Hiking on a beautiful autumn day and suddenly you encounter a bear. And it has seen you too. What do you do? Beth Pratt certainly knows how to react in this situation.
Grizzly bear mother and cub walking in a meadow in Yellowstone National Park.
Beth Pratt, a wildlife expert, had her own grizzly bear encounter while hiking the Old Gardiner Road trail in Yellowstone National Park. The initial excitement of the hike quickly turned to suspense when she unexpectedly ran into a grizzly bear casually munching on wildflowers.
“I froze. It stood up on its hind legs and stared at me. I recognized it wasn’t a threatening posture,” Pratt recounted. “Oddly enough, it waved its paw at me as if to say ‘go ahead’ and went back to eating flowers.”
“Then, I slowly backed away, keeping a safe distance from it, and the encounter ended peacefully.”
Pratt’s experience in dealing with bears goes far beyond most people. She served as the California Regional Executive Director for the National Wildlife Federation for over 10 years and previously worked at Yellowstone for 7 years, where she once witnessed up to 9 grizzly bears in a single day.
Pratt is also the author of “When Mountain Lions are Neighbors,” a book exploring how humans can coexist peacefully with wildlife in California, with a dedicated chapter on bears.
Bear walking across a yard at the edge of Yosemite National Park.
Pratt shares her enthusiasm and insightful advice about bears, aiming to make bear encounters safer and even enjoyable.
“Seeing a wild bear is an incredible experience. It’s magical to watch them in their natural environment. I’ve never had a negative encounter with a bear. What I want people to feel is respect, not fear. These animals usually want to avoid confrontation.”
Bears in the News – Rare but Not Impossible
Bear attacks on humans are rare, but not unheard of. Earlier this month in North Carolina, a stray dog inadvertently drew the attention of a black bear to a couple picnicking in the Blue Ridge Parkway. A few days prior, a Wyoming hunter was attacked by a female grizzly bear with cubs.
Both victims in these attacks thankfully survived. However, in Slovakia, a man died after being attacked by a brown bear in June. These incidents remind us that “rare” does not mean “never.”
A Beastly Buffet – Don’t Let Your Food Become Bear Bait
Adult grizzly bear walking through a campsite and picnic area at Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. Improperly stored food can attract bears to your area.
This is an ideal time to learn about bear facts and safety, as many bears are in a phase of bulking up for the winter. “It’s autumn, when bears are eating everything to put on fat for hibernation,” Pratt explains.
She also notes that mountain lions are pickier eaters, unlike bears. “Bears are omnivores: ants, carrion, berries, nuts, and unfortunately, human food. They especially love our food because of the easy calories.”
Coupled with national parks recording record visitor numbers in 2021 and visitor overload, the risk of bear encounters could increase. “When there are a lot of people out and about, there is a higher chance of encounters and conflicts. That makes me a little nervous,” Pratt expresses.
Solutions are being considered, and that’s where Pratt’s experience and other experts become invaluable.
First Rule of Bear Encounters – Don’t Fight Back
The best strategy is prevention – avoid putting yourself in dangerous situations or provoking wild bears. Trying to feed bears or approach cubs are extremely dangerous actions when encountering them. They just cause trouble.
The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) website emphasizes that every bear and every encounter is different, but there are helpful general guidelines for most situations.
First and foremost, always maintain a safe distance if you happen to encounter a bear. Don’t approach, keep your distance so they can move on. Yellowstone recommends staying at least 100 yards away, while Shenandoah National Park in Virginia suggests 50 yards for black bears.
Violating safe distances can lead to legal consequences. Just this week, a woman was sentenced to 4 days in federal jail and fined for getting too close to a grizzly bear and her cubs in Yellowstone.
Grizzly bear "399" with her four cubs outside of Jackson, Wyoming.
Other preventative tips:
- Reassure yourself that you are human: Talk loudly and sing to make bears aware of your presence.
- Travel in groups: Groups make more noise and scent, making bears less likely to approach.
- Stay on trails: Minimize the chance of surprising a bear.
- If you have small children or dogs, pick them up: Prevent them from running around or provoking a bear.
- Don’t get between a mother bear and her cubs: Mother bears are very protective of their young and can become aggressive.
- Avoid direct eye contact with bears: It can be seen as a challenge.
- Slowly back away sideways if possible: Give the bear space to leave.
Pratt notes not to panic if you see a bear standing on its hind legs. It’s usually not an aggressive action, but just how they get a better look around.
Most bear encounters are peaceful. Often, people are unaware they were even close to a bear, like a Youtube video showing two people climbing out of a basement unaware of the bear nearby.
What if the Bear Keeps Coming Towards You?
Brown bear wandering in the Bavarian Forest in Neuschonau, Germany. Stay calm and still if a bear approaches.
If a bear continues to approach you, you have to make quick and decisive decisions.
The first rule: Stand your ground and observe the bear’s behavior.
For both grizzlies (a subspecies of brown bear) and black bears, “absolutely do not run. Bears are faster than anyone,” Pratt warns. “Also, don’t climb a tree. They are much better climbers than you are.”
Some response tips:
- Make loud noises: Yell loudly, bang pots and pans, or blow a whistle to intimidate the bear into leaving.
- Make yourself look bigger: Raise your arms or jacket high.
Pratt says you may be able to intimidate or distract a bear to get out of a dangerous situation, depending on the type of bear and the specific circumstances.
But What if the Bear Still Attacks?
In this extremely rare situation, you have attracted unwanted bear attention. It’s not leaving and is beginning to approach you quickly and threateningly. You might think you are about to be attacked. But what happens next?
The life-saving decision at this point is to identify the type of bear, as the response strategy differs depending on the species.
Study this face closely. This is the face of a black bear. If attacked by a black bear, fight back aggressively.
If it’s a black bear, the NPS and Pratt have a clear message: Don’t play dead. Fight back!
“You should stand up to a black bear. Be as aggressive as possible. Throw things at it, but don’t aim to hit it. The point is to make the black bear afraid of you. Show it you are a worthy opponent. Pick up anything, yell at it. If it attacks, fight back aggressively, aiming for its face and nose.”
The situation is different for grizzly bears.
“If you are facing a grizzly bear that is not backing down and a conflict is imminent, you should do the opposite. Play dead.”
“Act as non-threatening as possible to a grizzly. Play dead as soon as you see it starting to charge. Curl into a fetal position. Clasp your hands over the back of your neck. Lay on your stomach. When you do that, 99% of grizzlies will walk away.”
The NPS adds: “Remain motionless until the bear leaves the area. Fighting back usually increases the intensity of such attacks. However, if the bear continues its attack, then fight back with everything you have.”
Fighting back against a grizzly is a last resort, Pratt calls it a “hail Mary,” when all other methods have failed.
One exception to this rule: If you are in a tent camping and are attacked, it is likely the bear sees you as food. The NPS and Pratt suggest this is the time to fight back aggressively.
How to Tell the Difference Between Black and Grizzly Bears?
First of all, learn about the area you are going to and read up on the bear species there.
In North America, the range of grizzly bears is much more limited than black bears. In the lower 48 states, they live primarily in Washington, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, as well as Alaska and western Canada.
Black bears have a much larger territory. The National Wildlife Federation says they can be found in 40 U.S. states, much of Canada, and even parts of northern Mexico.
So, if you are in Quebec, the Appalachians, the Ozarks, California, or even Florida, it is almost certainly a black bear. But if you are in Yellowstone or Glacier National Park, it could be either a black bear or a grizzly. At this point, knowing how to quickly distinguish their appearance becomes crucial.
You cannot rely on fur color to tell the difference. Black bears can be black, brown, cinnamon, blonde, blue-gray, or even white.
Grizzly bear (left) with distinctive shoulder hump, a key feature to distinguish from black bears.
One of the best ways to distinguish them is to look for a hump on the shoulders. Grizzly bears have a noticeable muscular hump on their shoulders, while black bears do not.
Pratt says facial shape is also a difference. “To me, a black bear’s face looks a little ‘cuter,’ a bit more rounded with a straight nose. A grizzly’s face looks wilder and fiercer, with a dish-shaped profile.”
The NPS website provides more helpful ways to differentiate between the two species.
Fun fact: There are 8 species of bears found around the world, from tropical Sri Lanka to frigid Russia, Norway, and Canada. European websites like Bear Watching Slovenia offer many of the same safety tips as North America.
Bear Spray and Weapons
Some people prefer to carry bear spray and/or weapons when venturing into bear country.
Pratt recommends practicing using them before going into the wilderness. The NPS has a helpful video tutorial on how to use bear spray to deter bears.
Pratt is more cautious about carrying guns, especially if you are inexperienced. “Stopping a grizzly with a gun is very difficult. You need a lot of experience with firearms to ensure safety for both you and the bear.”
A 2008 Brigham Young University study found that bear spray is more effective than firearms in deterring bear attacks. And spray doesn’t cause permanent harm to bears.
Some people like to carry bear bells on their hikes, hoping the noise will scare away animals. But the park service says, “Shouting, clapping, and talking are more effective ways to alert bears to your presence.”
A Note for Campers
If car camping overnight, do not store food in your vehicle. Bears can easily break into cars to find food.
If you are camping overnight outdoors, there are additional safety factors to consider.
Kyle Patterson, management specialist and public information officer at Rocky Mountain National Park, shares some ways to keep hungry bears away from campsites.
Patterson recommends using bear-resistant food storage lockers if available at campgrounds and picnic areas. Also, “avoid storing food and scented items in your vehicle. If you must, keep food in airtight containers in the trunk or out of sight. Be sure to close all vehicle windows.”
Other tips and notes:
- Do not store food in tents or pop-up campers: Bears can easily tear through tents or break into campers.
- Do not leave food, drinks, or dirty cooking utensils lying around: Park rangers may confiscate them and issue citations.
- Dispose of garbage in bear-resistant trash cans: Ensure bears cannot access your waste.
Bears that become accustomed to being fed will have a hard time breaking the habit and can become dangerous, Patterson says. “A fed bear is a dead bear.”
The Decision is Ours
Pratt emphasizes that protecting bears depends on human responsibility.
“Bears are just being bears. We are the big threat to them. Bear attacks on people are rare, and fatalities are even rarer,” she says.
“Bears’ lives are more at risk in these encounters than we are. I want people to have wonderful, awe-inspiring experiences in nature. I want people to feel comfortable about these encounters.”
Translated by Du lịch khắp thế gian (According to CNN Travel)