starts eating you, it is no longer being defensive. You must now fight back with all you've got! Your life depends on it.

NON-DEFENSIVE APPROACHES

A bear that deliberately approaches you, showing little or no stress is not acting defensively. These bears are either curious, human habituated, food conditioned, asserting dominance or possibly predatory.

The way these bears approach may appear similar, but your best response to all of them is the same.

Stop. Remain as calm as possible and talk to the bear in a firm voice. Assess the situation. Try to move well away from the bear's path or trail; that may be all it wants you to do. Watch the bear. If it follows with its attention directed at you... STOP! Stand your ground!

At this stage, all but an aggressive or predatory bear would most likely have abandoned its advance. You could now be in a dangerous situation.

Now is the time for you to act aggressively. Let the bear know you will fight if attacked. The more the bear persists, the more aggressive your response should be.

Shout at the bear. Stare it in the eye. Challenge it. Make yourself look as big as possible. Stamp your feet as you take a step or two toward the bear. Move slowly uphill of it. Stand on a log or a rock.

This is the time to use your deterrent. Threaten the bear with whatever is at hand. Most bears stop short of attack, but they may approach very close.

If you can't deter the bear and it attacks, FIGHT! Kick, punch or hit the bear with whatever weapon is available. Concentrate your attack on the face, eyes and nose. Fight any bear that attacks you in your building or tent.

TO SUMMARIZE

The two main types of serious attacks are defensive or predatory...

• A defensive attack is when the bear is trying to remove a threat.
• A predatory attack is when the bear is intent on eating you.

Your initial response to both should be the same... stand your ground!

If you are unable to deter the bear before it physically makes contact, your response to these two types of serious attacks are different…

• Defensive attack... play dead!
• Predatory attack… fight back!