One of the most exciting and wonderful creatures you can find in the wild in North America is a bear. These large omnivores are generally elusive and shy, but travelers with keen eyes can see them regularly in various locations in the United States and Canada. The vast majority of the time such encounters are safe and pass without incident, but at times they can turn dangerous and sometimes deadly. If you find yourself hiking or camping in an area with Ursine inhabitants, here are some tips to help you get home safely.
Avoid a dangerous encounter
The absolute best way to stay safe in Bear Country is to avoid the animals altogether. You can do this by warning creatures in advance of your presence by making noise along the way. Some hikers like to wear a bell in their backpack that rings as they walk, alerting bears and other creatures to their presence. Others will speak loudly or even sing as they walk through the woods. The idea here is to let nearby wild animals know you’re coming, giving them a chance to get out of the area before dangerous interactions occur.
However, this is not always a successful technique, and occasionally you will come across a bear who is distracted while looking for food. Usually those creatures won’t even notice you’re there as they go about their business harmlessly. If that’s the case, give the bear ample space and get out of the area as quickly as possible. However, be careful when passing, because if the bear is female and is between her and her cubs, it is more likely that she will become aggressive. Also, keep in mind that the National Park Service requires that all visitors to America’s national parks stay at least 100 yards from bears at all times.
Keep calm!
Notably, bears rarely attack humans, so if you come across one while out in the wild, it’s important to stay calm and not panic. Keep your eyes on the bear at all times, while remaining aware of your surroundings. Some bears may try to intimidate you with growls, snarls, and even charging. Most of the time, they are just applying, and most likely they will simply run off into the woods as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
If your encounter with the bear turns to a standstill, you will want to stand your ground and start talking to the animal in a clear, strong voice. This will help let them know that you are not prey, which is generally enough to deter them from attacking. It also helps to look as big as possible, as this can intimidate the bear, possibly forcing it back. Keep the food out of sight and don’t give the creature anything, as it will only encourage it to keep looking for you more. But most importantly, do not run under any circumstances.
For a bear, the only thing that runs is prey, and it is likely to chase it. Bears may be large mammals, but they are still fast enough to run over humans and have the stamina to outlive most of us, too.
If you find that the bear remains close but does not move, slowly begin to back away. Keep walking to the side so you can keep your eyes on the animal at all times, but steadily move away from it. The goal is to get away as quickly and safely as possible, without losing sight of the bear at all times.
Survive an attack
While rare, bear attacks do happen from time to time. If a bear carries you, it is important to stay calm as much as possible and take steps to protect yourself. What exactly that action is depends on the species of bear you have found. In North America, the two most common types of bears that you will find in the countryside are brown bears and black bears. While it may not seem so easy to tell them apart at first glance, there are a few tell-tale signs that can let you know exactly what you’re up against.
When identifying the type of bear you have seen, color is not the determining factor despite the name of the two species. Black bears can be brown and vice versa. That being said, however, there are a few other physical characteristics that can help you distinguish between them. For starters, black bears are smaller in stature and have smaller claws, while brown bears, also known as grizzlies, are much larger, have a distinct hump on their back just behind the neck, and have much paws and claws. bigger.
Knowing the species of bear will determine exactly how you react to an attack. If it is a black bear, the best course of action is to try to escape, but if that is not possible, it must defend itself. If the bear gets close, hit it on the nose and face with your fists, a stick, rocks, or whatever else you can get your hands on. Black bears don’t tend to be aggressive, so when you fight back, you are likely to push him away.
On the other hand, grizzly bears can be quite aggressive, and because they are so large, it is not a good choice. Instead, you should lie face down, on the ground, playing dead. Put your arms over your head and spread your legs to prevent tipping. Leave the backpack on as protection for your back and shoulders, and try to stay as still as possible. Eventually the bear will lose interest, leave you alone, and walk away.
Bring bear spray
One of the best ways to deal with a bear attack is to use bear spray. This super-concentrated version of pepper spray can stop even a large bear in its tracks, forcing them to back off and leave it alone. If you’re going to be hiking in an area where bears are active, it’s a good idea to have a can of this powerful deterrent at your disposal. Just be careful not to let the wind down when you use it, or you could end up exposing yourself to the chemicals. Also, be careful not to accidentally discharge the bear spray at any time, as that could leave you unprotected and also smelling horrible.
As with most wildlife encounters, a little common sense goes a long way. Bears are large, powerful and sometimes aggressive animals capable of surprising speed and strength. Not respecting that can lead to problems, but knowing how to react can go a long way toward spreading the word about the situation and getting you home safely. After all, the ultimate goal is to allow us to enjoy the outdoors to the fullest without fear of encountering dangerous animals. However, once you get comfortable handling those situations, the world of adventure travel opens up even further, granting you safe access to some of the most remote and breathtaking places imaginable.
