I’ve noticed there’s a lot of misconceptions about bears and bear behavior. It most likely stems from misinformation, which I loath, so I’m going to give a brief outline of what to actually do in a bear encounter.
DON’TS
No1- Don’t play dead. It doesn’t work, ever.
No2- If you startle a bear, don’t yell at it. It might have cubs nearby, and that might cause it to charge. Assess the situation before you decide to scare the bear away.
No3- Don’t ever run away, or attempt to climb a tree. A bear will pursue you, and will catch you.
No4- Don’t whistle, sing, or talk loudly the entire hike. It’s obnoxious and you’re pushing bears out of their natural habitat.
No5- Don’t ever stare into a bears eyes. It is taken as a challenge, and you don’t want to duel a bear.
No5- If you have a handheld firearm, such as a pistol, do not fire it at the bear. It will cause the bear to initiate it’s fight response and will kill you, before you kill it. It also harms the bear, and could potentially kill it from blood loss. Which is never something we want. Read Emergency Procedures for tips on dismissing agitated bears.
DO’S
No1- If you startle a bear, stay still, and if necessary, back away slowly and speak softly to it. Then find a way to get around the bear, or just wait until the bear leaves. *Most black bears you can simply clap your hands and yell to scare the bear away. But with a grizzly, always follow this procedure.
No2- If a bear charges you, don’t move. Most likely it will be a bluff charge and pull away shortly before reaching you. Standing firm tells the bear you are ready to fight, and bears will never choose confrontation as their first option.
No3- The best way to know if a bear is nearby is to stop, look, and listen every once in a while. I like to stop every time I have a good vantage point and scan the area. It’s never good to be oblivious of your surroundings.
No4- In bear country it is a good practice to give a little shout or clap of a hand when turning a blind corner. That alerts the bear to your presence so you don’t startle it.
No5- When in in your tent, if you hear a bear nearby, don’t freeze. Make some noise. However, don’t yell and startle the bear if it’s nearly touching your tent. Speak softly but firmly so it can identify you as human, and it will most likely leave.
Prevention Strategies
No1- Be cautious in any tupe of wilderness. Remain aware of your aurroundings and do repeated checks of the area while hiking.
No2- Always hang your food bag at least 100ft from where you are camping. NEVER try to sleep with your food to protect it. *Food bags should contain all smellables. Ie: Food, toothpaste, deoderant, sunscreen, etc. Absolutely anything that has a scent.
No3- Always follow Leave No Trace principles. *See LNT post
No4- Depending on the area, caryying a small can of bear mace is a good deterrent against any bear.
No5- Whenever going into an area, it’s always good to call the ranger station beforehand and ask about current bear activity so you can prepare accordingly.
Emergency Procedure
No1- If a bear does fully charge you, use the bear mace on hand to deter the bear. Most sprays form a wall, making aiming easier, but always aim for the eyes, mouth, and nose. It will work, bear sprays are very effective. *bear mace should never be used on a person. It could cause permanent damage.
No2- If a bear charges you, and you have a pack on: Lay flat on your stomach, legs out, tuck in your chin and cover your neck with your arms. It protects your vitals and eventually, the bear should desist.
No3- If you have neither bear spray, nor a pack, there is a 3rd option. Fight back. Fight the bear with all your strength. Doing this might be enough to fend the bear off.
I hope this very brief overview of bears will help you feel safer in bear country. Please consider the further readig sections if you would like to know more. Remember, knowledge is power.
Further Reading:
Curtis, Rick. “Backpacker’s Field Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Backcountry Skills.” Princeton University Press
Smith, Daves. “Backcountry Bear Basics: The Definitve Guide to Avoiding Unpleasant Encounters.” The mountaineer books
The Wild Green Yonder 