What to Do If You're Attacked by a Bear

All animals in the wild are trying to accomplish the same thing: survival. Just like us humans, wild animals want to go about their daily lives without trouble or threat. So, with that in mind, what can you do if you encounter one of the most fearsome animals on the planet, the bear? As we all know, bears are large, have huge claws and have been known to attack and kill people of any size. These facts alone should make any normal person never want to come upon one in the wilderness, but even with the terrible reports, bears really aren't any worse than other animals such as mountain lions, coyotes, wolves or even lions or tigers. The general rule is to give an animal enough space to allow them to escape and go about their business, and most of the time they will do just that. However, and I'm sure you knew there would be a 'however', there are always exceptions to every rule.

Lots of people these days are into a plethora of outdoor activities like backpacking, hiking, mountain biking and kayaking, which is great, but can present some challenges as we move into a wild animal's natural habitat. First of all, it's an excellent idea to become familiar with the territory you will be in and get to know the possible animals in that area. If you're kayaking down the Colorado River, for instance, you're not likely to run into wolves, but you very well could encounter rattlesnakes when you come to shore. Now, when you go out into heavily wooded areas, you really need to find out from the local wildlife or forestry departments what type of predators are in the area.

Common sense should tell anyone that during the breeding season, almost any animal from deer to birds will be more protective and aggressive, so be on extra alert during these times. In the forest, bears are a very real possibility, especially if there are creeks or streams nearby. Bears eat a variety of foods including berries and fish, so they are able to utilize a vast area of their territory, and because they are large, they have a large home range-the area they defend and forage within. If you do encounter a bear, what do you do?

There are several different types of encounters. The first is that you see a bear in the distance, but it apparently hasn't seen you. In this case, don't do anything to bring attention to yourself. Instead, move off in a different direction, or go around in a wide arc to allow the bear plenty of room. If you see a bear and it sees you, do the same thing. Give it plenty of room so it doesn't have an excuse to attack. Some wildlife biologists suggest that you talk calmly and maybe even wave your hands a bit so it will know that you're a human, and therefore avoid you all on its own. No matter which scenario, always give the bear plenty of room. Most of the time, a bear does not want to attack you.

Now, if you see a bear, it sees you and there are cubs around...look out! This is a potentially serious case. Definitely give the bear lots and lots of room and back away as much as you can. It is probably best to leave the area altogether. If you frighten a mother bear and her cub or cubs run up a tree, still leave the area because the mother is almost always still very close by and will aggressively defend her babies. Never, ever approach a cub, even if it seems to be abandoned or lost. Mama is nearby.

If you come upon a bear that takes a defensive stance against you like raising up on its hind legs or mock charging you-which they will sometimes do-back away and stay calm. If you run or flail your arms around, you'll probably upset the bear more. In this case, it would be extremely hard to remain calm, but it's essential for your survival. If you are attacked by a bear, and you can scurry up a tree (although black bears especially, can climb trees very efficiently), curl into fetal position, protecting your neck and stomach. If you have a backpack, leave it on for extra protection. You can also try playing dead at the last minute and hope the bear will feel the threat is gone. Don't play dead right away before the bear starts an attack, because you may still have time to run away or climb up a tree, so only lie down if you have no other choice.

While all of these scenarios are terrifying, don't let the possibility of a bear attack stop you from enjoying nature. Bear attacks are rare and usually happen when a person accidentally comes upon a bear and frightens it. Just be careful, make enough 'human' noise such as talking softly, to let nearby bears know that you're in the neighborhood and hopefully if you do get the opportunity to see one of these magnificent animals, it will be as they are walking in the opposite direction to get away from you.