Bears -- What to do when you encounter a bear in the wilderness

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The advice on what to do if you encounter a bear varies depending on the source. If you know of authoritative sources, please reference them below.

In general, most of the advice online right now is of the following sort:
- never turn and run. Any bear, on any terrain, can outrun you. And running often serves to trigger its chase instinct.
- if the bear hasn't noticed you yet, try to back away quietly until you are clear
- if the bear has noticed you, but is more than 100 yard/metres away, move your arms up and down slowly and speak to it in low, soothing tones. The point is to show it that you're a human, not to try to scare it off. Keep talking and moving your arms while you back away until safe.

- if the bear charges:

Sometimes a charge is a bluff. The bear will probably make more noise and bound at you quickly, with its head and ears up. In such a case, stand your ground, and when the charge is done, resume the backing-up-waving-arms-speaking strategy.

- if the bear attacks/makes contact:

Here, advice differs depending on the source of the advice, and often depending on the species. According to mountainnature.com, when encountering a black bear: fight back. Use a rock or a branch, and aim for the eyes and nose.
When encountering a grizzly bear, play dead. Drop to the ground. Lie on your stomach, with your hands covering the back of your neck; alternately, a tight fetal position. If you have a backpack on you, keep it on and always keep it between you and the bear (if the bear tries to roll you over, keep rolling until you're back on your stomach).

How do you tell a black bear from a grizzly bear?

More recommendations:

Bears in Ontario

In Ontario, the bear you may encounter is a black bear.
According to the Grand Valley Trails Association:

> If you happen to encounter a bear on the Trail, stop and face it. The wors[t] thing you can do - and probably your first instinct - is to turn and run. If luck is with you, you'll be hiking in a group. Ensure the bear has an escape route and then begin to yell and wave your arms. You want to appear like you are a threat to the bear. Slowly back away from the animal. If bold, the bear may charge. Greater than 90% of all charges are bluffs but you want to be prepared. Your last possible course of action is to physically attack the bear with anything you have in your presence. (see source here)

As reassurance, the GVTA also offers the following:
> For every fatal bear attack in North America, there are 17 deaths from spiders, 25 from snakes, 67 from dogs, 180 from bees/wasps and 374 deaths from lightning.

This entry requires information on encounters with other species of bear in other regions. Can you help? Click the “edit” link above and add what you know.

Bears in Yellowstone National Park

According to pbs.org (and we all know that public television staff are the people most likely to be encountering bears on a regular basis):
* If you encounter a grizzly, do not run.
* Avoid direct eye contact.
* Walk away slowly, if the bear is not approaching.
* If the bear charges, stand your ground (you cannot outrun it).
* Don’t scream or yell. Speak in a soft monotone voice and wave your arms to let the animal know you are human. If you have pepper spray, prepare to use it.
* If the grizzly charges to within 25 feet of where you’re standing, use the spray.
* If the animal makes contact, curl up into a ball on your side, or lie flat on your stomach.
* Try not to panic; remain as quiet as possible until the attack ends.

Bears in the northwest

According to the Parks Service at Glacier National Park (in the northwest corner of Montana)
* Talk quietly or not at all; the time to make loud noise is before you encounter a bear. Try to detour around the bear if possible.
Do not run! Back away slowly, but stop if it seems to agitate the bear. Assume a nonthreatening posture. Turn sideways, or bend at the knees to appear smaller. Use peripheral vision. Bears appear to interpret direct eye contact as threatening. Drop something (not food) to distract the bear. Keep your pack on for protection in case of an attack. If a bear attacks and you have bear spray, use it! If the bear makes contact, protect your chest and abdomen by falling to the ground on your stomach, or assuming a fetal position to reduce the severity of an attack. Cover the back of your neck with your hands. Do not move until you are certain the bear has left.

See original source here

For a video on what to do in case of a bear attack, see this page from the National Parks Service.

Check out this video for a lighthearted look at surviving a bear encounter.