There’s a long-time saying that was intended to help you know what to do when you come across different types of bears in the wild: If it’s brown, lie down; If it’s black, fight back; If it’s white… well, you’re in trouble. The only problem is that this is completely WRONG. Let’s dive into what you should really do when you’re adventuring through bear country…
Step One: Don’t wait until you meet the bear
The most important thing by far is that no matter what kind of bear you meet, that you’ve thought ahead about the situation. At the visitor center of every major National Park with any population of bears, there is adamant advertising for Bear Deterrent; more affectionately known as Bear Spray. Used in the opposite way as bug spray, Bear Spray looks like a small fire extinguisher and is intended to be used like pepper spray, pointed at the bear.
You should never venture into an area with a known bear population without a can of bear spray. It is a non-lethal deterrent that has proven very effective to keep bears from attacking. There are detailed instructions in the packaging as well as countless videos online to teach yourself how to use it without having to practice on one of your poor friends.
Step Two: Avoid when possible
After preparing with the right tools, the best way to avoid an unpleasant bear encounter is to avoid bears altogether. Most people won’t even realize when they come close to a bear because the bear isn’t interested in interacting. Traveling in groups and making plenty of noise as you go can help keep them out of your path too.
Step Three: When you’re finally face to face
Once you do finally come across a bear in the wild, assess the situation and consider these options:
If the bear is far away or acting defensive…
- Give her some personal space
- Consider turning around and continuing your trek back the way you came or if that isn’t an option, take a detour to give the bear a wide berth
- You can also wait and watch from a safe distance to see if she moves on in another direction
If the bear is close but not aggressive…
- Stop what you’re doing and square up to him
- Speak in a slow but loud voice to make sure he’s aware of your presence
- Slowly back away from the bear toward some sort of shelter without taking your eye off of him
- In most cases, the bear will go away or go about his business and pay little attention to you
If that doesn’t work and the bear becomes aggressive…
- Stop retreating and raise your voice even louder… this let’s her know that you’re not just prey but will put up a fight
- Make yourself look as big as possible and make sure your Bear Spray is ready to use
- Start using your Bear Spray when the bear is within 20-25ft
- If the bear persists or you don’t have Bear Spray, use whatever large object you can as a weapon to try and fend off the bear concentrating attacks on the face and nose and seek shelter as quickly as possible without turning your back on the animal
In reality, there are only about 3 fatal bear attacks per year in all of North America, so the odds of you running into this kind of situation are small, but being prepared only helps ensure your safety. See www.bearsmart.com for more information on bear encounters.