Bear Encounters |

The Great Outdoors is a place of beauty and wonder, but there are dangers as well. In encounters with large animals, it pays to know what to do when you encounter them on or off the grid.

At present, we’re in our mountain home in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and the area’s iconic mascot, the black bear, is a common sight. So common, in fact, that our yard is part of their daily circuit.

Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae, and I’ll bet you don’t know what their closest living relative is: Dogs? Nope, it’s seals. There are a number of species of bear in North America, but the American black bear is the one that’s present just about anywhere in the U.S. About 2000 live in the Great Smoky Mountains area; many of them have become very accustomed to humans.

Black and brown/grizzly bears eat more plant matter than meat, opportunistically taking in whatever they can find. Poor crops of staple foods like acorns, called mast, result in bears moving out of the back country to look for alternative food sources, like your campsite or suburban trash. Even though black bears are only 8 ounces when they’re born, males (also known as boars) can wear 400 pounds. Grizzly newborns weigh a pound, but boars may reach 650-700 pounds in their prime. In Alaska, male brown bears commonly reach 1000 pounds!

Black bears vs Grizzly bears

In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there are only black bears. In the American and Canadian West, brown or grizzly bears are also encountered. ”Grizzly,” refers to white-tipped hair on the back and shoulders of brown bears. While their diet, habitat, and many behaviors are similar, there are ways to tell the difference between them:

Despite the names brown/grizzly and black, color isn’t always one of them. For instance, grizzlies may be blonde to almost black. From a distance, a grizzly bear may appear to have darker legs and lighter upper parts. Black bears, as well, aren’t always black. They can be brown, cinnamon, or patchy.
Body size is also not a reliable indicator for identifying bears in the West. A typical adult female grizzly weighs 300-400 pounds and adult males weigh 300-650 pounds. An adult black bear may not only weigh the same as a female grizzly but also be about the same height (3–4 feet at the shoulder).
Grizzly bears have a prominent shoulder hump between the front shoulders, which is visible from the side. Black bears have no shoulder hump.
A grizzly typically has a concave that extends from between its “brow” to the end of its nose. A black bear normally has an almost straight profile from forehead to nose.
Grizzly bears have smaller, more rounded ears in proportion to their head size. Black bears have larger ears that are more pointed and erect.
Grizzly bears have curved, often light-colored claws that can be longer than a person’s finger. Black bears have darker claws that are usually less than two inches long.
The tracks of a grizzly’s front feet are squarer than that of a black bear. A black bear front track is more rounded.

Bear Encounters

The National Park Service says that each bear encounter is unique; there is no single strategy that will work in all situations. To prevent injuries from bear encounters, situational awareness is the order of the day. Be especially careful in areas where bears are active. In national parks, signs are placed at trailheads where bear encounters have been documented. Watch for disturbed trash, fresh tracks, droppings, and of course, actual bears.

Some basic advice: Don’t hike alone. Whenever possible you should hike in groups, 90% of people injured by bears (mostly grizzlies) in Yellowstone National Park were alone or with only one other hiking partner.

You might think it’s not smart to yell “Any bear out there?” or sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” on the trail, but bears don’t like noise and it’s actually a pretty good strategy. This is especially appropriate when traveling near babbling brooks or other settings where normal hiking noises might be muffled. Just don’t do it with a hamburger or hot dog in your hand.

When you see a bear, it will, hopefully, be at a distance: If so, and the bear doesn’t see you, keep out of sight and go slowly behind and downwind of it. If the bear does see you from far away, slowly retreat.

Accidental Encounters

You’re just as likely to come upon a bear as it is to come upon you. Avoid hiking at dawn, dusk, or at night. These are times that bears are most active in warm weather months.

Bear, like humans, have a need for personal space. If you happen upon a bear, don’t approach it, even to get a photo; give it as much room as possible. This advice is often foolhardily ignored by tourists.

If your encounter with the bear on the trail is up close and personal, or if it wanders into your campsite, identify yourself as a human by speaking calmly in a monotone voice.

Try to look as large as possible. If in a group, stay close together. Pick up small children immediately.

Back away slowly in the opposite direction. Walk, don’t run. Keep your eye on the bear so you can see how it will react, but avoid direct eye contact (considered an act of aggression). In most cases, the bear will move on.

(Note: The National Park Service (NPS) recommends moving away sideways, reasoning that you are less likely to trip than walking backwards. This is certainly true, but there’s not much room to move sideways if you’re on trails. Although the NPS says to avoid eye contact and not shout, other sites actually recommend direct eye contact and loud noises, in the hopes that it will intimidate the bear.)

Keep your backpack on; it might provide protection if you’re attacked. If you are camping, be sure to store your food well out of reach.

Defensive Encounters

A bear that feels threatened may act defensively if you get too close. It may snap its jaws, huff, hiss, growl, yawn, or swat the ground while blowing and snorting. The bear may lunge or “bluff charge” toward you in an attempt to get you to leave the area. This is most likely with a mother protecting cubs. Once a bear has noticed you and is paying attention to you, additional strategies to the above can help prevent the situation from escalating.

Some western parks require pepper spray for campers and hikers; know how to use it. Try to de-escalate the situation by talking calmly, so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal. Remain still and stand your ground. Running might activate a chase response in the animal. Wave your arms and appear as large as possible.

The bear may stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell. A standing bear is usually more curious than anything else. Continue to talk to the bear in low tones; this will help you stay calmer, and it won’t be threatening to the bear. A scream or sudden movement may trigger an attack. Never imitate bear sounds or make a high-pitched squeal.

Bear Attacks

Most bears are only interested in protecting their space, getting food, and protecting their young. A bear in predatory mode will act differently than a curious or defensive one. If the bear follows you quietly, head low, ears laid back, and its attention clearly directed at you, it is more than just curious and not acting defensively. Make yourself appear larger, louder, and threatening. Groups should stick together to look like a bigger threat.

If the bear attacks, don’t run. You can’t outrun a bear. Don’t climb a tree unless you’re a squirrel. You’re not 10 years old anymore; it takes longer than you think and your pursuer is a very good climber.

As the bear approaches, stand your ground and have your pepper spray out. Note the wind direction and adjust your position so the spray doesn’t fly back at you. Be sure the safety is off. Aim for the face and start spraying when the bear is within 25-30 feet away. Although it is most effective at 5-10 feet, the initial whiff further away may discourage the attack. If not, continue spraying until the can is empty. Note that there is a tendency to recoil upward, but you must spray downward to hit your target.

Although predatory bear attacks are rare, you should know what to do if physical contact is made. The National Park Service recommends different actions for different species of bear:

Grizzly Bears: With grizzlies, fighting back may intensify the fury of their attack. If you are attacked by a brown/grizzly bear, leave your pack on and play dead. Lay ﬂat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck and your forearms protecting your face. Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over. Remain still until the bear leaves the area. A persistent attack or an attack in your tent may leave you no choice but to fight back. Use whatever you have at hand to hit the bear in the face.

Black Bears: When a black bear physically attacks, the rangers recommend you don’t play dead. Be aggressive and fight back using any object available, concentrating on inflicting trauma to the bear’s face, eyes, and snout.

Assuming you survive the attack, you may have bleeding wounds. Make sure your backpack has dressings, tourniquets, antiseptics, and other supplies needed for treating wounds. Here’s part 1 of a video series on dealing with animal bites.

Studies have shown that bears accustomed to humans never live as long a life as truly wild bears. Bears lose their fear of people by being fed by them. As a result, many of these are hit by cars or end up euthanized. Remember this: A bear that’s fed is a bear that’s dead.

Joe Alton, MD