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by Emily Batdorf December 20, 2022 5 min read
If you spend any amount of time on the trail, chances are you’ll be hiking through bear country at some point or another.
This doesn’t mean you should panic — and it doesn’t mean you need to find more indoor pastimes.
Hiking, biking, camping, and other outdoor activities can be quite safe, as long as you take the proper precautions. But bears — like bad weather, difficult terrain, or other wildlife — can pose a risk.
As with any outdoor pursuit, your safety comes with preparedness. If you know when and where you might come across bears — and how to react if you do — it’s more than likely you’ll never have a dangerous encounter.
In this blog, we’ll dig into the facts with bear FAQs. Then we’ll dive into how to avoid dangerous encounters and what to do in the unlikely event you face one.
North America is home to grizzly bears, black bears, and polar bears. Grizzlies live in Alaska, Washington, the Northern Rockies (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming), and Canada. Black bears are more common and live in much of the US, most of Canada, and some of Mexico. Polar bears only live in the northern reaches of Alaska and Canada.
In the U.S., you’re most likely to see a black bear on the trail. If you’re hiking in Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, or Washington, it’s possible to see grizzly bears, too.
Both grizzly and black bears can be a range of colors, so other physical differences are important to know.
How to Identify a Grizzly Bear:
How to Identify a Black Bear:
Rarely. Most bears want to avoid humans. Usually, there’s an obvious reason for a bear attack — like protecting food, cubs, or territory.
Bear spray is an aerosol deterrent made of capsaicin, a compound found in peppers. Essentially, it’s a really strong pepper spray that temporarily irritates a bear’s eyes and respiratory system. If you’re hiking in areas with a dense bear population — particularly grizzly bears — you should carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Technically, no — but they hole up in their dens and enter a similar state of torpor for much of the winter. It’s unlikely you’ll see bears out and about during the winter months, but it’s not unheard of.
The best way to keep yourself and bears safe while on the trail is to avoid close encounters in the first place. Here are the best ways to make sure you don’t get too close:
If you do happen to see a bear on the trail, it can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. As a rule of thumb, you never want to be within 100 yards of a bear (unless you’re in a vehicle or building). Seeing a bear from a safe distance — with the knowledge and resources to act appropriately if it approaches — can be a truly unforgettable experience.
However, bears are wild, and you can never predict exactly how they’ll respond to your presence. That’s why it’s important to know what to do in different situations.
If, while on the trail, you see a bear but the bear doesn’t see you, quietly and slowly leave the area. Keep an eye on the bear as you walk away.
If the bear does see you, here’s what to do — and what not to do:
As counterintuitive as it feels, the best thing to do is to stay calm and slowly put space between you and the bear. You want it to see you as a human — not prey, but not a threat, either.
Any of the above responses make you seem like a threat — or prey — to a bear. Don’t act like either. And remember, no human can outrun or outclimb a bear.
If you’ve taken the above precautions, it’s unlikely a bear will approach you. But if it happens, it’s important to know what kind of bear you’re dealing with. Different responses are best for different types of bears, as we’ll cover below.
You should also know the difference between a bluff charge and an aggressive charge — one is usually harmless and the other can be dangerous.
Bluff charges happen more often. They’re meant to scare you off. The bear’s head and ears will be up and it will charge before stopping or veering off to avoid you. If a bear bluff charges you, use the same tactics above to slowly back away and show it you’re human.
Aggressive charges are rare and dangerous. During an aggressive charge, a bear will have its head down and ears back. While highly unlikely, it’s important to know how to react to an aggressive charge:
Bears are fascinating creatures, and it’s exciting to see them in the wild. But it’s crucial — for your own safety and for the bears’ — that you take thorough precautions when hiking through or camping in their habitat.
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Emily is a copywriter based in northern Michigan. She's happiest outdoors, whether she's hiking, skiing, paddling, or swimming. As a writer, she loves working with companies that inspire all people to get outside. When she's not writing or playing outdoors, you can find her cooking, reading, or hanging out with family and friends. Find more of her writing here.
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