How To Protect Yourself From Bears (SAFETY Tips)

Bears. Just their name inspires fear in the heart of us feeble humans.

Go to any campground in bear country, and you'll see signs warning you about bears. But, are they really a cause for concern?

Today we'll face this question head-on and cover what you need to know about protecting yourself from bears, including what to do if you meet one on the trail.

The safety advice here follows guidance from the National Park Service. Rules differ from place to place, so always check with the park or forest you're visiting before you go.

Should You Be Concerned?

Before we begin, I'd like to help you sleep well at night.

Yes, bear attacks do happen.

No, bear attacks are not nearly as frequent as you'd expect.

The numbers are not perfect, but a study published in Scientific Reports counted 664 brown bear attacks on people worldwide between 2000 and 2015. That works out to roughly 40 a year.

About 14% of those attacks were fatal. Remember, that's worldwide, and it covers brown bears only, so it isn't a count of every bear incident.

map of bear attacks — From: Bombieri et al., Scientific Reports (2019)

The National Park Service puts it simply: bear attacks are rare, and most bears are only interested in protecting their food, their cubs, or their space.

So the goal isn't to be afraid. It's to avoid surprising a bear, and to know what to do if you meet one.

Preparation

"Prevention is the best medicine" definitely rings true when it comes to bear attacks.

Instead of fighting off bears, wouldn't it be much easier to avoid them to start with? Here are some ways to prepare yourself and minimize your risk.

Be Aware Of Your Surroundings

The easiest way to avoid a bear attack is simple: stay clear of bears (duh). To do that, keep an eye on your surroundings at all times.

I know you probably want to spend your time taking in the sights and sounds, and that's totally understandable. But you should also be cautious. Take a break from gazing at the mountain tops and occasionally give your surroundings a good once-over.

Watch for signs that a bear has been around, such as tracks, scat, or torn-up logs.

Hike In Daylight

An easy way to lower your risk is to hike during the day. In good light you can see farther, and a bear is more likely to see you coming too.

Bears tend to be most active around dawn and dusk, so the middle of the day is the best time to be on the trail in bear country.

Clean Up After Yourself

Bears are smart. When they smell food, they go after it.

That's why you should never leave food or trash on the trail.

This is doubly true if you're camping in bear country. Leaving your snacks out overnight is a surefire way for bears to find where you are, and possibly start tapping on your tent.

Put your trash in a bear-proof bin if there is one. If there isn't, pack it out or store it with your food.

Never bury or burn food waste. The Forest Service is clear that attractants cannot be buried, burned in an open campfire, or left behind in camp.

Store food and anything scented the way the area requires, whether that's a food locker, a bear-resistant container, or a proper hang. The National Park Service notes that the rules vary from park to park.

Either way, remember that bears can get pretty creative when they're hungry:

Travel In Groups

"Two is better than one" rings true for avoiding bears. A group is noisier and easier for a bear to notice from a distance, and most bears will avoid people if they hear them coming.

Talk as you walk, especially near streams, on blind corners and in thick brush, where a bear might not hear you until you're close.

Especially if you're a beginner hiker new to the trails, it's a great idea to hike in groups. You'll have more eyes on the trail, and you'll enjoy some good conversation in the process.

Stay On Designated Paths

I know it's tempting to "blaze your own trail," but it's safer to stay on the beaten path.

Sticking to the trails means you'll probably run into other hikers, which gives you strength in numbers.

Also, staying on the trail keeps you from getting lost. Stay on the path and you'll find your way back to a parking lot or ranger station.

You can also prevent getting lost by familiarizing yourself with a compass.

Pack Bear Spray

If you follow these guidelines, you probably won't run into a bear. But you should still be ready for an encounter by carrying bear spray.

(Don't worry about how to use it yet. I'll explain that later.)

For now, know that a can of bear spray is lightweight and usually costs around $40 to $60. This article covers bear sprays worth considering.

Make sure it's EPA-registered bear spray. The National Park Service says personal defense sprays aren't strong enough to affect a bear's senses.

The active ingredient is capsaicin, the compound that makes hot peppers hot, which makes bear spray something like pepper spray on steroids. It doesn't kill or permanently harm the bear. It irritates its eyes and nose long enough to stop it.

In Case Of Encounter

Now that we've covered prevention, let's discuss what to do if you run into a bear.

What follows is based on the National Park Service's bear safety guidance, which is worth reading in full before a trip.

When You First See A Bear

If you see a bear in the distance, stay calm. As long as you're far away and it hasn't seen you, you should be able to avoid an encounter.

Quietly and slowly back away, and give it plenty of room. Keep your eyes on the bear so you can see how it reacts.

If the bear has noticed you, talk to it in a calm, low voice so it knows you're a person, and keep backing away slowly.

Do not move towards the bear. Above all, keep your cool and don't do anything sudden.

When A Bear Approaches

If the bear keeps coming, you can often still prevent things from going further.

Stand tall, raise your arms, and make yourself look as large as possible. If you're with others, stand close together. Speak in a firm voice.

Don't move closer. And don't run. Bears are super fast, so you can't outrun one, and running can trigger a chase. The National Park Service advice is: do not run, and if the bear follows, stop and hold your ground.

Do not climb a tree either. Both grizzlies and black bears can climb.

At this point, have your bear spray in your hand with the safety clip off.

Should You Fight Back?

A common question is whether you should fight a bear or play dead.

My take is that you should do everything you can to prevent it getting that far, using the tips above.

If a bear does charge, use your bear spray first.

If it makes contact, what you do depends on the type of bear. This is the National Park Service's guidance:

Brown or grizzly bear: play dead. Leave your pack on, lie flat on your stomach, and clasp your hands behind your neck. Spread your legs so it's harder for the bear to turn you over. Stay still until the bear leaves. If the attack continues, fight back, aiming for the bear's face.

Black bear: do not play dead. Try to escape to a secure place such as a car or building. If you can't escape, fight back with anything you have, aiming your blows at the bear's face and muzzle.

Any bear that attacks you in your tent, or stalks you and then attacks: do not play dead. Fight back. This kind of attack is very rare, but it's the one case where you fight no matter what type of bear it is.

Bear	What should you do if you see one?
Brown bear (Grizzly, Kodiak)	Don't run. Back away slowly and speak calmly. If it charges, use bear spray. If it makes contact, play dead: lie flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck.
Black bear	Don't run. Back away slowly, make yourself look large and speak firmly. If it charges, use bear spray. If it attacks, do not play dead: escape to a car or building, or fight back.
Any bear that attacks you in your tent, or stalks you first	Do not play dead. Fight back.

Using Bear Spray

Carry your bear spray where you can reach it instantly, on a belt or chest holster, never in your backpack. A can in your bag is no use in a charge.

The moment you see a bear that concerns you, get the can in your hand and take off the safety clip.

Here is how the National Park Service says to use it:

Use it when an aggressive, charging bear is within about 60 feet of you.
Point the canister at a slight downward angle and fire toward the bear.
Spray a cloud between you and the bear, and be ready to spray again or empty the can.
Wind affects the distance and direction of the spray, so be upwind if you can.

Once the bear turns away, leave the area calmly. Don't run.

Bear spray works. A study of bear spray incidents in Alaska, "Efficacy of Bear Deterrent Spray in Alaska," found that it stopped the bear's unwanted behavior in about nine out of ten cases. And it doesn't kill the bear, so there's no moral dilemma involved.

This one-minute video breaks down how to use bear spray effectively:

Caution: Firearms

Some readers might be wondering if they should bring a gun to protect themselves against bears.

There's a lot of discussion about whether you should shoot or spray a bear when attacked.

My personal opinion is that bear spray is the better choice for almost everyone. Stopping a charging bear with a firearm takes training and accuracy under extreme stress, and a wounded bear can be more dangerous. There's also the risk of hitting another person.

Firearm rules also vary between parks, forests and states, so check the law for where you're going.

Bear spray is a reliable tool, and I recommend it over guns whole-heartedly.

Conclusion

To wrap things up, bears are big. And scary.

But that doesn't mean you have to be afraid of them. Bear attacks are rare, and most can be avoided by making noise, storing food properly, and giving bears plenty of room.

Preparation is easy. Carry a can of bear spray where you can reach it, know how to use it, and learn the difference between a grizzly and a black bear before you go.

Now you know what to do. Go forth, hit the trail, and have fun!

Next up: What To Do If A Bear Is Outside Your Tent?