What To Do in Case of a Bear Encounter…

I have personally had direct contact with over 20 bears over the past 30+ years of hiking. I only felt threatened/concerned about 3 times and have only pulled out my bear spray, as a precaution, twice. I have never actually had to use/discharge my bear spray.

However, encountering a bear in the mountains can be a potentially dangerous situation, and it's important to know what to do if you come across one.

Here are some general bear aware guidelines to follow:

Stay calm: If you encounter a bear, try to stay as calm as possible. Do not run or make sudden movements, as this can trigger the bear's natural response to flee or attack. Instead, speak in a low and calm voice to let the bear know you are human.

Identify yourself: Make noise and wave your arms to let the bear know that you are human. This can help the bear to identify you as non-threatening and avoid a confrontation.

Give the bear space: If a bear approaches you, try to back away slowly while keeping an eye on the bear without direct eye contact. Give the bear plenty of room to retreat and escape.

Determine the bear's behavior: Observe the bear's behavior and body language. If the bear is standing upright on its hind legs, it is probably trying to get a better look at you or catch your scent. This is not necessarily a sign of aggression. If the bear makes loud huffing noises, stomps its front paws, or slaps the ground, it may be trying to intimidate you. If the bear makes a popping or jaw-clacking sound, it is warning you that it is feeling threatened or angry. If the bear charges, try to use your bear spray to deter it

Deter the bear if it's aggressive: Keep bear spray in an easily accessible location and know how to use it. If a bear charges at you and is getting too close, spray the bear spray at the bear's face to deter it.

Make yourself look bigger: If the bear charges, stand tall and make yourself appear as large as possible. Raise your arms and open your jacket if you are wearing one. This can make you appear larger and more intimidating to the bear.

* The #1 way to avoid bear encounters is to make noise! In my experience, by simply talking and/or periodically shouting “hey bear” and clapping your hands, you will never see a bear on your hike.

* The #2 way to avoid bear encounters is to hike in pairs or groups! By having more than yourself on the trail, the bears will have a better chance of hearing and detecting humans approaching them at every turn.

For more Bear info, check out my Bears blog.