What To Do If You See a Bear While Hiking
If you spend enough time in the backcountry, it’s likely you will come across a bear on one of your trips. While this may be a frightening thought for some people, it doesn’t have to be a negative experience. Seeing a bear from a safe distance can be an exciting thing! Bears are beautiful animals, observing one in their natural environment can be a treat. However, bears can be incredibly dangerous if you have a negative encounter with one. It is important to know what to do if you see a bear while hiking.
Each bear encounter is a unique situation. There is no one, sure-fire way to handle a bear because they are unpredictable animals. There is some guidance and best practices that have been proven to keep people safe most of the time. Understanding this information will help you reduce your chances of having a frightening experience with a bear.
Tips to Avoid Bear Encounters
Though bears are incredible animals, we do want to avoid crossing paths with them in the woods. If you are going backpacking, there are a few things you can do to avoid bear encounters.
One thing you can do is make yourself known throughout your time in the woods. Talk while you’re on the trail to avoid being too quiet. Surprising a bear by coming up on it too quietly can cause the bear to act aggressively. If you are chatting, the bear will likely leave the area before you even see it.
You should also avoid hiking at dusk or dawn. This is the time of day when bears are most active. You should also make an effort not to hike alone in areas where bears are common. When by yourself, you’ll likely be a lot quieter and be more likely to sneak up on nearby animals. You’ll also be perceived as less intimidating when you are on your own.
While at your campsite, be sure to store your food appropriately. If your food is easily accessible, bears will be encouraged to spend time around your site. Bear canisters are an effective way of keeping your food safe in bear country. Be sure to keep all food, garbage, and scented items outside of your tent and inside a bear canister. That way, bears have no reason to investigate your tent.
Black Bears vs. Grizzly Bears
In the US and Canada, the most common bears are black and grizzly bears. How you should behave when faced with a bear depends on what kind of bear you are interacting with.
Though many people simply look for color, there is a lot more to correctly identifying a bear than the shade of it’s fur. Black bears and grizzly bears can have a variety fur colors ranging from blonde to cinnamon to black. However black fur on black bears and brown fur on grizzly bears is the most typical coloration.
Black Bears
If you’re hiking or backpacking in the US, you are more likely to see a black bear. These bears tend to be smaller and more timid compared to grizzly bears. People can typically scare off a black bear without much effort. Making loud noises and appearing large will usually spook one of these.
To identify a black bear, you should pay attention to a few key features. Their ears are tall and have more of a pointed shape. Their face is straight from the eyes to the nose. You may also notice their smaller frame and the absence of a hump on their shoulders.
Grizzly Bears
If you hike in North Western United States or in Canada, you may see a grizzly bear. These bears are more aggressive, larger, and less frightened by humans. Since they aren’t as easily intimidated by people, it is important to appear confident, large, but non-threatening if you see one. Be sure to have your bear spray handy.
When you see a grizzly bear, you will first notice it’s large size. These bears are very large – the average male weighs around 600 – 800 pounds! They also have the tell-tale shoulder hump, short and rounded ears, and a facial profile that caves inwards.
What To Do If You See a Bear While Hiking
There may be times when you’re walking on the trail and you come upon a bear near or on the trail ahead of you. These moments are rare since bears have a good sense of hearing and a spectacular sense of smell. They typically leave the area before you see them. However, this does happen on occasion. How you behave can influence a bear’s reaction to seeing you. Below are some tips for what to do when you see a bear while hiking.
- Talk to the Bear – If you see a bear, make it known that you are human and not an animal that they are used to hunting. Speaking and waving your arms helps the bear realize what you are so they can understand what they are dealing with.
- Keep Your Distance – Make sure you never come close to a bear. If you approach the bear, it may be perceived as a threat. Respect the bear’s distance and try to add space between you. Walk slowly backwards or past the bear, careful not to take your eyes off it. If there are any cubs nearby, be sure to stay far away from them and never get between the cubs and the mother.
- Stay Calm – Make sure you remain calm when you encounter a bear. They may be intimidating, but panicking will only make the experience more dangerous. Don’t scream or shriek as this may startle or agitate the bear. Speak to it calmly and don’t make sudden movements.
- Make Yourself Look Large – Gather together with your friends to make your group look larger. Stand up straight and tall, standing on elevated surfaces if possible. The bigger you look, the more likely the bear will want to leave you alone ASAP.
- Use Bear Spray When Necessary – It is rare for bears to act aggressively by charging or approaching humans. Rare, but it does happen. Be sure to bring along bear spray as protection because it could save your life. Learn more about bear spray here.
What To Do If You See a Bear At Your Campsite
If a bear approaches your campsite, you may have to approach the situation differently than you would on the trail. When you’re walking, your goal is to safely leave the area that the bear is in. At your campsite, you need to convince the bear to leave.
If You’re Outside Your Tent:
- Don’t Run – If a bear approaches your campsite, don’t run away. This will give the bear free rein over your site, allowing it to eat your food and destroy your gear. This will ruin your trip, encourage the bear to stick around, and may set you up for an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous trek back to the trailhead.
- Gather Together and Be Loud – Just like on the trail, you’ll want to group together and appear large to the bear. Be vocal to let it know you are a group of humans. This will likely frighten the bear and cause it to leave.
- Don’t Feed The Bear – If a bear gets food at a campsite, it will continue to return to campsites. Bears love an easy meal, which is why it is important not to let them get one. If it is already near your food, don’t risk your safety to get it away. However, if the food is near you, don’t throw the food in hopes to deter the bear.
- If It’s a Black Bear, Shoo It – Black bears are typically timid and frightened by humans. If you’re sure it is a black bear, shoo it and yell. Smack your boots togehter to make noice or hit two rocks together. These loud noises may make the bear leave.
- If It’s a Grizzly Bear, Prepare Your Bear Spray – If a grizzly bear comes to your campsite and is acting bold, make sure you have your bear spray handy. Take off the safety and prepare yourself to spray it if needed. If you have a gun, shoot a warning shot to spook it. Don’t shoot the gun or the spray at the animal unless it is necessary for protection.
- Once The Bear Leaves – When the bear leaves, stash your food, trash, and scented items in a bear safe method like a bear canister. Stay together with your group, hold on to any dogs, and keep your eyes out for signs that the bear is returning.
If You’re In Your Tent:
- Lay Quietly If… If it sounds like the bear is just passing through, lay quietly to see if it leaves. If you prepared properly and have all your smelly items in bear-safe storage, there is no reason for the bear to want to investigate your tent. Remain calm and wait for it to leave.
- Make Noise If… If the bear seems to be sticking around or if you believe there may be something in your tent that may attract them to where you are sleeping, speak calmly to announce yourself. Continue to talk loudly and turn on a flashlight or lantern to spook the bear. Bears don’t want to be near humans, it may leave your site when it knows there are humans around. Just make sure the bear isn’t close to your tent when you do so in case you startle it.
- If A Bear Enters Your Tent – Fight back with everything you have if a bear successfully enters your tent. Don’t use bear spray in your tent or you are going to do more harm to yourself. Try to exit the tent and then use bear spray if possible.
Bring Protection
It is always a good idea to bring protection in case you encounter an aggressive bear. Though they are not common, these situations do occur and having bear spray or a firearm will significantly increase your chances of getting away scot-free.
It is important to only use these tools when necessary to preserve the wellbeing of yourself or others.
If an encounter becomes an attack and you find yourself without a weapon, you’ll need to act accordingly in order to save your own life. How you should defend yourself depends a lot on the type of bear you are dealing with
Handling a Black Bear Attack
It’s unlikely you will be attacked by a black bear. However, knowing what to do if it happens can save your life.
Do not play dead if a black bear is attacking you. You should try to escape it’s reach if possible. If you’re unable to get away from the bear, fight back and use any item available as a weapon. Direct your blows to it’s face and muzzle. Work as a team and don’t leave anyone behind.
Handling a Grizzly Bear Attack
A grizzly bear attack is also rare, though slightly more likely than a black bear attack.
If a grizzly begins to attack you, keep your backpack on, lay on your stomach and play dead. Clasp your hands around your neck and spread out your legs to keep it from flipping you over. Remain still until the bear leaves. Fighting back tends to escalate the attack, but if the attack continues, fight back vigorously. Use any items available, such as hiking sticks, as a weapon and direct your blows to its face.
Don’t Be Afraid
Reading about aggressive bear encounters and attacks can cause anyone to feel fearful of venturing into the forests where these animals reside. It’s important to remember that bear attacks are uncommon. If you behave appropriately in the forest, you won’t have to deal with a bear.
If you know what to do when you see a bear, you are likely to have a safe experience in the forest.
Check out next – what to do if you see a mountain lion!
Cover photo by John Thomas on Unsplash
