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The best way to avoid a bear attack is to stay in the city. Unless you're traipsing off to the wilds of Alaska, Canada, or downtown Yosemite, you have a better chance of getting a hangnail than you have of encountering a bear. But if you're reading this article I assume you're either interested in many subjects just for the knowledge of it, or you're actually considering venturing into bear territory. In either case, here is what you need to know.
In North America, we've got brown bears, black bears, and, in the northern latitudes, Polar bears. Neither one of them has any serious enemies except for humans. For the most part, if humans left bears alone, there wouldn't be a problem. But sometimes we don't realize a bear is nearby while we're hiking in the wild. If a bear knows we're lurking around its neighborhood, it will probably give us a lot of clearance to continue on our way (unless its protecting its bear cubs or recently acquired carcass). If possible, walk downwind out in the open, and make some noise. Sing the latest Beyonce hit, or whistle a Bing Crosby tune. If you insist on limiting your singing to your morning shower, you can clap your hands and practice percussion on your body parts instead. And if that's too exhibitionistic for you, you can carry on a loud conversation, preferably with another person.
Once you've reached your camping destination, roasted your marshmallows, and are getting ready to hit the 'hay', you need to secure ALL food items (and scented soap, shampoo, lotion) away from where you sleep. Either hang bagged food from a tree branch at least twelve feet high, or, if you're in Yosemite, lock it in one of the provided bear-proof steel lockers. Keeping everything that smells like food away from the campsite will lower your chance of a late night furry visitor.
If you haven't been alert enough to avoid disturbing a bear you're next step is to avoid being attacked by a bear. If a bear stands on its hind legs or approaches you from a distance it doesn't necessarily mean it's being aggressive. It may be too far away to detect that you're a human and it's assessing the situation. Bears tend to retreat from humans if given the chance. If a bear is agitated you will know it by its swaying head, clacking teeth, and huffing breath. A lowered head and laid-back ears are also signs of aggression.
If you've got an agitated bear in front of you, the time for making loud noises has passed. Now is the time to use your indoor voice, slow and easy. Don't make direct eye contact, which is interpreted as aggression by many animals. Cautiously raise your arms to appear larger and back away slowly. Drop a non-food item to distract the bear (not your backpack, which could come in handy to protect your backside if you do get attacked). If the bear gets more agitated, stop. If the bear charges you, use all your courage to stand your ground. The bear may be bluffing, and if you don't back down it just might back down instead.
If this is unsuccessful and the bear attacks you, use your bear spray. You did bring bear spray into bear country didn't you? Protect your vital organs by falling to the ground flat on your stomach. Cover the back of your neck with your hands. Lying in the fetal position, as previously recommended by bear experts, allows the bear to flip you over more easily. Not good. Play dead until you know for sure the bear has lost interest and left the area. Don't fight back unless the bear actually starts mauling you. This is the procedure if you and the bear were just minding your own respective businesses and happened upon each other. These tips do not apply if the bear is in hunting mode or if it's a black bear.
Black bear attacks are usually predatory in nature. In this case, playing dead is going to get you dead for real. Fight back immediately by throwing rocks and hitting the bear with whatever items are available to defend yourself with. It may back down if deterred enough, and if it does back down and leave you alone, you'll have a fascinating story to tell around the campfire (after you've changed your underwear of course).
Kathy Tally is a writer in the San Francisco bay area. She can be reached at kathytally.vm@gmail.com.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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