Q&A for How to Escape from a Bear

Bear attacks on humans are very rare, and most bears prefer to avoid people entirely. In fact, there’s only been one recorded case of a fatal bear attack in New Jersey. In that situation, a group of five people ran in different directions when they saw the bear, which triggered its instinct to chase. This shows why it’s so important not to run if you encounter a bear. To keep bears away in the first place, make sure they know you’re there. Bears don’t like surprises, so making noise as you move through an area can help. If you’re hiking alone, you might be quieter than you think. Every few minutes, clap your hands or call out something like “Hey, bear!” to alert any nearby wildlife to your presence. If you’re with a group, your conversation is usually enough to warn them off.

If you see a bear cub, your best option is to get in a safe distance from it. Go around it, or just change direction. Never try to approach a cub, as the mother will probably be around to protect it.

The bear may assume you have more food and continue to follow you. Giving them food is generally not a good idea.

Crawling away is a bad idea. Instead, walk away slowly but don't turn your back on the bear.

If you stare a bear in the eyes, the bear will see it as a challenge for dominance, territory, food, or anything else that is concerned. Bears will always want to defend there dominance or territory, and will therefore act with aggression. So you can look at the bear, just not in his eyes.

It has occurred, but it's rare. If you have a particularly interesting scent from a deodorant or perfume on you, it might create curiosity in the bear. If you're in the tent with no food, and you are attacked, then the bear probably is seeing you as a food source and you'd better fight back as best you can. You should always have bear pepper spray with you.

Yes, an air horn will almost certainly scare away a bear.

A bear that is not after you to be its next meal, may feel you are a threat to itself, its cubs or to its food (such as a carcass that you've gotten too close to). If you seem to be dead, you no longer seem to be a threat. An agitated grizzly may nudge, scratch or nibble at you to make sure you are still no longer a threat. If they begin licking your wounds, you have become food - now you need to go to other tactics.

As the article said earlier, it may be a bluff charge and the animal may just want to see if you will cower or stand your ground. If you stand your ground and don't show fear it will likely not see you as easy prey. Remember to not show fear no matter how scared you actually may be. If you panic, it may give the bear an advantage

Make sure you know the species of the bear first. Do not show fear, as chances are the bear is faking a charge. Know the behavior of the bear-- if its ears are pinned back and its hair is raised or is baring teeth, this indicates that it is in defensive or aggressive behavior, but if it approaches slowly and its ears are perked up and it seems to sniff around, it is determining whether you are a threat or not. In this state, it is wise to back away slowly while talking to the bear calmly and slowly. Do not turn your back on the bear, as you are more vulnerable this way.

It takes about an hour to eat a meal for a bear. If you need to time a bear's being out of your area while it is eating, allow for less time, just in case and be quiet and stay downwind.

If you miss, the bear may see you as even more of a threat and act in self-defense. In that case, play dead or try to hit it on the face. Now, if you kill the bear, you may be banned from the area, and/or end up in court for poaching.

It's better to talk to the bear calmly without fear to show that you're neither prey nor a threat.

True, but you would look more 'dead' to the bear, as opposed to a fetal position.

Keep in mind many animals can sense fear. If you see one, stay calm and keep moving, and try to ignore it until you are at your camp or some other safe area. Remember not to run.

Absolutely not. Bears have an incredible sense of smell, and they will track your scent in the air. Just make yourself look as big as you can. Make loud noises as well. Don't run from a bear, at least not in sight of it -- it will chase after you. Back away slowly until you cannot see the bear anymore. Then run.

Unless you have a ton of it, and you're throwing your entire body over it to pop large swathes, bubble wrap doesn't make a terrific amount of noise. You'd be better off with pots and pans, or an airhorn.

You should make determining the species of the bear your first resort. Knowing the bear may help you determine it's behavior. If the bear is stalking you, it sees you as prey. Turn around and face the bear. Let it know that you mean no harm and back away slowly.

It depends on the species you are fleeing. Some bears are good climbers, so do your research on the bears in your area before going hiking.

Black bears are not prone to attacking humans unless they feel threatened, and in most cases, it is possible to scare the bear off by making noise and making yourself appear big. If you play dead, the bear may approach you out of curiosity or no longer consider you a threat.

Firstly, don't throw something at it unless necessary (i.e., the bear is attacking you or someone else). However if a bear IS attacking you, and you do throw something at it, which makes it even angrier, your only hope is to hurt it enough to get it away from you. Another possible option is playing dead.

Never look a bear in the eye. It will see it as a challenge for dominance, and this applies to all bears.

Gnashing your teeth gives them the impression that you are challenging them over their territory, so it could cause them to become more aggressive with you. It definitely would not scare a bear off.

Make as much noise as the group can. It is very rare for a bear to attack a group.

The bear will see you as dangerous, and will attack you.

It's because most predators (unless they are scavengers) won't really eat a non-fresh carcass.

If you feed bears, then they will begin to see you (and other people) as an easy food source, thus causing them to lose their fear of humans. When bears don't fear humans, they are much more likely to come into human-populated areas and potentially hurt people.

Yes and no. Black bears tend to be active at any time of day and night, but brown bears are usually more active during the day.

It depends on the type of bear, but black bears will almost certainly be intimidated by a large group of people, as will grizzlies (most often).

It depends on how strong your wall, window and door are. A brick wall with a bolted, reinforced door will definitely stop a bear. But wooden doors and walls may not resist a bear's strength for very long. So yes, a bear could break your door or window if it wanted to.