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Hiking in bear country
This section of the Ursus International website is designed to provide practical information about how a group or individual can minimise any risk associated with travel in bear country.
When hiking in bear country the chances of an encounter with a bear are generally remote, but the possibility of one should never be discounted. This does not mean that hikers and campers should be paranoid, but the vigilance implied by it is the best precaution in avoiding an encounter. Recognising the potential for an encounter will inevitably form the basis of good etiquette in bear country; it will oblige taking necessary safety precautions, keeping a clean camp, and minimising the possibilities of surprising a bear.
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When setting out on a walk or a trip in the backcountry, a hiker or camper should have a can of pepper spray attached somewhere it is quickly accessible such as to a backpack waist-belt or shoulder strap. In order to be attached to anything, the pepper spray will need to have a holster. Pepper sprays without holsters, which are kept in packs are generally useless, as the type of situation they are needed in will seldom permit the time required to remove a pack and retrieve the spray. However an individual decides to carry pepper spray, the main consideration is that it should be readily accessible. For more information on pepper spray, please click here. A further safety precaution, which is easy to carry and relatively inexpensive, is a bear banger launcher. These, however, have the potential to be quite dangerous in inexperienced hands. For further information on bear banger launchers and their safe handling, please click here.
If a trail runs through woodland, or amongst rocks, or anywhere where there is not a wide, unobstructed view, the best precaution against a surprise encounter with a bear is to make noise. Periodic calling-out or shouting will advertise the presence of a person or persons, and in most cases will result in a bear leaving a particular vicinity before anyone even knows it was there. The human voice is far more effective than the oft-acclaimed "bear bells", which are a charming but quite ineffective way of announcing one's presence to any bears that might be nearby. If bells are carried, a hiker should use their voice as much as they would if they had no bell. Bells are simply not loud enough, and their sound is far gentler than it is authoritarian or threatening.
Odd though it may seem, people can feel shy or embarrassed about shouting-out in a group. The best thing is to rotate the calling throughout the group and to find something to shout that carries easily without too much effort; both these things will also prevent hoarseness and frustration at having to do all the calling. Generally, a "Hey-bear", or "Hey-ho", or Hey-yo? works well, having a sing-songish quality that makes it easy on the voice box and allows it to carry.
In the event of an encounter with a bear, there are certain standard first reactions, but it is important to be able to identify the species one is confronted by: Not all brown-coloured bears are actual "brown" bears, or grizzlies, as they may be brown, or "cinnamon-phase", black bears. If you are unsure, assume all brown-coloured bears to be grizzlies, as that will err in favour of a response that will do no harm in being applied to a black bear. To respond to a grizzly in the way one would to a black bear, could be dangerous. This is further explained on the rest of this page.
The first reaction with any species is to stop. Never run away! To run is to identify yourself as prey, and you will never outrun a bear! The bear's behaviour should prompt you as to your next action:
- If the bear is simply looking at you or moving away, or standing on its rear legs, sniffing the air, it is assessing you, and it is probably as anxious as you are, and is in a curious or investigative mode.
- If the bear is approaching you or swaying its head from side to side, and, in either case, emitting a "woofing" or grunting sound, it is in an offensive mode.
Both of these are forms of defence, but the latter is the more immediately dangerous.
Whatever the species, speak calmly to the bear, perhaps simply saying that you're not doing any harm and that you intend to move away ? the content is not important, but the tone of voice is, and that should be calm and low. From this point, there are different ways to react according to the species of bear encountered.