Bear Attacks: How to Protect Your Pets and Yourself

The majority of bear encounters happen by accident when the large predator and people meet face to face; usually in the bear's territory. We keep taking over more land in their habitat, decreasing their ability to hunt peacefully away from humans. The land where bears roam is some of the most beautiful areas in the country and when we venture into their home, it's our responsibility to understand the animal and know what to do if we should meet one. Protect your pets and yourself from bear attacks by knowing what to do.

Grizzly Bear or Black Bear.
Going just by color to decide if you're in the presence of a grizzly bear (a subspecies of the brown bear) or a black bear can be deceiving. Both animals can have similar coat colors ranging from brown, medium brown, blonde, cinnamon and black.

Grizzly bears are usually brown or dark brown with silver tipped fur giving them a grizzled look, a concave face and small round ears. They're bigger and more aggressive than black bears and have long curved claws that are easy to see. A male grizzly can weigh as much as 700 pounds and some weigh over 800 pounds and stand 7-8 feet tall. Females are between 200-400 pounds. You know you're dealing with a grizzly by the large hump on his upper back.

Black bears stand right around three feet at the shoulders. Males weigh 200-300 pounds and females average 140-160 pounds. However, some males can weigh as much as 600 pounds. Black bears are smaller than grizzlies, but they can still stand 6 feet tall. Their ears are pointed and larger than a grizzly bear and you can draw a straight line between their forehead to the end of their nose. They are excellent tree climbers and trying to escape either bear by climbing a tree should only be done as a last resort.

What to Do If a Bear Attacks

Night attacks by bears are rare, but a bear hunting at night is predatory. Bears will sometimes stalk people or attack while you're in a tent. Fight back with anything you can find because playing dead won't work when a bear is hunting.

Make noise to let bears know you're around. If you see one and he hasn't seen you, leave quietly, but don't run. If the animal has seen you, continue to move slowly away, but stop if it looks like your movement is upsetting him. Keep an eye on him and avoid direct eye contact. Bears have poor eyesight and average hearing, but they have an excellent sense of smell. A curious bear will stand on his hind legs so he can see better to decide if you're a threat. If he approaches, throw something on the ground to distract him and continue moving slowly away. Never distract a bear with food and never feed one. Bears that associate food with humans are dangerous animals. When camping, keep your dog tied up or on leash at all times. Store food away from camp or hang it from a tree. Keep your dog on leash during hikes. If your dog runs into a bear while he's running loose, he's likely to come racing back with a bear in hot pursuit. A bear may react with aggression if surprised by a dog.

Bears bluff charge to scare off intruders; veering off at the last minute. Stand your ground with a grizzly bear. As a last resort, curl up in a fetal position with your hands locked behind your knees or lay on your stomach with your hands locked behind your neck. If you're wearing a backpack, leave it on to protect your back. Stay calm, quiet and perfectly still. Any movement will tell the bear you aren't dead. Once the animal backs off; stay still. Sometimes the bear watches from a distance and if you move, he'll come back.

If an attacking bear is a black bear; stand your ground, be loud and wave your arms. If you have to fight; be as aggressive as you can and use anything you can find as a weapon. Only play dead if the bear is a mother with cubs.

Pepper spray (Bear Spray) is a good product to carry and it's a reliable weapon against an attacking bear; as long as you use it correctly. Read the instructions and practice using it before you need it. Bear experts recommend waiting until the bear is within 25 feet before you spray. Keep the spray in a holster on your belt or in a pocket where you can grab it quickly. You won't have more than a couple of seconds to act. Be ready to move away from a charging bear because even if you are successful in spraying him; he may continue his forward motion. The pepper spray should be effective for about a half an hour. When the bear stops, move away from the bear, but don't run. Experts recommend carrying at least two canisters with you and everyone in your party should have their own spray.

You can survive a bear attack. Bears would prefer not run into us, but when in bear country, there's always a chance of meeting one. Protect your pet and yourself by staying calm.

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