Bear Encounters

Bears communicate differently than we do. Knowing what a bear is trying to tell you can make you safer in an encounter with a bear. Bear behavior in an encounter can be influenced by a number of factors, including distance, offspring (cubs), and the presence of a food source. A few key bear behaviors to know:

• Black bears may be more likely to flee an encounter, or climb a tree. Grizzly bears are more likely to confront a perceived threat, like a close-quarters, surprise encounter with a human.
   
• Averted eyes/face: a bear will avoid looking directly at you, signaling that it is trying to avoid direct confrontation.
   
• Yawning: this is one of the first signs of stress that a bear may show during an encounter
   
• Standing: Standing is not a sign of aggression or indicative of a charge. Instead, a bear is attempting to get a better look at you or its surroundings or catch your scent 
   
• Swatting at the ground, head shaking, drooling, moaning, tooth clacking, jaw popping, and huffing: these noises indicate that a bear is stressed by your presence and is agitated. These behaviors are intended to intimidate what the bear perceives as a threat.
   
• Bluff charge: A bear may run toward you, sometimes in a stiff-legged fashion, ears erect (not laid back as in an attack), and then veer off before making contact. This behavior is also intended to intimidate what the bear perceives is a threat.

What to do in an Encounter

In an encounter remember these keys things:

• Never run
• Never approach a bear
• Your behavior matters and can affect what happens during an encounter
• The bear’s behavior, not the species of bear will determine how you respond in an encounter

Here are scenarios to consider:

1. You see a bear at a distance and the bear does not see you…

• Do not make noise or let the bear know you are there
• Move away quietly when the bear is not looking your direction
• Choose another place to hike or find a route downwind and out of sight of the bear to get around it if you  decide to continue

1. You see a bear at a distance and the bear sees you…

• Stand your ground
• Watch the bear’s behavior to determine what to do next
• Get your bear spray out and be prepared to use it
• If the bear disengages, or goes back to doing what it was doing or runs off, then slowly move away while the bear is not looking your direction

1. If the bear is agitated (typically due to cubs, a food source, or you’ve surprised it), appears ready to charge, or charges…

• Stand your ground
• Prepare your bear spray for use – remove the safety and be ready
• Do not shout, wave your hands, or make sudden movements – the bear may see you as more of a threat if you do these
• If the bear charges, use your bear spray
• If the bear contacts you, lay face down on the ground with your legs spread shoulder-width apart; interlace your fingers and hands behind your head/neck and stay quiet
• Do not get up until you are sure the bear has left the area

1. If the bear is calm and slowly, purposefully, or methodically approaches you...

• Stand your ground
• Prepare your bear spray for use – remove the safety and be ready
• Be aggressive and intimidating with a bear that shows this behavior - shout, wave your hands, throw things, etc.
• If the bear gets within range of your bear spray or charges, use it on the bear
• If a bear that shows this behavior contacts you, fight back!