Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

A meeting with a bear can rightfully be considered one of the most terrible events. If you admit that there is a chance of encountering a bear, know what to do to avoid getting hurt.

Steps

1. 1 Determine the type of bear. Knowing what species the bear belongs to, you can think over the tactics of behavior. Remember that color and size are not the most important attributes of a species, and even people who are well versed in bears can confuse them. Below we provide a description of a number of species:
   • Black bears (Ursus americanus). The weight of black bears can reach 56-300 kilograms. Coat color can range from black to light. The muzzle of this bear is usually lighter than the body. Many black bears also have a white spot on their chest or neck. At the withers, the height of black bears is 60-100 centimeters, and in a stand on their hind legs - 1-2 meters. The distinctive features of the black bear are an elongated muzzle, a straight back, a small head and dark short claws.
   • Brown bears (Ursus arctos and Ursus arctos horribilis), one of the subspecies of which is grizzly bears. These bears live in Eurasia and North America. They weigh 300-680 kilograms. The largest bear is Ursus arctos, even larger than a polar bear. Approaches to the classification of brown bears differ, but on average one can rely on the following descriptions. Forest grizzly bears weigh 250–450 kilograms, while coastal grizzlies weigh up to 680 kilograms. The color can range from black to light, but usually grizzly bears are recognizable by their grayish hairs ("grizzled", hence the name). In a stand on its hind legs, the height of a bear can reach 2.7-3.5 meters. Brown bears have a ledge above their shoulders, the back is bent down, the muzzle is concave or curved, the head is large and light, and the claws are long, bent down.
   • Sloth bears ("Melursus ursinus"). They are nocturnal insectivores that live in the Indian subcontinent. Sloth bears (or sloth bears) have dark fur sticking out in different directions, short snouts and long curved claws with which they reach ants and termites. There is often a "V" or "Y" shaped light patch on the chest. Sloth bear nostrils can close, which protects the animal from dust and insects during an attack on a termite mound or hive. Due to the gap between the teeth, the bear can draw ants, termites and other insects into the mouth. Sloth bears reach 150–180 centimeters in length, 60–90 centimeters at the withers, and weigh from 60 (small females) to 155 (large males) kilograms.
   • Polar bears (Ursus maritimis). Male polar bears can weigh 350-680 kilograms. Females are usually about half the size. Polar, or polar, bears live in the Arctic, they are adapted to life on snow, ice and cold water. This is the largest land predator: at the withers, the polar bear reaches 130–160 centimeters. The coat of the bear is white and the body is more elongated than that of the brown bear. The skull and nose are also more elongated.
2. 2 Try to quickly determine if the bear is trying to defend itself or if it is hunting you out of hunger. It is important to understand if you can convince the bear that you should not be afraid and scare him away (for example, by increasing in size, making noise, pretending to be dead). If the bear perceives you as prey and not as a predator, it will not stop if you pretend to be dead or scream, so you will need to defend yourself in other ways. As a rule, bears try to defend themselves if they have cubs, if they have stored food, as well as because of surprise, misunderstanding, fear and the feeling that their home has been taken over and do not allow them to retreat. Bears attack if they are hungry and if they see food in a person. More often than not, black bears attack because of hunger, but young brown bears and grizzlies can hunt people if abandoned by their mothers, as they are forced to search for food on their own and a person can attract them. Remember, whatever the reason, the bear is dangerous. Below we describe two types of attacks:
   • Attack of the black bear as a defense: the bear will try to pounce on you and bite, however, it will not aim at the head or neck (such a bite will be fatal).
   • Black Bear Attack as a Predator: A hungry bear will most likely hunt you down and follow you. He will try to bite the back of the head and grab onto the bear's grip. The bear will not stop attacking if scared away.
   • Attack of a brown bear and a grizzly bear as a defense: the bear can run away or make several lunges in your direction to test how dangerous you are. The severity of an attack can be gauged by the position of the ears. The more the ears are pulled back, the more serious the intentions. A bear prepares to attack if the fur on the back of its neck stands on end and it growls. Be aware that if the bear is running down the direction of the wind, it may mean that he wants to get a better sense of the stranger's scent. If the bear attacks, it will try to bite the back of the head and break the spine with a strong blow of the paw.
   • Attack of a brown bear and a grizzly bear as a predator: the signs are the same as when defending, but the intentions are more serious (the bear will attack to eat you, not to check how dangerous you are). If the bear is standing on four legs, aggression can be recognized by rocking the head from side to side, as well as grinding teeth and opening and closing the mouth.
   • Sloth Bear Attack: Typically, these bears eat plants, so the animal is likely to attack to protect its offspring or itself. The bear will try to hit or bite, but will not aim for the neck or head.
   • Polar bears: These bears are usually hungry and dangerous. These animals are capable of tracking a person for a long time. They try to bite on the head. Any attack should be considered a hunt. The bear won't stop attacking.
   • Any bear near your camp, or worse, in your tent: This bear, whatever species, sees you as prey, and you will have to act quickly to physically protect yourself. Don't act like prey - stay calm and fight back by any means. If you notice that a bear has crept up to your camp, call the appropriate service.
3. 3 Whatever the reason for the attack, the bear is dangerous. However, in order to survive in this situation, it is important to remain calm and sober. If you panic, you no longer understand what you are doing, and fear may lead you to behave like prey, which will reduce your chances of survival. When you see a bear, it is important to do the following:
   • Try to appear larger than you really are. Raise your arms above your head, spread your legs wider, but so that you can stand steady. You can lift the jacket over your head to appear taller, but remember that this will make your torso more vulnerable if the bear suddenly attacks you, because you will not be able to quickly put on the jacket. Do not lift the jacket over your head if you need to remove your backpack to do this.
   • If you have a backpack on your back, do not remove it. It will help you defend yourself, especially if you have to fall and pretend to be dead.
   • Don't look the bear in the eye. Bears perceive eye contact as a threat, and this can provoke an attack. However, at the same time, try to keep the bear in sight at all times and keep an eye on what it is doing.
   • Loud sounds can scare off a bear, but this does not always work. Small bears, including black ones, are afraid of noise. It is believed that a bear can be scared away by metallic noise, as this is an unnatural sound. Cases of bears fleeing from the clang of metal have been recorded. However, noise may not help. Remember that big bears, especially black and white bears, can only become even more interested in noise. The animal will come closer to you to see what is happening.
   • Blind the bear with a bright lantern or lamp at night, especially if the bear wanders into your camp. Even a camera flash can blind a bear in the dark for a while.
   • Avoid sudden movements and do not run. Animals that are forced to chase prey have very quick reactions and are able to move at great speed. The bear can reach speeds of up to 64 kilometers per hour, so try not to provoke the animal.
   • Do not hide in precarious shelter (for example, in a tent). The bear will understand that you are just hiding, and this will strengthen his natural instincts.
   • Often, when a bear attacks, it is advised to climb a tree, but this cannot be done. Bears, especially black and sloth bears, can climb trees very quickly. A tree can save you only if there is a large bear in front of you - for example, a brown or grizzly bear. But some grizzlies can also climb trees. In this case, if the bear defends itself, it may decide that you are not a threat. If you do decide to climb a tree, make sure that it is strong enough so that the bear will not knock it down. You should also have enough time to quickly climb up and prevent the bear from grabbing you if it stands on its hind legs. But if you are attacked by a small bear or sloth bear, it is best not to climb trees. If you are forced to climb a tree in this case, try to climb as high as possible, where even a small bear could not reach without breaking branches.
   • Try to isolate yourself from the bear. Obstacles are your main assistant. You cannot harm a bear with your bare hands without letting it harm you. Try to get something large, such as a tree or stone, between you.
4. 4 Be as calm as possible. The bear can scare you to see if you can harm him. Try not to move and behave calmly when the bear scares you, even if you are scared. Some bears stop perceiving a stationary object as a threat and leave. However, at the same time, you need to be prepared for a bear attack - for example, have a pepper spray or sticks ready. Do not spray or hit the bear unless you are sure the bear is attacking. Some bears make a few attacks before deciding if the enemy is dangerous, so unnecessary aggression can only make the situation worse.
   • After the bear lunges, slowly raise your arms above your head, say something in a calm voice, and slowly take a step back.
   • Remember that if a bear stands on its hind legs, it most often wants to consider what is happening, rather than preparing to attack. Don't move while the bear is assessing you. Perhaps he decides that you are not interested in him.
   • The grizzly bear usually goes straight, and the black bear zigzags to attack unnoticed. In any case, don't run and make the bear chase you. Of course, when a bear is moving at you, it is very difficult, but if you know that there are bears in the country, it is important to always be on the alert.
5. 5 Know when and when to pretend to be dead. If the bear is interested in attacking you, trying to pretend to be dead might only work if you have a brown bear or grizzly in front of you. If you are confident in the sight of a bear, just fall to the ground with your stomach down. Spread your legs (so that the bear cannot roll you), cover the back of your head with your hands, bringing your fingers together. Cover your face with your elbows. Don't move or make sounds. Steve French, a doctor who works with bear trauma, notes that this behavior usually does not cause serious injuries that require hospitalization. If the bear turns you over, return to your stomach again and do this every time. Hopefully the bear will get tired of it and leave you. If the bear does not leave, lie down for a while until you are sure that the bear is gone and is not waiting for you to come to life.
   • If you have a black bear in front of you, this tactic cannot be used. never, as is the case with the polar bear. So you just give up and let yourself be eaten. However, not all experts agree on behavior tactics. Bill Schneider, book author Bear Aware, believes that it is better to pretend to be dead, even if you do not know which view is in front of you.
   • If a brown bear or grizzly bear lightly touches you, lie down and do not move. However, if he starts licking your wounds, stand up. This suggests that the bear is serious and you need to defend yourself.
6. 6 Find the bear's weak points. There are several tricks to help you defend yourself. First of all, try to climb a hill or any incline. This will make it more difficult for the bear to stand on its hind legs, which will reduce the force of the blow (in the standing position, the bear uses all the force of its weight). It is also difficult for bears to see when attacking from the side (the bear's neck and jaw are designed in such a way that it is difficult for the animal to rotate its head, which limits the view), and this is your advantage. But remember that the bear can attack horizontally, making it difficult for you to defend yourself.
   • Researchers have found that bears have the same visual acuity as humans. With age, vision deteriorates, but you should not think that the bear sees you poorly, and use it as a means of protection (for example, hide in full view of the bear).
7. 7 Fight back with what you have. If you have tried all the methods of protection, but the bear does not go away, your life is in danger and you need to do everything possible to survive. Pick up whatever you can find. Stones, dirt can be thrown into the eyes or in the face (this is a sensitive part of the body). Be careful when picking up items from the ground, because you will have to bend over, which will make you appear smaller and it will be more difficult for you to follow the actions of the bear. Always remember that in order for the defense to be effective, you must act quickly, must try to separate yourself from the bear with something and avoid possible hits (in order of importance).
   • Get a straight kick if you can or have to. Direct strikes are very effective - this is how the police knock down doors. Make a quick blow and step back so that the bear cannot grab you by the hip (if the bear succeeds, you will be disarmed). If you are standing on a hill, remember that the bear is below you and will attack with its head, so you will need to aim for the head.
   • The bear uses the muscles of the neck, skull and jaw as a means of resistance. A proper blow to the face can cause hemorrhage, which can cause a seizure.
   • If you decide to hit the bear, consider that this action might be useless and could put you in danger. The blow is usually only effective if it hits the nose. Try not to use fist punches as this will endanger your arms and hands.
   • If possible, hit and rise higher, hit and go even higher. Positioning from the top will allow you to inflict enough injury for the bear to give you the opportunity to leave.
   • Think about self-defense first.Know that you will not survive a blow from a bear. The blows of the paws of a bear can kill a deer and an elk in one movement, and everything will be exactly the same with a person. Use your backpack as a shield, throw objects at the bear (camera, books, shoes, bottles). Try to get into sensitive areas - in the eyes or nose.
   • If you hurt an animal, the bear will think you are still a threat. He will either run away or continue to attack to destroy the source of danger.
8. 8 Use a pepper spray. This information is taken out in a separate step, since you may not have a spray can with you (this is a dangerous tool that is expensive and quickly deteriorates), and also because, even if you have one, you need to be able to use it. Remember that pepper spray is a deterrent and can make the bear even more angry, so don't rely on it. In addition, the can should be in an easily accessible place. If it's hidden in the bottom of your backpack, you won't be able to take it out quickly. Only use it if you can get it quickly and easily, as speed is important here.
   • Use a spray can at the time of the attack.
   • Know the range of your spray can (usually 6-9 meters). It is best to use a large, long-range canister to keep your distance.
   • Pay attention to which way the wind is blowing. A spray can be of no use if the wind blows everything in your direction. If the wind is blowing towards you, you will need to carefully position yourself in a better position. If it is raining outside, the spray will be less effective as it will wash off quickly.
   • Follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Always read instructions before riding... You won't have time to study them during a bear attack. Different spray cans work differently. New packages may also work differently from what you are used to. All this must be known in advance.
   • Point the can at the bear so that the cloud forms exactly where the bear plans to attack. Press the button when the bear is 12 meters away. It is important to consider the speed of approach of the animal and to scream at the same time using the spray can.
   • Be prepared to react. The bear will feel a sharp pain in the eyes and will most likely find it difficult to breathe. An aggressive, disoriented bear is likely to head in your direction, so leave as soon as possible if the spray allowed you to delay the predator for a while.
   • If you don't have pepper spray, use any kind of repellent. Even insect repellent can cause severe burning sensation in the eyes. But do not replace pepper spray with repellent when packing for a trip, because often these remedies do not work. Use repellent only if absolutely necessary as a last resort.
9. 9 Consider the setting. It is worth mentioning separately about the behavior when a bear attacks a group. You should not walk alone where there are bears - it is unsafe, so in some national parks in the USA and Canada, for example, it is forbidden to move in groups of less than 6 people. If a bear attacks you and other people are nearby, they can scare the animal away. The more people, the more noise and the stronger the feeling that there are many attackers. But if there are only two or three of you, the bear may not be afraid of you and still attack. A big plus of the group is the ability to protect each other. For example, if you are all pretending to be dead, and the bear starts to touch one of you with its paw, the other will be able to grab the can and scare the beast away. If the bear attacks you and there are other people nearby who can help, try the following:
   • Continue to communicate with companions when the bear attacks. Tell each other what you are going to do to comfort each other and coordinate actions. Remain calm and try not to scream, unless this is your strategy.
   • Don't leave anyone alone with the bear. Stick together to give the impression of an indivisible group. Do not leave people alone so that the bear does not choose them as a victim.
   • One person can pick up sticks, dirt and stones, while another can scream at the bear and distract him.
   • Protect children and vulnerable people. Hide children and panicky team members from the bear. Keep them together to prevent the bear from mistaking them for easy prey, and do your best to calm people down and suppress panic reactions.
10. 10 Leave the area as soon as possible. As mentioned above, you cannot run. If you hurt a bear and it will temporarily delay him, go as soon as possible from the bear to where it will be safe. Hold something in your hands that will help you defend yourself if the bear catches up with you: stones, sticks, pepper spray. Try to move silently and not draw attention to yourself. You will probably be in a state of shock, but do everything you can to get to a safe place as soon as possible.
    • Move your back away from the bear to see what it is doing. Speak in a low, monotone voice to calm the bear (and yourself).
    • If you are in the Arctic, try to get to your car or accommodation as soon as possible. In huge snow-covered areas, you remain an easy prey, because you are clearly visible. In addition, polar bears have a keen sense of smell - they can smell a hidden fur seal cub 2 kilometers away!
11. 11 Be realistic. The suggested guidelines in this article are just general advice. There are no uniform rules of conduct when attacking a bear, since all recommendations are based on the experience of people who have encountered bears. None of the recommendations guarantee survival, since the reaction of the bear depends on the situation, on your behavior and the behavior of other people, on the bear's intentions, which will become clear only upon contact. Moreover, bears are very strong. However, the experience of the survivors suggests that the encounter with the bear can be survived. Get ready and stay calm. If you know there are bears in the country, you must take responsibility for what might happen and be prepared to face the predator.
    • Don't be afraid of bears all the time. One might get the impression that bears attack people at the first opportunity, but this is not the case. Bears bypass humans and coexist peacefully with humans in most regions. The uncontrollable bears that harm people are being taken care of by the local authorities. To avoid attracting the bears' attention, do not leave food for them, do not encourage them to approach your home, do not provoke them, and tell others how to behave. Try to prevent unwanted collisions by all possible means and distance yourself from the bear before he attacks. Remember that most bears tend to avoid conflict if possible.

Tips

• If you are heading to a country where there are bears, rehearse your behavior when encountering a beast. This will allow you to remember what to do automatically: stay calm, not look the bear in the eyes, look bigger, calmly step back, and so on. Even if you don't know what to do, muscle memory can help you do things that will increase your chances of survival. Ask friends to help you practice before you go camping.
• If a bear is watching your campground, try to create as much noise as possible and scare the beast away. Report the bear to local authorities as this bear can track people.
• When attacking, many people want to use weapons and many know how to do this. There may be rare cases when a person knows what he is doing, and when inaction can lead to death. People working in remote places (biologists, oil workers, fearless hiking enthusiasts) feel safer if they have weapons with them.If you are ready to use a weapon, you must know how to use it, keep it close, and only use it as a last resort. Follow all rules of conduct in the wild. You can use weapons only for self-defense, and not for provocation or entertainment. Remember that weapons are also dangerous, and misuse can be just as dangerous as being attacked by a bear.
• Bears can go out at any time of the day. It's not always safer during the day. However, most bears enjoy the time at sunrise and sunset. You should not go into the forest at night - the bear may be nearby, and you will not notice it, which will increase the likelihood of conflict.
• Like humans, bears prefer the path of least resistance. They are attracted by well-trodden paths, so be careful even if you are walking along the beaten path.
• Try to appear strong. The stronger and louder you are, the more likely the bear will get scared.
• Many bears are not afraid of active places. If there is food there, the bear will come. Perhaps you simply will not see him, because he may be hiding. If you know there are bears in the area, talk to the locals about safety issues.
• If a brown bear approaches you, looks in the eyes and looks threatening, it is better to behave calmly and demonstrate submission. Brown bears rarely attack humans because of hunger, but there may be other reasons for the attack. If the bear comes up to you, bend down to the ground and say something in a calm voice. Keep your eyes on the bear, but do not look him directly in the eyes. Do not make sudden movements. Bears are good at reading gestures, and if the bear misunderstands, he may attack. Don't sound dangerous. The bear will feel superior and leave.
• To avoid encountering a bear:
  • Move with other people, preferably in a large group.
  • Do not prepare food in the tent or leave it there. Do not leave items with strong odors (toothpaste, deodorant) in the tent.
  • Do not use scent products. Don't bring perfume, aftershave balm, or hand cream with you.
  • Do not feed the bears - they will decide that the person can give them food, and because of this, they will begin to perceive the person as food.
  • Always report bears near campgrounds and gathering places.
  • Don't move at night.
  • Make a lot of noise to avoid sneaking up on the bear.
  • Keep dogs on a leash. They can fight with a bear, and the dog will not win this fight.
  • Do not spray your tent or clothing with pepper spray. So the peppery composition will only attract bears! The mixture smells like food and the bear can smell.

Warnings

• Don't try to save your belongings. You can buy new things, but you have one life.
• Over time, the pepper spray loses concentration. Shake the bottle from time to time (a few cloudy spots means it can be used) and check the expiration date before riding.
• Remember that a bear's natural predatory instinct can be stronger than the pain and threat you pose.
• Almost all small bears can climb trees. Large bears can cut down trees.
• Don't run away. Black bears can reach speeds of up to 65 kilometers per hour, grizzlies up to 56, while the maximum human speed is 43 kilometers per hour.
• Although Baloo from The Jungle Book is a good-natured sloth bear, you shouldn't think that these bears are harmless. They also pose a danger to people!
• Do not provoke bear. Don't hit the bear to prove something. Bears can easily injure or even kill a person. At the same time, bears tend to avoid conflict with people, so if you announced your presence in advance, did not cut off the path for the bear to retreat and do not threaten the cubs, and also do not provoke a predator, the likelihood that the bear will not attack will be higher.