what to do if you encounter a grizzly bear

what to do if you encounter a grizzly bear

If it is a defensive attack by a grizzly or black bear that knocks you down, the best defense is to lie still on your stomach, protect the back of your head by clasping your hands, and spread your feet slightly apart to avoid getting rolled over. Grizzly bears are typically active at dawn, dusk and during the night, but it's possible to encounter one at any time. If you encounter a grizzly, do not run. A family from Montana had a close encounter with a grizzly bear near Yellowstone Park in the US when it jumped on to the bonnet of their car. It also helps to make yourself look as large as possible, as this can intimidate the bear, possibly forcing it to back down. 6. Attacks by black bears on people are very rare and most black bears can be easily scared away with the following approach: Stand and face the bear directly. If you see a bear but the bear doesn't see you, detour quickly and quietly. Should you end up in a close encounter with a bear, Forbes said it's important to stay calm, but acknowledges that may be easier said than done. If you spot a grizzly at a distance, keep out of sight and leave, walking downwind if possible. Stop and calmly assess the situation. A grizzly is more likely to act with aggression, while a black bear can be scared off. 3. You should not do this with a grizzly, but you have a good chance of scaring off a black bear. In the event you do come across a bear, it is important to know a bit about bear behaviour. Black bears are commonly seen throughout Yellowstone and are much smaller than grizzly bears. If the brown bear or grizzly roughs you up a bit, stay flat and silent. My takeaway is that you never know what you’re going to get if you encounter a grizzly, but the ability to make an immediate and accurate judgment call could be life-saving. Grizzly bears typically only attack when their space, food, or cubs are in need of protection, and fighting back will only worsen an attack. Bears primarily are solitary animals and they'll typically ignore humans unless they're surprised or they feel threatened. Get as … Black bears and grizzly bears behave differently when threatened. Do … Adopt the fetal position, protecting your most vulnerable bits, and maybe try putting your backpack on top for an extra layer of protection. Knowing the common regions of the species may also help you to identify them — black bears are found throughout North America whereas grizzly bears are not quite as widespread. While I was running in Eastern British Columbia I came across a most affable of creature. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-grizzly-bear-1.5789752 Exploit possible bear weaknesses. While it may seem odd, a bear on its hind legs may not be aggressive – it may simply be trying to identify what you are. If a bear charges you after a surprise encounter, stay still and stand your ground. This will help to let it know that you are not prey, which is usually enough to dissuade the animal from attacking. What do you do when you meet a bear? Grizzly bears are typically found in the Rocky Mountains, parts of the Cascade Range, Alaska, and in northern Canada. If the bear has seen you, move away upwind so that your scent drifts toward it. … Read more. Black bears are distributed across the U.S. in at least 40 states, while brown bears, including grizzly bears, tend to live in the Northwest and Alaska.And sometimes people enter into bear territory without a clue. This creature was in fact so social that it came over to greet me. We'll definitely be back for another visit. If you encounter a bear on a carcass, get as far away from the bear’s cache as possible; leaving the area quickly and quietly preferably in the same direction you came in. Knowing how to avoid an encounter with a bear is the best way to enjoy the parks, safely. What should you do if you … However, if he starts to lick your wounds, stop playing dead; the bear is getting serious about harming (eating) you and you'll need to fight back. The Unavoidable Bear Encounter. In addition, BC Parks states that you should not make eye contact with grizzly bears, as they may interpret it as a threat. An encounter with a grizzly doesn't always have to end in bloodshed -- that's your blood or the bear's. Like whether it’s foraged enough today. Many small credit unions shy away from competition because they are “too small.” Hogwash. Recognizing only fur colour and texture is not enough to tell a black bear from a grizzly bear: try this quiz to prepare you for an encounter bit.ly/bearidentificationtest. A bear can sprint at 35 mph and cover 100 yards in about 7 seconds. Whenever you travel in bear country, you have to accept the basic reality that you may encounter a bear. Check out this website for information on how to differentiate between a black bear and a grizzly. Never run away from or approach him. The most important thing to remember if you do encounter a bear is, don’t run! Once the bear feels that you are no longer a threat, the attack will stop. There’s no better way to prevent an unpleasant encounter with a black bear than avoiding the animals altogether.. Bears usually avoid humans, too, often leaving the scene even before a person realizes a bear was around. If you see a bear before it notices you: stand still, don’t approach and enjoy the moment. 1 Helpful vote. Grizzly Bear If you encounter a bear: • Stay calm, size up the situation and try to determine if the bear is a grizzly or a black bear; back away slowly, talk softly and don’t look it in the eye; in an encounter with a non-charging bear or a bear with cubs, you should appear passive; do not raise your voice. Start spraying the charging bear when it is about 60 feet away or less. How we respond in an encounter with a bear really depends on the type of interaction that is taking place. If you see a grizzly bear, the most important thing to remember is to not ride its nuts about anything. If a bear spots you, try to get its attention while it is still farther away. So the first step in surviving a bear encounter is to know what kind you’re up against. Grizzly bears aren’t as good climbers as their cousins the black bear, so a height of 3-4 metres should be sufficient. By playing dead, you’re leading the bear to believe that you’re no longer a viable threat. You can throw something onto the ground (like your camera) if the bear pursues you, as it may be distracted by this and allow you to escape. Remember how I said every situation is different and you have to read every situation. If you are in open country, use binoculars to scan the horizon to look for bears. There are a few things that you can try to do that might lessen the bear's chances of successfully attacking you. If you like Grizzly Bears like I do, make sure to put this place on your itinerary when traveling through Bozeman, Montana. Back away slowly in the opposite direction and wait for the bear to leave. I was amazed at how up close you can get to these beautiful creatures. I think the essence of staying safe in bear country is making sure you do not surprise a bear and, if you do encounter one, that you remain uninteresting and unprovoking. A group of hikers along the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park encounter a grizzly bear. 3. There are a few things you can do to avoid a black bear encounter. The first step, as in many situations, is prevention. If you run, you're likely to trigger a chase response from the bear. A grizzly bear's fur may also be tipped with white. Bears are extremely sensitive to human disturbance and activity. They are less aggressive, but can still be a danger as they are attracted to human food and garbage. What to do if you see either of these two main classes of bears is pretty similar - but with one key difference, which you'll need to know if the bear actually starts to attack. No big deal. If you can interpret a grizzly's body language, it will help you determine its intentions and how you should react. Body Shape: Has distinct shoulder hump. BC Is home to both grizzly bears and black bears. Do not play dead and do not act aggressively. Most of the time, the bear is likely to break off the charge or veer away. If a bear starts to follow you, you should drop something behind you as a distraction. Color: Medium to dark brown. How you handle a bear attack depends on the type of bear you come across: grizzly or black. In the case that you do see a bear but it hasn't seen you, back away slowly. Less desirable options include playing dead. Then move away quietly in the opposite direction. If your bear encounter turns into a stand-off, you'll want to hold your ground and begin talking to the animal in a clear, strong voice. You want it to know you're human, so talk in a normal voice and wave your arms. As a bear biologist, I’ve spent a fair amount of time with bears, watching and researching them, and one thing I’ve learned is that a grizzly bear does what a grizzly bear wants. Date of experience: October 2020. Don't turn and run away Speak softly to it and back away slowly. However, encounters between bears and people do occur. You encounter grizzly bears often in Glacier National Park. By using safe hiking and camping practices, learning to read a bear's body language, staying calm and protecting yourself, you can greatly increase the odds you'll walk away from a grizzly in one piece. If you run, you may very well trigger the bear’s predatory instincts and if it wants to catch you, it will. They’re much smaller bears, so there is more of a chance the bear will be skiddish of you. To the untrained eye, it could be mistaken for a grizzly bear. If you do spot a bear, it’s extremely helpful to know what you’re dealing with. This is a muscle used for digging roots and slashing prey with their massive bear paw. If the bear is about to make contact, use your bear spray. Yellowstone Bear Jams on Roads . 4. Wildlife. Know How to React to a Surprise Encounter with a Bear Displaying Defensive Aggression During a close surprise encounter, slowly back away. Be alert: See the bear before you surprise it. If you see a bear in an urban environment in Whistler it’s most likely a black bear. If you have bear spray, this is the time to use it. Avoiding an encounter is the best way to protect both yourself and bears. You may not want to do this when there are cubs around. The times visitors are most likely to see a grizzly bear are dawn, dusk, and night. Here are the answers to the difference between a grizzly and black bear, the odds of seeing a bear in the park, and if you should be afraid of bears. However, the video below is a lesson in how you should NEVER react if you bump into a grizzly bear. If you’re being attacked by a grizzly bear, playing dead might just help you get out of the ordeal in one piece. The tips on these pages will help reduce the likelihood of meeting Master Bruin, but at the same time, you need to be prepared for what to do when the unexpected occurs. If you encounter a bear that’s aware of you: don’t run; running may trigger a chase response. 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