What To Know If You Encounter A Bear, According To An Expert

Nothing can be more startling than spotting a bear on a hiking trail or worse – in your neighborhood. While unexpected encounters can sometimes leave your heart racing, it’s important to know how to handle the situation in the safest way possible.

According to Dave Garshelis, chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Bear Specialist Group, black bears are generally non-aggressive and non-predatory. Garshelis notes that the bears seen in Southern states will be black bears, even black bears that appear brown, not brown/Grizzly bears.

“The main thing with black bears is that they are looking for a way to get out of the situation,” Garshelis explains, adding that there is often an element of nervousness to the bear. “They would like to be able to just leave.”

Whether you are nervous about bears or seeking the best ways to stay safe, Garshelis shares with Southern Living his best bear safety tips and what to know if you encounter a bear.

Two Types Of Bear Encounters

There are two types of bear encounters that occur: in suburban settings and in more natural settings, says Garshelis.

In Suburban Settings

“Black bears in suburban settings are not as nervous,” he says. “They're more habituated to people (and) some of them are conditioned to human food. They may have become accustomed to eating human sources of food – and they like our food – and so that means that they're actually attracted to the place where we're living. Those bears aren't necessarily more dangerous, but because they're comfortable around people, they would be less likely to be the ones looking for a place to leave.”

In Natural Settings

The other bear encounter scenario is one that occurs in a bear’s natural setting, like a wooded area or hiking trail.

8 Important Safety Tips When Encountering A Bear

While any type of bear encounter can be startling, Garshelis says there are eight important safety tips to remember.

5 Things You Should Not Do

1. Do not run. “Don't turn and run, because that could draw the bear's attention,” Garshelis explains. “The bear doesn't know that you're a human right away, and its instinct will be to potentially chase this thing that's running.”
2. Do not climb a tree.
3. Do not try to approach the bear.
4. Do not try to feed the bear. “Once you start and you get this habituated bear, then they're really hard to get rid of,” Garshelis says.
5. Do not try to approach bear cubs, no matter the situation.

“Say you're hiking and you don't see the mother, and you just see one cub, and it's sitting on the trail crying, and it looks weak and it looks like there is no mother around,” Garshelis proposes. “That's the situation that becomes a little bit more complex, because you feel sorry for it, and you think, ‘Oh, maybe I should take this to a rehab’ or something like that. But a lot of times, mothers will leave their cubs and go off and feed somewhere else, and the cub just waits – and that's what they're doing. They're just waiting (and) they're calling for their mom. And so (by picking up a cub) you're actually disrupting the family and secondly, you're putting yourself at risk by picking up a cub, because the mother could be just off in the brush that you can't see her, in which case she's not going to be real happy about you near her cub.”

3 Things You Should Do When Encountering A Bear

1. Do move slowly and methodically, recommends Garshellis. “Keep your eyes on (the bear) and just slowly back away very quietly,” he says. “Then the encounter is over.”
2. Do carry bear spray. While Garshelis notes that the likelihood of a black bear attacking humans is low, it can be comforting to carry bear spray, a pepper spray made specifically for bears who are acting aggressively. “Anybody that feels a little nervous around black bears can get a can of bear spray, and especially if you're out with a dog,” Garshelis says, noting that the animal-to-animal reaction between dogs and bears can initiate a bear to act more aggressively.
3. Do keep animals on a leash. “Obviously it’s more fun to see dogs running freely, but purely in terms of safety advice, they should be on a leash,” Garshelis says of exploring wooded areas and trails with pets where bear encounters are most likely.

What To Do If There Is A Bear In Your Yard

"If there is a bear in your yard and it approaches you, make yourself look big and make loud noises. Remain at a safe distance and throw rocks to make the bear feel unwelcome," advises the Virginia DWR website. In addition, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources notes that residential bear encounters can happen any time of the year.

What To Do If You Are Being Attacked By A Bear

Despite viral social media videos and news ports, both Garshelis and the National Park Service confirm that bear attacks are rare. That considered, if a bear begins to charge or initiates an attack, it is important to know how to react.

Black Bear

“If you are attacked by a black bear, DO NOT PLAY DEAD,” NPS advises on their website. “Try to escape to a secure place such as a car or building. If escape is not possible, try to fight back using any object available. Concentrate your kicks and blows on the bear's face and muzzle.”

Brown/Grizzly Bear

Reversely, if a brown/Grizzly is attacking, the smartest way to handle the situation is to play dead. “Lay flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck. Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over. Remain still until the bear leaves the area,” NPS states. “Fighting back usually increases the intensity of such attacks. However, if the attack persists, fight back vigorously. Use whatever you have at hand to hit the bear in the face.”