Encountering Bears

There is a current Video going around of a bear encounter at Glacier National Park. 

The bear is seen running towards a hiking group including a toddler being carried in a backpack. Luckily the bear slowed and turned away. This video prompted me to do a little PSA. On what TO DO and NOT DO. If you hike in bear country, be prepared on what to do in an encounter. 

The hikers in this video... they run. 

DO NOT RUN! No matter how fast you are, trust me you cannot outrun a bear. Running from a bear, dog, mountain lian only encourages their predator instinct to chase you. 

Not only that but it requires you to turn your back on the bear..  which you should never do. 

The saving grace in this video is that the man carrying the toddler slows, faces the bear and waves his arms, yelling making himself look big and scary, unpredicatable and not prey. The people filming were also yelling, pay attention to what the bear does when the man faces it and waves his arms, what it does when the people filming are yelling. 

This is what you SHOULD DO. 

So what if you walk around a corner on a trail and see a bear? In Washington state 99% of the bears you will encounter are black bears. Even if they have brown or cinnamon colored fur, they are still black bears. Very, very few grizzlies in the North Cascades. 

Black bears are scavengers. They eat mostly berries, plants and flip over wood and rocks for bugs. They do not want to eat you but startle one or get between a mama and cubs and you may have trouble. Majority of the time they will continue eating, ignore you and wander off. 

I'm not an expert and everyone will have their own opinions so take this as general advice and research for your area, type of bear and ranger reccomendations. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm

First, stop.. dont run, dont turn around. Pick up any children, holding them as high as possible. (it makes you appear larger) stand up, do not hide or crouch down. If possible without going towards the bear, while keeping an eye on the bear go uphill. It can make you seem larger. 

Does the bear see you? If not make your presence known by loudly but calmly talking. Patiently wait for the bear to wander off, do not advance towards the bear. Many hikers talk or sing as they hike. Even if solely so they do not startle an animal. Especially around a blind corner. Most animals including bears will avoid humans if they hear them coming. If you are close to the bear, you can put some distance between you by sidestepping back. Keep the bear in your sight, if it follows, stop.

After it leaves the area, if you are comfortable continue on your hike while making sure to watch in the direction that the bear left. In case it returns, you do not want your back facing the bear. If you are not comfortable continuing then side step back the way you came while keeping your eye in the direction the bear was until a comfortable distance away. 

If the bear starts advancing towards you (either walking in curiousity or aggressive charging) instead of wandering off. Get big. Raise and Wave your arms slowly and be loud. Talk loudly, in a deep voice but do not scream in fear or a high pitch. Open your jacket to appear larger. If the bear continues, you may throw rocks or sticks in its general direction. 

If you have bear spray (should always have in grizzly country) USE IT. Only use it if the bear is advancing on you. Do not spray a bear that is calmly ignoring you, eating etc. You are in their space. Remember there is frequently wind and gravity at play. Do not spray yourself on accident! The hikers in this video had bear spray but failed to use it, flight or fight instinct set in. Make sure your bear spray is NOT inside your pack but easily accessible in a holster or clipped to the front of your pack/chest straps. If its ever needed, you wont have time to dig through your bag.  It is a good idea to practice unholstering, accessing it in your full gear to be sure you can do so quickly in an emergency. 

Some hikers such as myself carry a marine airhorn. This is another defense mechanism. Only to be used if bear is advancing on you. The super loud horn will ususally make them stop, thinking you are a danger to them and not their prey. Similar to how you see an animal would react to the sound of a firearm discharge. Blowing your safety whistle if you do not have an airhorn can have a similar effect. 

Some hikers carry a firearm. If you do this make sure you have been trained under pressure and use as a last resort. 

If none of these work and a black bear attacks, fight back. Use anything you can as a weapon. Focusing on the head and muzzle. Use your pack as a shield.