If you encounter a black bear:
As long as you stay away, a bear is usually less dangerous the louder it is. The sound serves as a warning and is intended to scare you off.
Do |
Do Not |
- Back Away your steps slowly, keeping the bear in view, and wait for it to go.
- Toss things, move your arms, and create noise by yelling, whistling, or using an air horn.
- Get your bear spray ready.
- If there’s a building or car nearby, go inside.
- Give up any food you may be holding, then back off carefully.
- If a bear is in a tree, leave it alone and continue on.
- If you come across a mother bear with her cubs, then play dead.
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- Run away, climb a tree or swim
- Kneel down
- Make eye contact
- Approach the bear to get a better look
- Attempt to feed the bear
- Let your dog off a leash
- Play dead unless you are attacked by a mother bear defending her cubs
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If a Bear attacks |
Preventing bear encounters |
- Use bear spray and immediately leave the area
- Fight back
- Do not play dead unless you are sure you are being attacked by a mother defending her cubs
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- burn off food residue and oil from barbecue
- Clean up all food scraps, and wrappers from the campsite
- Never leave out food to feed wildlife
- Don’t dump oil outside
- Don’t leave your pets outside unattended
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Bear warning signs:
A shocked bear gives warning signs to let you know you are too close since bears hate surprises. A bear, for instance, might stand on its hind legs. It’s not an indication of hostility; rather, the bear wants to get a closer look or smell you. Letting bears know you’re around so they can stay away is a good way to minimize encounters with these animals. When you are in places where sight is limited or where there is a lot of background noise, such as near streams or waterfalls or on windy days, make noise by talking, whistling, or singing.
A defensive bear |
A predatory bear |
- Will salivate excessively and exhale loudly
- Make huffing, moaning, clacking and popping sounds with its mouth, teeth and jaws
- Lower its head with its ears back while facing you
- Charge forward, and or swat the ground with its paws (this is a bluff charge)
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- Will make a steady, silent approach
- May come closer despite your efforts to scare them away with yells or thrown objects.
- If bear spray is used properly, they will retreat, but they will eventually come back, so you should leave the area right away.
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