Encounter with a Black Bear:

Black bear - Alberta

If the bear is curious or investigative;

• Stand your ground, talking calmly to the bear. If you have pepper spray, remove it from its holster and, if you have one, unclip your banger device and hold it in your hand
• If there are two or more people in your party, ease them together, slowly, so the bear sees them as a group ? this is intimidating to the bear, and it is also extremely unlikely for a group of three or more to be attacked in any case
• If the bear does not begin to move away, start moving slowly backwards, and keep your eyes on the bear, while continuing to talk calmly to it. If you can place a bear banger between you and the bear, this might be an appropriate time to do so. It is very unlikely that the bear will not leave when the banger is fired at it. It should at least leave long enough for you to retreat, though even now do not run if the bear is in view
• If you do not have a banger device, keep facing the bear until it is out of sight. Only then should you turn round. If you are not sure that the bear has moved from where you saw it, make a wide detour around the site, advertising your presence as much as possible while doing so