IF YOU SEE A BEAR AND THE BEAR IS UNAWARE OF YOUR PRESENCE

BEST GUIDE TO STAYING SAFE IN BEAR COUNTRY: It is important to learn about bear behaviour BEFORE you set out into the wild. Bears communicate through body language and vocalizations and once you understand this, you will find, that contrary to popular mythology, that bears can be quite predictable. It is important to be able to determine if the encounter is defensive or non-defensive, because it can help determine your course of action. Because they evolved in different habitats, encounters with grizzly and black bears can vary slightly.

• Stop where you are.

• Never approach a bear.

• Quietly leave the area. Respect our bears need for space and enjoy them from afar.

IF YOU MEET A BEAR AND THE BEAR IS AWARE OF YOUR PRESENCE

• Take a deep breath, calmly put your arms out by your sides (this identifies you as human).

• At this point the bear may stand on his/her hind legs in order to get a better vantage point to see if he/she is in any danger.

• This is not an aggressive display it is an attempt to survey and assess his/her surroundings.

• Never turn and run. Calmly and slowly start backing away from the bear.

• Use your voice to speak in a calm, firm manner (“it’s okay bear I am leaving”).

• Leave the area immediately.

• Most often the bear will have also left the area at this time.

IF THE BEAR APPROACHES YOU OR BEGINS TO FOLLOW YOU

Wave your arms above your head and continue to say in a calm voice, “Hey Bear.”

• If the bear continues to follow you; stand your ground, make yourself look bigger, yell at the bear and prepare to use your bear spray. The bear may stop and turn around. Back away and immediately leave the area.

• If the bear is preparing to charge ready your bear spray. https://www.scbearalliance.com/bearspray