Going outdoors almost guarantees, at some point, you'll encounter the wildlife who make their homes there. Most of the animals you'll meet are relatively harmless, but others - uh, not so much. Let's use bears as an example. More specifically grizzly bears. One of the most feared (and hazardous) wild animals every outdoor enthusiast dreads crossing paths with is the North American Grizzly. These suckers are dangerous, flat out. They're 500 pounds of not-to-be-effed-with muscle, claws, teeth and nappy fur that can run faster than an average moped. As beautiful as they are, they're not to be underestimated. It's best to watch these magical creatures from a distance.
Now that's mostly common sense. What you're probably here for is to learn what to do if you come nose to nose with one by accident. Well, I hope you brought bear spray, are wearing a pack, or you have a gun. Your chance of survival increases with each of these items, so I'd bank on bringing all three.
"There were all kinds of things I was afraid of at first, ranging from grizzly bears, to 'mean horses' and gun-fighters; but by acting as if I was not afraid I gradually ceased to be afraid." - Theodore Roosevelt
Here's what to do if you happen to come face to face with a Grizz. We'll also share some ways you can prevent confrontation in the first place.
Let's start by providing you with some ways to avoid these dangerous encounters altogether. This is definitely the best way to secure your future, and dramatically increase your chances of making it home in one piece.
Do Your Research
Know the bear population around where you plan to hike. How many bears have been spotted around the area in recent years? Have any attacks been reported? Is it a heavily trafficked area? Answering these questions will give you a good idea of how likely you are to encounter a brown bear, and hopefully calm your nerves when you're off the grid. Since you found this article, we have faith you'll be able to find pertinent information about bear activity. Bears can travel very long distances in just a few days so make sure you're looking within a 50-100 mile radius around the target area.
Announce Your Presence
Bears don't actually like confrontation. Usually a bear will only come into contact with a handful of humans in their lifetime, depending on where you're at, so they're just as scared to see you as you are to see them (most of the time - more on that later). If they can hear you coming, chances are they'll run off before you ever even know one is close. Yelling something like "Yo, bear!', or "Hey, bear!" every few minutes should do the trick. If you're traveling in a group, which is recommended, make sure you're talking in a loud tone. Pretend you're at a concert or sporting event. It'll feel unnatural at first awkwardly yelling at someone two feet away, but just remember a gnarly Grizzly could be waiting on the other side of every corner.
Stay Aware of Your Surroundings
It's not enough to talk obnoxiously loud, or yell "Hey, bear" over an over. Bears are somewhat lazy during the summer, and often take naps during the day to conserve energy in the scorching heat. They're notoriously heavy sleepers, and the worst thing you want to do is sneak up on one. Grizzlys are also fond of their food so it's likely they're paying more attention to their elk filet than your vocalizations. Especially in thick forest where noise can be dulled by the endless layers of trees, rocks and brush. This is particularly hazardous because remember how we said "the worst thing you want to do is sneak up on one"? Well, sneaking up on one eating a meal is actually worse.
"Sometimes I'm kind of spacey. I'm like Ferdinand the Bull, sniffing the daisy, not aware of time, of what's going on in the real world." - Richard Gere
Look for Signs of Activity
As mentioned above, sometimes you could accidentally walk up on a snoozing or indulgent bear, but luckily there are some clear indicators that bears are active in the immediate area.
Tracks
Bears are big, heavy animals. One of the easiest identifiers of a passing bear is by their tracks, especially if it has recently rained. Also look for large impressions or trails in tall grass as this can also point towards a grizz. Like every other living thing, bears need a water source. If you come across a pond or lake at high elevation, take a peek at the surrounding shoreline for evidence of tracks. It should go without saying, but also keep a track reference guide with you or study well before heading out.
Scratch Marks
During mating season, mature grizzly bears have a tendency to "rub" against trees to help attract female mates in the area, and can sometimes claw and bite at the base. If you notice a tree with missing bark in random spots 3-4 feet up then you're probably looking at the work of a mature male marking his scent. You'll need to be careful not to fully rely on this as black bears are also known to scratch the bark off of certain trees to reach the sugary sapwood below. Also, black bears are avid climbers and often seek shelter high up in trees, so this is also a possible explanation of claw marks along the bole. If you want to be sure, you'll need to search for the hair that is likely trapped in the bark's ridges. If it's brown, you're likely dealing with with a Grizzly.
Scat
Not going to spend too much time on this one, but it's important to note. Study the different types of scat for common animals in the area you're going to visit and understand what makes Grizzly scat different than black bear, and other animals. Check visually if the droppings are fresh or not, but don't touch it with your poles or hands because other than just being gross, it could harbor diseases.
So we've given you some ways to keep bears away, and avoid areas where they are active but that isn't always enough. Hungry bears, mountainous terrain and a sore windpipe can sometimes create the perfect storm to lead you right into the path of danger. Next we'll take a look at some ways to protect yourself after making contact with a Grizzly.
Stay Calm
You'll find this to be a common theme here, and for good reason. Making quick, irrational decisions in the heat of the moment can have dire consequences. I've never been unfortunate enough to find myself squaring up with a brown bear, but I imagine it's terrifying. Intense fear can paralyze decision-making and lead to complete inaction. Our higher conscious is what naturally separates us from other animals, which is usually to our benefit. Humans have a fight or flight response to threatening situations, which completely bypasses rational thinking. Neither of these natural responses are good ones. Being calm is key to overriding this system, and allows you to tune back into higher consciousness. Once calm, the situation can be properly assessed, increasing your chances of an escape.
Let's say you notice a bear in the distance, but it hasn't spotted you yet; STAY CALM. Don't scream, talk, or make eye contact with it. Yelling "hey, bear!" is completely counterproductive at this point. You want to slowly back away, keeping the bear in your view. Find another route, or wait about 30-45 minutes before returning.
Talk Like a Human
If the bear does happen to spot you, unless the particular bear you encounter has been habituated to humans, talking to it plainly may disarm any aggression, sending it scurrying along. Show your hands and slowly back away continuing to talk calmly. Say things like "I'm not here to hurt you", "please let me go", maybe complement it's coat "do you use Head & Shoulders?" Really anything should work as long as you say it in the right tone. Securing enough time to get to safety is the main goal here, but a secondary benefit is to prepare your bear spray, or firearm.
What you absolutely don't want to do here is run. Even if you're out of imminent danger, as long as the bear can see you, running is a very bad choice. Although talking like a human differentiates you from other prey, bears are wired to chase things that run. A hunting instinct kicks in, and you go from friend to food in the blink of an eye. Brown bears can run up to 40 mph, so you'll never outrun one either.
Bear Spray
The best $50 you'll ever spend. Also your best shot at survival in any bear encounter scenario. Get a can of bear spray, and invest in a holster. These bad boys can spray a stream of atomized capsaicin (pepper spray) upwind over 20 feet. Aim low and give it a healthy initial blast. If the bear keeps charging, UNLOAD. Slowly walk away in the opposite direction towards safety. It's a good idea to have two full cans of bear spray on you per group as all bears have been known to occasionally travel in pairs. I know this is asking a lot in a panic scenario, but you'll definitely want to take note of which direction the wind is blowing. Spraying into the wind almost guarantees blowback straight into your face. Congratulations, you just seasoned yourself and solidified the bears next meal.
Aim for the Vitals
Your first option should always be bear spray. I often keep my bear spray company with a 6" .357 revolver, holstered opposite on my belt, but I always consider it a very last resort. If you choose this route, make sure you're comfortable with your aim. Shooting a grizzly in the leg will send it into a defensive rage, exponentially worsening your situation. There's a soft area above the mouth, just below the eyes, as well as under the arms that'll bring it to a halt at the very least. After doing some research, ricochets seem to be common off the front skull plate, so try to avoid that area. Also, not all ammo is created equally. Expanding rounds may not fully penetrate the thick skin, and FMJ bullets could pass through injuring others in the line of fire. Not many good options here, so probably just double up on the spray.
Play Dead
Full disclosure on this one: we're not totally convinced this is ever a good idea, but with so many reputable sources preaching it we had to add it to the list. Apparently, pretending to be dead will neutralize the bears defense response after a few swift paws to any (and probably all) exposed areas on your body.
To properly pull this off, lay curled up with your knees and arms tight around your vitals, and lay motionless for as long as possible. One scenario where this method actually makes a lot of sense is if you're wearing thick layers, or a large rucksack. These items will provide you with some extra protection, and you'll hopefully walk away with much less severe injuries. Remember, beats don’t actually want to eat you, they’re just trying to neutralize you as a threat.
When you've exhausted all other options, this is a last resort. I’m not so sure it’ll work if you’ve already unsuccessfully unloaded some rounds, but if you’re out of rounds then it’s better than fleeing. Running away at this point is not going to end well. Guaranteed, so best take this advice.
Overview
Here's the deal: if you're going into bear country alone, you probably just shouldn't, and if you do then you better be prepared. If you're planning to go hunting in bear country I hope you didn't come here first. You'll need way better advice than this article can provide, along with a lifetime of experience doing sketchy things. Mostly kidding about the last part, but please, please be careful. Elk jerky is good, but not worth losing a limb or your life over.
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