How To Be Safe Around Bears (A Step-By-Step Guide)

"My minimalist approach is this: Don’t go into bear country without a deterrent and commit to making noise. You can’t outrun them, you can’t outwit them, you can’t out-anything them. You need a way to say to the bear: 'this far; no farther.'"
- Tom Smith, Bear Biologist

This guide has everything you need to know about bear safety.

Bears are beautiful animals, and it's an exciting experience to see one. But being around a bear can also be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.

When hiking or camping in bear country, there are a number of precautions that you can take to avoid unexpected bear encounters.

And to be prepared to act if you find yourself in one.

We gathered our information through interviewing wildlife experts, reading bear encounter guides, and consulting with the National Park Service information in both the U.S. and Canada.

Ready? Let's get started...

In this article

• Summary
• Planning Your Visit To Bear Country
  • Find and read your park regulations
  • Leave any strong smells at home
  • Know your bears - black vs. grizzly
• Carry Bear Spray – A Quick Primer
  • What is bear spray?
  • How to use bear spray?
  • Bear spray buying tips
  • Bear spray vs. firearms
  • Bear spray vs. regular pepper spray
• How To AVOID A Bear Encounter
  • Avoiding bears while hiking
  • Avoiding bears while camping
• ENCOUNTERS: What To Do If You See A Bear
  • If you see a bear
  • Is the bear unaware of you?
  • Is the bear aware of you?
  • If the bear approaches you
  • Is the bear defensive?
  • Is the bear non-defensive?
• How To Survive A Bear ATTACK (Defensive Or Predatory)
  • Why Bears Attack
  • Grizzly bear attacks (usually defensive)
  • Black bear attacks (rare, can be offensive)
  • A word of caution
• Additional Bear Safety Tips
  • Report all encounters
  • Bear safety in a car
  • Hiking with dogs in bear country
  • Tips for cyclists & trail runners
  • Bear body language guide
  • Bear facts
  • Bear attack statistics
• Frequently Asked Questions
• References

Summary:

• Plan your visit to a bear country in advance. Read your park regulations. Leave smelly cosmetics at home. If there are both black bears and grizzlies in the area, learn to distinguish between the two.
• Carry bear spray where allowed, keep it accessible at all times, and practice using it multiple times before heading out. Bear spray is your best defense against aggressive bears. (Related: Best Bear Sprays Reviewed)
• Avoid bears when hiking by making noise and traveling in a group. Bears are usually afraid of humans and will flee once they hear you coming. Be cautious when moving through noisy areas, such as rivers.
• Avoid bears when camping by storing your food, trash, and hygiene products in bear caches, and cooking away from your campsite. Camp in designated areas where possible, and follow the leave no trace principle.
• If you see a bear, NEVER run. Keep talking to the bear in a calm tone while backing off slowly. Keep facing the bear, don't turn your back to him. Ready your bear spray. Most encounters end at that.
• If the bear gets within 60 ft. of you, be ready to use your bear spray at a moment's notice. Follow the guidelines on using the bear spray below. Bear spray has a 92% chance of stopping a bear attack.
• If a bear approaches your campsite, Do NOT let the bear get to your food. Scare the bear away by shouting and throwing rocks. Use your bear spray if the bear gets too close. It's usually the timid black bears who approach campsites, so they're not hard to scare away.
• If the bear makes contact with you, PLAY DEAD around defensive grizzly bears only. If it's a black bear attacking you, fight back with everything you have. See the "How To Survive A Bear Attack" section below for more information on what to do.

Planning Your Visit To A Bear Country

Find and Read Your Park Regulations

Find out what the regulations are in the bear country that you're going to visit. These are going to differ from park to park.

For example, you should carry bear spray in parks where grizzlies live, such as Grand Teton or Glacier National Park. But in Yosemite, where only black bears live, the use of bear spray is not permitted.

The same goes for camping and food storage. Some parks will have bear caches – such as polymer or metal lockers for food storage – installed. Others won't. If you're planning to camp, the presence of a bear cache will affect your gear choices.

Also, do you know what kind of bears you can encounter in the area that you're headed to?

As you can see from the map below, most national parks in the US only have black bears. Grizzlies can only be found in the northwestern part of the country:

When you arrive in a park, always remember to check with the nearest visitor center or backcountry office for the latest bear safety information.

Leave Any Strong Smells At Home

Don't be surprised if the bear comes to investigate when your shampoo makes you smell like a 200-pound strawberry.

It's a good idea to leave your strong-smelling cosmetics at home (perfume, deodorant, shampoo, shower gel, etc.) and replace them with odorless alternatives.

You don't want to go out into the wild smelling like a giant piece of food.

Know Your Bears – Black vs. Grizzly

Black Bears

Black Bears are more common than grizzly bears and live throughout the country. Black bears have no shoulder hump, they have taller ears, and a straight face profile.

Nearly all close encounters with black bears involve the bear seeking food. Black bears are only mildly aggressive, and usually afraid of humans. Black bear mothers rarely defend cubs against people, and when they do, they are not nearly as ferocious as mother grizzly bears.

• Color: Black bears can be blond, cinnamon, brown or black
• Size: Average 110-300 lbs. Large males can reach 400 lbs.
• Height: From 2.5-3 ft at the shoulder, and around 5 ft standing.
• Shape: No hump on the back.
• Face: A straight line runs between the forehead and end of the nose. Larger, pointed ears.
• Claws: Short (around 1.5 inches)
• Prints: A larger toe arc, toe imprints will be further apart, and the claws don't usually leave an impression.

It can be hard to tell black bears from grizzlies by color. Both species can range from blonde to black in color (in the eastern U.S., however, black bears tend to be only black).

Your best is telling the bears apart based on grizzly bear's distinctive shoulder hump, as you can see from the chart below:

Grizzly Bears

In North America, Grizzly bears are widespread in Alaska and Western Canada. But beyond those areas, they can only be found in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and the North Cascades in Washington.

Grizzlies have a prominent shoulder hump, small rounded ears, and a dished face profile.

Most grizzly encounters are defensive. They usually happen when a grizzly mother is trying to protect her cubs from a perceived threat, or when a grizzly bear is protecting its food source.

• Color: Grizzly bears can be brown, blond, grey, reddish or silver-tipped. The long hairs usually have a lighter tip; hence, grizzly bears look "grizzled."
• Size: Average 350-500 lbs. Larger grizzlies can reach 800 lbs!
• Height: Stand around 3.3 ft; 6.5 ft at the shoulder.
• Shape: Look for a distinct shoulder hump.
• Face: There's a depression between the eyes and end of the nose. Grizzlies have short, rounded ears.
• Claws: Long claws (2-4 inches)
• Prints: Minimal arc in toes, toe imprints are close together, and the claw leaves long, visible marks.

Grizzly bears can be BIG. Take a look at the massive paw of a sedated grizzly bear below:

 

 

 

 

 

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We wrote our guide assuming that you will not be able to tell the difference between black and grizzly bears under stress. Therefore, the steps below will apply to both black and grizzly bear encounters.

Still, if you're in grizzly territory, you should be able to tell which kind of bear you're up against.

Because in the extremely unlikely scenario that a bear makes contact with you (even after using your bear spray), you should:

• Only play dead with grizzly bears. A grizzly will usually stop its attack after you're no longer a threat.
• Do not play dead around black bears. Black bears attack to kill, and playing dead is only going to speed up that process. Such predatory attacks are one in a million, but they have happened.

As you'll see from the videos below, this advice is not 100% foolproof. Every bear encounter is unique, and the right course of action will depend on your circumstances.

Fortunately, you'll have a good chance of stopping a bear attack if you...

Carry Bear Spray – It's Your Last Resort In Case Of A Bear Attack

What Is Bear Spray?

Bear spray is a pepper spray that's specifically made for stopping bears attacks.

The canister releases a large cloud of pepper spray to a distance of about 30 feet. One canister will spray for at least 7 seconds before running out. This allows you to adjust for the wind when spraying.

Bear spray is your best chance for surviving a bear attack. Research conducted by Smith and Herrero shows that bear spray stopped bears' undesirable behavior:

• 92% of the time when used on brown (grizzly) bears
• 90% for black bears
• 100% for polar bears

Of all persons carrying bear sprays, 98% were uninjured by bears in close-range encounters.

When a bear walks into the spray, its eyes and skin will sting, and it will have difficulty breathing. These symptoms are nasty enough to prompt a retreat.

The spray is non-lethal: the bear will be uncomfortable, but unharmed. None of the bear spray's effects are permanent or long-lasting.

You should always bring (or rent) a can of bear spray if your national park allows it. Carrying bear spray is a must in grizzly bear territory.

The video below shows a park ranger using bear spray to keep a family of black bears away from the road:

How To Use Bear Spray

You should only use bear spray as a last resort when the bear is approaching you at a close distance. It's not a substitute for proper bear avoidance behavior. Most encounters can, and should be, resolved without the use of bear spray.

In all cases, you should try to get out of the bear’s way first - calmly and slowly.

We recommend you watch the short video on proper bear spray usage below before reading the guide:

Here's a short guide for properly carrying and using your bear spray:

• Keep your bear spray accessible at all times. Never keep the spray in your backpack, as you won't be able to reach it fast enough. Not even in the exterior mesh pocket, because it might get kicked out. It's best to carry the spray on your person, in a holster.

• If you encounter a bear then (1) remove the safety clip, (2) hold the can in two hands, (3) and extend your arms, aiming the spray towards the bear's face and head.
• Only use the bear spray if a bear is charging or attacking you. When the aggressive bear is within 60 feet of you, that's when you should be ready to use your spray.

• When spraying:
  • Aim at the approaching bear, adjusting for the wind
  • Deploy 2-3 bursts when the bear is about 30 feet away
  • Aim at the bear's head or lower, never aim above the bear's head
  • Try not to use up the entire can of spray

• Spray the bear again if it continues to approach, aiming for the bear's face.
• After the bear backs off, leave the area as quickly as possible without running.
• Practice using the spray. You should practice using the spray a few times before going out hiking. Most canisters have a safety clip on the trigger, which you'll need to remove before you can spray. It's also a good idea to practice speed-drawing the bear spray out of its holster.

Be mindful of any obstructions you might have when using the spray. For example, hiking poles make using the bear spray difficult, so practice extra if you're planning on using them. If you're biking, you should have a way of reaching your bear spray without falling off your bike.

We recommend downloading and printing out this free bear spray preparedness PDF by BearSmart and reviewing it before going out on a hike in bear country.

Bear Spray Buying Tips

If you're in the U.S., all bear sprays have to be EPA-approved by the law. So if you buy any spray that has "bear" in its name, you'll get a tested and certified product. Check the expiry date, and you're good to go.

In Canada, we recommend sticking to reputable manufacturers because there is no compulsory bear spray certification. So there may be cheaper, subpar products on the market that you'll need to avoid.

If you want to save money, you can also rent a bear spray. You can either rent at the national parks, or use one of rental services. If you're visiting Yellowstone, I can recommend Explore Rentals who also professional training on the spot. They're also conveniently located near the Bozeman Airport, so you can rent and return the spray without going out of your way.

Bear Spray vs. Firearms

It's a common myth that you can use a gun to defend yourself against a bear. According to research done by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report, that's not the case.

Here are the numbers from that study:

• Firearms: Law enforcement agents and experienced hunters who use firearms to defend themselves from bears suffer injury about 50% of the time.
• Bear Spray: People defending themselves with bear spray escaped injury 92% of the time, and the injuries that did occur (three incidents) were relatively minor (i.e. no hospitalization required). All bear-inflicted injuries associated with using bear spray involved defensive encounters with grizzly bears.

Even if you're an experienced shooter, your chances of shooting down a bear charging at high speed before it reaches you are low (unless you have a full-auto rifle).

Firearms usually end up wounding the bear, rather than killing him. A wounded bear is more aggressive. If the bear reaches you after you've shot him, the risk of sustaining serious injury is higher.

In the video below, you can see a firearm-bear encounter play out. The shot doesn't kill the bear, but luckily stops the bear's charge before it reaches the shooter. In this case, the man was fortunate enough to be able to retreat into his home before the bear could mount a second charge. However, if this encounter had taken place in the wild, chances are high that either the bear, the man, or both would have been seriously injured.

If the man in the video would have used bear spray instead of a firearm, chances are the bear would have been incapacitated and unable to continue the attack - saving the bear and the man from further harm.

Other problems you'll have with shooting bears are:

• Bears wounded by firearms have to be put down, as they can be a danger to park rangers and visitors. Exposure to bear spray likely allows the bear to likely remain in the population of the national park.
• Most states require you to hike out the carcass, and in some cases, you’ll have to pay a fine for shooting an endangered species. Using bear spray eliminates those problems.
• Gun regulations differ by state and jurisdiction, and many of the most spectacular national parks and destinations prohibit the use of firearms. The right to legally carry a firearm varies by jurisdiction.

Bear Spray vs. Regular Pepper Spray

Regular pepper spray is not a replacement for bear spray. In fact, bear spray was developed to overcome the limitations of regular personal protection pepper spray.

These limitations include:

• A narrow stream of dispersion, requiring precise aim. This allows the charging bear to make contact, greatly increasing the chance of injury.
• Short spray distance. Bear sprays are made to shoot long distances (20-30 feet) and create a wide cloud of spray that bears must pass through in order to get to you. Personal protection pepper spays are meant to be discharged at close distance and directly in the face of a human assailant. You'll want to do anything possible to avoid letting a bear get that close to you or a loved one.
• Inconsistent potency and ingredients. Potency and ingredients of regular pepper sprays are inconsistent and unreliable, varying from brand to brand. The actual ingredients of the pepper spray are often unknown, and not indicated on the packaging.
• Small cans. Palm-sized personal protection cans are meant to be small and concealable, so they have limited spray duration. Larger bear spray cans contain enough material to allow several short bursts - this is critical in case your first shot misses the mark or otherwise fails to completely deter the bear from charging.

How To AVOID A Bear Encounter

The best way to be safe around bears is by avoiding a bear encounter in the first place.

Most bears are afraid of humans and will flee as soon as they smell, hear or see you. In most cases, making enough noise while hiking will be enough to keep the bears out of your way.

Or they might climb a tree instead of fleeing - like the black bear in the video below:

Avoiding Bears While Hiking

Your main task is to avoid surprising a bear at close range. Especially if it's a mother bear with cubs.

Here are some guidelines that will help you avoid bears while hiking:

• Don't hike at dawn or dusk. That's when the bears are most active.
• Travel in a group of four or more and stay close together. You'll make more noise in a group, which helps to alert the bears that you're coming. If it comes to an encounter, the bear is also less likely to attack a group.
• Make noise as you hike to avoid surprising the bear. Talk or sing loudly, clap hands, or even bring a portable music speaker with you. Don't whistle or scream – it can make you sound like an animal in pain, which may attract bears. Side note: Most of the "bear bells" you see being sold on the market are not loud enough to be reliable on their own.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Water streams, strong wind, hills, and trees can all prevent a bear from hearing you in time. Make an effort to be extra loud when you're crossing through a naturally noisy environment, or through an area with known bear activity. If you come across a large dead animal, notify the park authorities and leave the area immediately.
• Don't spray your tent or backpack with bear spray preemptively. Bear spray doesn't work like a mosquito repellent. The smell of bear spray may attract bears instead of keeping them away, which puts you in danger.

Avoiding Bears While Camping

Bears do approach campsites from time to time.

They can usually smell your food, and are coming in to investigate. Bears learn quickly and will return to areas where they find food. Not only can this be dangerous for people, but it is also harmful to bears.

That is why it's important to keep your food away from bears, for your safety, and the bears' wellbeing.

Why Is Human Food Bad For Bears?

By eating human food, bears can lose their preference for natural foods and also their fear of humans. It happens rarely, but a bear who is craving human food can start approaching park visitors and rangers in his search of food.

Bears that get accustomed to human food can become unpredictable, aggressive, and dangerous. When that occurs in parks and near tourist spots, the bear is usually put down in order to keep the area safe for visitors.

Bears who have lost their fear of humans also tend to wander into human areas, walk on highways, etc. If not put down, these bears can get hit by a car, or become an easy target for poachers. They have a lower life expectancy than other bears.

Staying Safe Camping In Bear Country

To stay safe, here is the usual camping etiquette for bear country:

• Camp in designated areas where possible.
• If no designated area is available, set up cooking, eating, and food storage areas at least 100 ft. downwind from your tent. Pick a campsite with good visibility, so that bears can't approach unseen. Don't camp or cook near running water, thick bush, animal trails, berry patches, etc.

• Never leave food out and unattended. You need to store your food properly day and night. A bear might pass by your campsite anytime, and the smell of the food will make him curious.
• Store food, garbage & hygiene products in bear caches, away from the campsite. Always use a bear canister, bear bag, tree- or pole-hung bag, or a metal food locker to store all of the following:
  • Food & snacks
  • Empty food bags & containers
  • Cookware (even if cleaned)
  • Personal hygiene products (like toothpaste)
  • Sunscreen
  • All of your trash
  • Clothes that you wear while cooking (they can absorb food odors)
  • Your cooking stove

• Keep food odors away from your campsite. Cook food and wash dishes away from your tent, so that the smell doesn't attract the bears to where you're sleeping. For washing your hands and dishes, use unscented soap, and as little of it as possible.
• Wash and store all dishes and food utensils immediately after use. Strain food particles from dishwater and store it with your garbage. Dump dishwater at least 150 ft. from the campsite.
• Leave no trace. Follow the leave no trace principle, as well as any other regulations for disposing of human waste in nature.
• Don't try to burn excess food, garbage or anything else. Completely burning food requires more heat than a regular campfire can provide. The smell of partially burned remains will still attract wildlife.
• Choose foods that are compact, compressible, high calorie, and lacking in strong odors, such as rice, tortillas, jerky, pasta, nuts, dried fruits, peanut butter, and protein bars.
• Carry food and garbage in plastic bags or odor proof storage bags to contain crumbs and grease that can leave odors in your backpack.

Check out this article from Rei.com for more information on food handling and storage in bear country.

ENCOUNTERS: What To Do If You Actually See A Bear

Even though bear encounters can usually be avoided, you should still prepare for them no matter where you go in a national park.

It's normal to be frightened when you first encounter a bear. But the reality is that most encounters end harmlessly.

The bear is probably just as afraid as you are when it sees you.

Still, it's important to remember that you're dealing with a wild animal. Bears can be unpredictable, and you should keep your guard up as soon as you spot one.

The two most important things you should do are:

1. Keep your distance
2. Avoid surprising the bear

Here's what you should do in 6 different types of bear encounters, starting from simply seeing a bear, to surviving a bear attack.

If You See A Bear

• Stop and remain calm.
• Ready your bear spray by removing the safety lock.
• Never approach the bear. Otherwise, there's a risk of him mistaking you for a threat.
• Pick up any small children. Keep your dog on the leash, if you have one.
• Keep together if you're in a group to look more imposing.

Is the bear UNAWARE of your presence?

• Move away quietly without getting the bear's attention.

Is the bear AWARE of your presence?

Once the bear has noticed you, here's what you should do to prevent the situation from escalating:

• Talk firmly in a low-pitched voice. This helps the bear recognize that you're a human and not a threat. If the bear stands up, he's trying to see, hear, and smell you better. A standing bear is usually curious, and not threatening. Don't scream or imitate the bear's growls, as that may trigger an attack.
• Wave your hands slowly above your head – this is another way of letting the bear know that you're human.
• Avoid direct eye contact with the bear, as the bear may see this as a challenge or threat. Keep your eyes on the bear, but don't look him in the eyes directly.
• Move away slowly backward or sideways. This way you can keep your eyes on the bear and avoid tripping. Observe the bear's response while moving and be ready to use your bear spray if necessary.

Most bear encounters end at that - the bear realizes that you're a human and doesn't bother you. Here's how this kind of encounter might play out:

 

 

 

 

 

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If the bear APPROACHES you

But in some situations, the bear may decide to approach you. If this happens, here's what do to:

• Keep backing off while facing the bear and talking to him. 
• Get ready to use your bear spray.
• Do NOT run. Like dogs, bears will chase fleeing animals. You can't outrun a bear - they are as fast as a racehorse, both uphill and downhill. (If you did run and the bear followed you, turn around and hold your ground)
• Do NOT climb trees. Both black and grizzly bears are great climbers.
• Do NOT drop your pack. Your pack will protect your back in case of a bear attack and will prevent the bear from accessing your food.
• AVOID sudden movements, as they may trigger an attack.

At this point you should assess the bear's intentions – is the bear defensive, or non-defensive?

Is the bear DEFENSIVE? (Mostly Grizzlies)

Defensive bears are protecting something, and feel threatened by you. These encounters include:

• A mother grizzly protecting her cubs
• A bear defending its food source (carcass, berries, etc.)
• Surprise close encounters

These encounters are dangerous, as the bear can perceive you as a threat and react defensively. You can tell that the bear is defensive when:

• The bear clacks its jaws (a sign of fear)
• The bear hits the ground with its paw
• The bear puffs itself up to look bigger
• The bear huffs and makes noises

Defensive bears may "bluff charge" their way out of an encounter by charging and then turning away at the last second. Bluff charges are meant to scare you.

Here's what a bluff charge looks like:

Side note: You can tell it's a bluff charge when the bear's head and ears are up and forward. But unless you're a bear expert, we don't recommend trying to tell the difference between real and bluff bear charges as they happen. Use your bear spray when the bear is acting aggressive and gets close to you.

In defensive encounters, you need to show the bear that you are not a threat. This kind of bear doesn't want to fight any more than you do.

Which is why it's important that you:

• Appear non-threatening.
• Keep talking to the bear in a calm voice.
• Keep moving away while facing the bear.
• If the bear keeps coming closer, stand your ground, keep talking, and use your bear spray.

The use of bear spray will resolve most of these conflicts. In the unlikely case that the bear makes contact with you, you'll need to fall on the ground and play dead. More details on how to do that below.

Is the bear NON-DEFENSIVE? (Mostly Black Bears)

Non-defensive bear encounters include:

• A bear that is curious about you
• A younger adult bear that is testing its dominance
• A bear that is after your food (in the campsite or otherwise)
• And highly unlikely - a predatory bear looking to eat you

Below is an example of curious behavior - the bear must have smelled something inside the car, and was smart enough to open the door:

A bear that is initially curious may become predatory if you don't stand up to it. This is why it’s important to let the bear know that you will fight back if attacked.

With non-defensive bears, you should do the following:

• Intimidate the bear and scare it away. Shout and act aggressively. Throw rocks at the bear. Even if the bear looks harmless and curious, it's important that you scare it away.
• Look the bear in the eyes and keep facing him.
• If the bear follows you, stop and stand your ground.
• If the bear gets close, use your bear spray.

Side note: This advice is the exact opposite of defensive encounters with grizzlies. Most bear encounters are defensive, and you should be 100% sure that the bear you're dealing with is not defensive before attempting the tactics above.

In campsite encounters additionally:

• Do NOT let the bear get to your food. Quickly lock the food away in a bear canister or a metal locker. If that's not possible, carry the food with you (even if the pot is cooking). If you're moving with the food and the bear keeps coming towards you, drop the food as a last resort and move away from the site. Contact the local park authorities and tell them about the incident.

How To Survive A Bear ATTACK

Why Bears Attack

There are four situations that are most likely to cause a bear to attack:

1. When a person encounters a protective sow with cubs. An average of 78% of all attacks are related to these encounters.
2. When a bear is surprised or startled.
3. When a human gets too close to a bear's food supply.
4. Predatory Bear (When the bear intends to eat you).

Making contact with the bear is highly unlikely, and most encounters end without things getting to this point.

Still, in case of an actual bear attack, the following tips will increase your chances of survival.

Keep in mind that bears are unpredictable and that an attack can happen as fast as lightning:

(the hunter escaped uninjured)

Can you tell if it was a defensive attack?

Or did the bear think that the hunter was prey? If so, why did it stop and leave after the first charge? Or was the bear just startled?

If the bear charges at you – whether bluff or real – you should use your bear spray and leave the area as soon as possible.

If the bear makes contact, you have two choices: play dead or fight back. You should react according to the species of bear.

Grizzly Bear Attacks (usually defensive)

1. Use your bear spray.
2. If the grizzly bear makes contact PLAY DEAD. Only play dead after a bear has made contact with you.

How to play dead:

Lie on your stomach with legs apart and position your arms so that your hands are crossed behind your neck. This position makes you less vulnerable to being flipped over and protects your face, the back of your head, and your neck.

Keep your pack on, it will help protect you during an attack. Stay still and don’t make any noise—you’re trying to convince the bear that you aren’t a threat to it or its cubs.

Remain still until you are sure the bear has left the area. If the bear sees you move, it may return and attack again. Wait several minutes until you are sure that the bear is gone.

These defensive attacks are generally less than two minutes in duration. The bear may bite you and walk away. If the attack continues, it may mean it has shifted from defensive to predatory - FIGHT BACK!

Watch the video below to see a professional bear trainer show how to play dead around a grizzly:

Black Bear Attacks (rare, can be offensive)

1. Use your bear spray.
2. FIGHT BACK. Offensive black bear attacks are extremely rare. But when they do happen the bear thinks that you're prey and is attacking to kill. FIGHT BACK with everything you have, show the bear that you're not going to be easy prey. Don't play dead.

In almost all situations, your best defense against an attacking black bear is to fight back.

Your goal here is to scare the bear – shout, hit it with a branch or a rock, and do whatever it takes to let the bear know you are not easy prey. Concentrate on the bear’s face or muzzle with anything you have on hand.

Physically fight back ALWAYS in the following situations:

• You're attacked in your tent
• You're attacked at night
• The bear attacks you after stalking you for some time

A Word Of Caution

It is difficult to predict the best strategy to use in a bear encounter. No strategy will work in 100% of the cases. This is why it's important to avoid the bear encounter in the first place by following the suggestions we laid out above.

Additional Bear Encounter Tips

Report All Encounters

If you are involved with a bear conflict or encounter, report it to park authorities as soon as possible. If the conflict is serious and cell service is available, call 911.

Bear Safety In A Car

At all times:

• Use common sense - observe and photograph bears from the safety of your car.
• Keep distance – give bears space.
• Never feed the bears.
• Be extra cautious if you're in an open roofless car (or a motorcycle).

If you stop:

• Be aware of the traffic around you.
• Pull over where it's safe to do so.
• Use hazard lights to alert other drivers.
• Don't stay too long – take a quick photo, and move on.
• Be vary of "bear traffic jams" – these are dangerous for both humans and bears, don't stop if you see one.

Remember - the bear won't hesitate to attack your car if he perceives you to be a threat. And while he's unlikely to break through inside your car, this is not something that you want to happen.

Hiking With Dogs In Bear Country

Hiking with dogs in bear country is possible, but not recommended. If you do, make sure you keep your dog on a leash at all times, both when you're hiking and camping.

On the upside, your dog can smell the bear before you see it, which can potentially help you avoid the encounter. Your dog's barking will also help scare the bear away in case you see one in the distance.

Cyclists And Trail Runners

We don’t recommend cycling or running on trails in bear country. Your speed and quietness put you at risk for sudden bear encounters. If you do end up cycling or running, follow the safety rules below:

• Follow the "how to avoid bears" rules from above as much as possible.
• Slow down in shrubby areas, and when approaching blind corners.
• Keep your bear spray accessible at all times, even if you're on a bike.

You should be prepared for using your bear spray in a situation like this:

Bear Body Language

• If a bear "pops" its jaws, it is very agitated and scared, and most often will bluff charge you to get you to leave.
• A bear that stands on its hind feet is usually just trying to get a better look and smell by sniffing the air. This is not an aggressive posture in of itself. It simply means that the bear is unsure of what is in front of him, but still could drop on all fours and charge.
• A bear that swings its head from side to side, or turns sideways from you, is expressing a reluctance to charge and is looking for a way out of the situation.
• If a bear looks you in the eyes directly and has its ears back, it's warning that you are too close and that it feels threatened. A bear may also make barking, woofing or moaning sounds to indicate this.

Bear Facts

• Size: With their bulky fur coats, bears can look bigger than they are. Males average 275 lbs.; females average 175 lbs.
• Activity: Most bears are active from mid-March through early November. When food sources dwindle they head for winter dens.
• Diet: Over 90% of a bear’s natural diet is grasses, berries, fruits, nuts and plants. The rest is primarily insects and scavenged carcasses. During late summer and early fall bears need 20,000 calories a day to gain enough fat to survive the winter without eating or drinking.
• Smell: With a nose that’s 100 times more sensitive than ours, a bear can literally smell food five miles away.
• Intellect: Bears are very smart, and have great memories - once they find food, they come back for more.
• Temperature: During hibernation, black bears drop their body temperature by only a few degrees, while simultaneously managing to suppress their metabolism by 75 percent (to slow down the body's energy needs).
• Finding Bears In Winter: Scientists use infrared heat technology to find bear dens in winter while the bears are hibernating. For more information on how infrared thermometer sensors work, see the buyer's guide in our best infrared thermometers article.

Bear Attack Statistics

The overwhelming majority of bear encounters do not involve conflict. There is an average of one bear attack per year in Yellowstone. In separate incidents in 2011 and 2015, three people were killed by bears inside the park. More people have died by drowning or suffering thermal burns from hot springs than aggressive bears.

About one black bear out of a million kills someone for food. These predatory attacks probably account for all 61 killings by black bears across North America in the last 108 years. Predatory black bears are not angry, defensive, or highly motivated to attack. They just want to eat you. The odds of meeting a predatory black bear are extremely low.

Vox magazine has created a couple of great charts on bear encounter fatalities since 1990:

Frequently Asked Questions

(coming soon)

How fast can a bear run? (grizzly/black)

What does bear poop look like?

How much does a grizzly bear weigh?

Where to shoot a bear?

Which bear is the biggest?

How to fight a bear?

How strong is a grizzly bear?

What does a bear sound like?

How far can bear smell?

Can you escape a bear?

Are black bears dangerous?

Do bear whistles work?

Do bear bells work?

Fishing in bear country

References

As always, thanks for reading. If you would like to learn more, please check out some of the resources below.

Was this article helpful? Have suggestion? Drop us a note in the Comment section below.

Sources & Further Reading:

https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/injuries.htm
https://bear.org/pepper-spray-questions/
http://www.bebearaware.org/BearGuide8Aug42019.pdf
https://www.tripsavvy.com/bear-safety-tips-3361625
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm
http://www.bearsmart.com/play/bear-encounters/
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/bearsafety.htm
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/mtn/ours-bears/securite-safety/ours-humains-bears-people
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Keep-Me-Wild/Bear
https://www.backpacker.com/survival/the-truth-about-bears-the-skills
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/species/livingwithwildlife/bears/pdfs/know_your_bear_facts_brochure.pdf
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44341-w
https://www.vox.com/2016/10/6/13170344/bear-attacks-national-state-parks
https://www.tonybynum.com/grizzly-bears

Photos & Brochures from:

• wildtaiga.fi
• nps.gov
• bebearaware.org

Recommended Books:

If you want to learn more about bear attacks, encounters, and safety, the books below are a great starting point:

• Self Defense for Nature Lovers by Mike Lapinski Stoneydale
• Mark of the Grizzly by Scott McMillion Falcon Publishing, Inc.
• Bear Attacks by Stephen Herrero Lyons & Bruford, Publishers
• Bear Attacks by Kathy Etling Safari Press, Inc
• Bear Aware by Bill Schneider Falcon Publishing, Inc.