what to do if you encounter a grizzly bear

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. There are a few things you can do to avoid a black bear encounter. Bears are extremely sensitive to human disturbance and activity. Grizzly bears are typically found in the Rocky Mountains, parts of the Cascade Range, Alaska, and in northern Canada. If you see a bear but the bear doesn't see you, detour quickly and quietly. … Read more. The times visitors are most likely to see a grizzly bear are dawn, dusk, and night. 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 are in open country, use binoculars to scan the horizon to look for bears. Grizzly bears are typically active at dawn, dusk and during the night, but it's possible to encounter one at any time. If a bear charges you after a surprise encounter, stay still and stand your ground. In addition, BC Parks states that you should not make eye contact with grizzly bears, as they may interpret it as a threat. Then move away quietly in the opposite direction. We we're lucky enough to see a bear named Bella who had a lots of personality. Do … An encounter with a grizzly doesn't always have to end in bloodshed -- that's your blood or the bear's. In the event you do come across a bear, it is important to know a bit about bear behaviour. Whenever you travel in bear country, you have to accept the basic reality that you may encounter a bear. Back away slowly in the opposite direction and wait for the bear to leave. Black bears and grizzly bears behave differently when threatened. If the bear has seen you, move away upwind so that your scent drifts toward it. They are less aggressive, but can still be a danger as they are attracted to human food and garbage. 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. Many small credit unions shy away from competition because they are “too small.” Hogwash. They’re much smaller bears, so there is more of a chance the bear will be skiddish of you. That might complicate the situation. If you spot a grizzly at a distance, keep out of sight and leave, walking downwind if possible. 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. Color: Medium to dark brown. Avoiding an encounter is the best way to protect both yourself and bears. If you have bear spray, this is the time to use it. Wildlife. If you encounter a bear that’s aware of you: don’t run; running may trigger a chase response. 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. You should not do this with a grizzly, but you have a good chance of scaring off a black bear. After all, it is prime grizzly bear habitat. The most important thing to remember if you do encounter a bear is, don’t run! You may not want to do this when there are cubs around. Black bears are commonly seen throughout Yellowstone and are much smaller than grizzly bears. 6. If a bear spots you, try to get its attention while it is still farther away. Body Shape: Has distinct shoulder hump. The first step, as in many situations, is prevention. How you handle a bear attack depends on the type of bear you come across: grizzly or black. Once the bear feels that you are no longer a threat, the attack will stop. This creature was in fact so social that it came over to greet me. There are a few things that you can try to do that might lessen the bear's chances of successfully attacking you. If you do encounter a bear, remain calm and remember that the bear is likely more scared of you than you are of him. 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. If you can interpret a grizzly's body language, it will help you determine its intentions and how you should react. Like whether it’s foraged enough today. If the brown bear or grizzly roughs you up a bit, stay flat and silent. Less desirable options include playing dead. 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. 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 in an urban environment in Whistler it’s most likely a black bear. 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. 1 Helpful vote. Do not play dead and do not act aggressively. If you run, you're likely to trigger a chase response from the bear. It also helps to make yourself look as large as possible, as this can intimidate the bear, possibly forcing it to back down. If a bear starts to follow you, you should drop something behind you as a distraction. A group of hikers along the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park encounter a grizzly bear. Speak softly to it and back away slowly. If you see a grizzly bear, the most important thing to remember is to not ride its nuts about anything. Be alert: See the bear before you surprise it. To the untrained eye, it could be mistaken for a grizzly bear. Stop and calmly assess the situation. 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. Get as … Exploit possible bear weaknesses. If you do spot a bear, it’s extremely helpful to know what you’re dealing with. Grizzly Bear Dossier. Yellowstone Bear Jams on Roads . No big deal. However, the video below is a lesson in how you should NEVER react if you bump into a grizzly bear. 3. What should you do if you … We'll definitely be back for another visit. 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. If you encounter a grizzly, do not run. The Unavoidable Bear Encounter. 4. Adopt the fetal position, protecting your most vulnerable bits, and maybe try putting your backpack on top for an extra layer of protection. A grizzly is more likely to act with aggression, while a black bear can be scared off. In the case that you do see a bear but it hasn't seen you, back away slowly. This will help to let it know that you are not prey, which is usually enough to dissuade the animal from attacking. This is a muscle used for digging roots and slashing prey with their massive bear paw. How we respond in an encounter with a bear really depends on the type of interaction that is taking place. So the first step in surviving a bear encounter is to know what kind you’re up against. 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. Check out this website for information on how to differentiate between a black bear and a grizzly. If you see a bear before it notices you: stand still, don’t approach and enjoy the moment. 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. What to do if you see a grizzly bear. If you run, you may very well trigger the bear’s predatory instincts and if it wants to catch you, it will. 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. Knowing how to avoid an encounter with a bear is the best way to enjoy the parks, safely. If the bear is about to make contact, use your bear spray. Start spraying the charging bear when it is about 60 feet away or less. While I was running in Eastern British Columbia I came across a most affable of creature. BC Is home to both grizzly bears and black bears. You encounter grizzly bears often in Glacier National Park. Never run away from or approach him. Don't turn and run away 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. 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. Date of experience: October 2020. However, encounters between bears and people do occur. 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. 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. Remember how I said every situation is different and you have to read every situation. 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’re being attacked by a grizzly bear, playing dead might just help you get out of the ordeal in one piece. Grizzly bears aren’t as good climbers as their cousins the black bear, so a height of 3-4 metres should be sufficient. 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. A grizzly bear's fur may also be tipped with white. A bear can sprint at 35 mph and cover 100 yards in about 7 seconds. You want it to know you're human, so talk in a normal voice and wave your arms. Know How to React to a Surprise Encounter with a Bear Displaying Defensive Aggression During a close surprise encounter, slowly back away. Most of the time, the bear is likely to break off the charge or veer away. What do you do when you meet a 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. I was amazed at how up close you can get to these beautiful creatures. If you like Grizzly Bears like I do, make sure to put this place on your itinerary when traveling through Bozeman, Montana. By playing dead, you’re leading the bear to believe that you’re no longer a viable threat. 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