Short answer: YES
Long Answer: There are way too many variables to take into consideration as to WHY the bear will attack. Knowing why the bear is taunting and roaring at you will give you a better idea of what defense tactics you should use. For example: A bear protecting her cubs is different to a bear that wants to eat you alive. So, do bears attack people? In this article I will be explaining how you should react and defend yourself in different situations.
Avoid bears in the first place by talking, singing or clapping, which will let the bear know you are nearby so they can go in the opposite direction. Although if you see one in the distance (100m or more), don’t call out to him. Retreat slowly and give the bear plenty of space.
If it has noticed you and the bear is more than 100m away, talk softly to let the bear know you’re a human. The bear has poor eyesight for that distance.
Don’t make eye contact as this can force the bear to charge.
Bear Behavior
We want to avoid contact with bears, and they want to avoid contact with us. This is why most of the time the bear will leave us alone, however there will be times when they are acting towards us and not moving along. Watching the bears behavior will give us a better idea of what they’re telling us.
Bears are usually quite passive against humans. Although you don’t want to get on the bad side of one.
- Standing on hind legs – This is not a tactic to threaten you, this just means the bear is curious and trying to get a better view
- Blowing and Snorting – The bear is trying to tell you to back off, probably because of her cubs nearby
- Lowered head/body and laid back ears – A sign of aggression and is ready to fight back if it feels threatened
- On hind legs, ears laid back, jaw and mouth open showing teeth, moaning and woofing – The bear is simply reminding you that you need to leave before he charges
- Ears lowered(not all the way), no eye contact, cowering with head lowered – Basically the bear is trying to look smaller and is telling you that it didn’t mean to butt in and just wants to go separate ways
- Ears forward, moving forward with confidence – This bear knows exactly what he’s doing, and will attack if you don’t show you’re not scared
Bear Intentions
First-Year Cubs – The bears defending their first-year cubs which are in a tree are often protecting the area. If you are too close, the bear may attack to eliminate you as a threat.
Second-Year Cubs – The bear will defend the cubs and might attack if it feels threatened
Defending A Kill Site – Multiple bears are defending a carcass and will heavily defend it and might attack if you get too close. You can spot a kill site by finding scavenging ravens and multiple birds flying around one area
Predatory Bear – This is a bear in an aggressive state, and sees you as prey. This is very rare but it can happen, and mostly likely from Black Bears.
How To Defend Yourself Against A Grizzly
While you’re out exploring the great outdoors and having general outdoor fun, there’s a high chance you’ll come across a bear. Read the body languages above to remind yourself of what the bear is trying to tell you.
Grizzly Bears Defending Their Cubs – Don’t act as a threat, but merely try to tell the bear you are just going to back off slowly. Talk in a quite voice and try to make yourself look as small as possible while moving back slowly. Do NOT turn your back, and Do NOT run! If the bear doesn’t let you go then read below how to defend yourself.
Note: In the wilderness, animals that run ALWAYS bring on a chase, so don’t run and the bear won’t chase you.
Grizzly Bear Attacks While Trying To Defend Cubs – If the bear is in attack mode, ears are forward, and the bear is openly moving forward with confidence, it will circle you and decide if he/she will attack or not.
You will need to look as big as possible, legs wider than usual, stand tall, shout, make eye contact, clap or wave a stick, if you can grab one slowly (fast movements can frighten a bear causing it to attack). The bear might make a series of ‘bluff charges’, just to see how you react. Don’t show your fear!
Note: Try to back away after the first charge, the bear will usually do 1 or 2 bluff charges to give you a chance to leave. If the bear doesn’t let you back off then follow instructions below.
If a charge gets too close and the bear is actually going to attack – play dead. Only if the bear is defending her cubs. Lie on your stomach, legs apart so the bear can’t roll you over, hands over your neck with your fingers interlocked to prevent the bear from biting your neck.
The bear is trying to eliminate you as a threat from her and her cubs so it will probably scratch and hit you but don’t move! Wait for the bear to leave, even if you can’t hear it in the area, bears are likely to stay in the area to make sure you are down. Wait at least 20-30 minutes for the bear to leave.
Predatory Grizzly Bear, Wants You For Dinner – Very rare, but again, try to determine why the bear is attacking. If you know there are no cubs nearby and he/she is moving in for a kill, circling you while huffing, puffing and swaying head, follow the rules that the bear is giving you a chance to leave after the first charge, if the bear doesn’t let you leave then you better be prepared to fight!
Follow the steps outlined above but when the bear charges and attacks, your chances of surviving have increased if you hit the bears sensitive parts. Punch him in the eyes and nose. Or even stab him with a stick if you can grab one.
Humans are advanced creatures because of our ability to use tools, take full advantage of that and attack with everything you have, even a knife to an eye will likely scare the bear off. Overall show the bear you’re not scared to fight and you will fight with everything you have!
Black Bears
A lot more predatory creatures than grizzly bears, but they are a lot more scared of us too. Follow the exact same tactics outlined above, even if the bear is trying to defend her cubs the bear will still try and kill you.
NEVER play dead against a black bear. Your chances of surviving against a black bear is higher than a grizzly, always stand tall, legs wider to make you look bigger, shout and wave a stick or your hands at the bear. It may perform a few bluff charges but at the end of the day, you need to show the bear you are ready to fight and you are not afraid of it.
Black bears that attack you are very rare if you show you will fight back.
Polar Bears
On the other hand, your chances of surviving a polar bear attack is actually very slim. Don’t play dead EVER against a polar bear and don’t run either. They see everything as prey.
If a polar bear doesn’t see you, don’t make any noise to let him know you’re there. But DO act as a threat if he does see you, stand straight, legs wider than usual and act like it should be scared of you.
Don’t make any noise against a polar bear as this will make the bear curious and want to move forward to the noise to see what it is.
This video is a great example showing you how to defend yourself against a polar bear.
Pro Tip: Wherever you go in polar bear territory, ALWAYS take a huge ass stick with you and smash it on the ground to scare them off, lol.
Again, same tactic as against other bears except you’re not making any noise. Show you’re not scared and show that you’re ready to fight with everything you have.
Pepper/Bear Spray
I mentioned this last because sometimes you may not have pepper spray with you.
When’s the best time to use pepper spray? Never purposely approach a bear because you think you’re safe with the bear spray. This is only created to temporarily daze the bear giving you enough time to get out of there, and it might not always work so always be prepared to fight.
Use pepper spray on all bears when they are charging, when the bear is about 30-40 feet away use the pepper spray and create a “cloud” between you and the bear. When the bear gets close to you the spray will daze the bear and give you enough time to get away, while following the rules to never turn your back. Walk away fast but without running.
Note: Before you use the spray, make sure it won’t be affected by wind, ultimately making your deterrent worthless if it doesn’t actually hit the bear.
Bear/Pepper spray is only meant to be used for a charging/attacking bear!
A couple of notes to take into consideration…
- Always keep your backpack on for more defense against an attack. What’s a good bag? Find out here!
- Never climb a tree, a lot of bears can climb, black bears are great climbers. Some bears have known to shake people out of trees
Conclusion
Don’t let this guide put you off camping/hiking or exploring the great outdoors, because the chances of a bear charging you are slim, they are scared of us as much as we are scared of them. Learn to know bear behavior and avoid any potential charges in the first place. And no matter what, or where you are, if you’re out in the wilderness you should ALWAYS be prepared to fight.
If you found this article helpful please let me know by commenting below and I’ll get back to you asap.
I loved camping when I was growing up, but where I am from I had to worry more about alligators than bears. Now I live in Tennessee and there are a lot of bears here. A very informative article on bears. I assumed that all bears were or acted the same. Apparently not. Very good article on bears. So before I go camping again, I’m definitely coming to visit your website!
Jim
Hello Jim, that’s good that you learned something then. Different bears have different intentions which is why it’s highly important to learn what they’re trying to tell us. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Hi, man I feel frightened just by reading about bears and what to do if attacked. I have heard about tactics to play dead. But imagine the situation, one must have nerves of steel to really do this. But there is no alternative, I know they are very fast and can run over 50 km per hour. I do mountaineering in the Alps and we normally do not have them there so nobody carries guns or anything similar.
Pepper spray sounds like a great option. I assume it works for polar bear as well. Thank you, very informative text indeed.
P.S. I followed the links for backpacks, love to read about them.
Yeah, haha that is so true. Your heart will likely be POUNDING like it’s going to explode, however if you want to survive against a grizzly this will be your best choice. Because running will bring on a chase – and wild animals chasing things is hardly ever a happy ending.
And yes, pepper spray does work with polar bears, however good luck if you come across one, lol.
Thanks for the comment,
Brandon
Love this post one of my biggest fears while camping is that a bear may wonder in at some point. This post is very insightful about all types of bears and I feel better prepared just reading it thanks.
Great one Tom. You can never be too prepared when you’re wandering through nature – where all the predators live :O Don’t forget the pepper spray as a last resort.
These are really great tips to be safe from bear attack. But I’m too scared to even think of going
somewhere, where there’s even a little possibility of such things. I have been to Yosemite national park many times and there are very interesting trails to explore. But because of bear attack warnings never went for long trails. Useful information here you have provided!
Bears aren’t actually that scary tbh, they want to avoid us as much as we want to avoid them, so 99% of the time they will walk away OR they want us to walk away (lol). Thanks for the comment Demi.
I’m almost glad that we don’t have bears in New Zealand! But if we did, I certainly wouldn’t be worried after reading this informative article!!! Very interesting to find out what bear behavior means 🙂
Oh great, you are from New Zealand as well? Awesome. I know right, we are very lucky to not have bears here, but if we do we are prepared for them that’s for sure.
Thanks for the comment Emma 🙂
-Brandon