Bears Are Everywhere

Recently, I have been fielding a lot of questions from people in various states of anxiety over the recent bear attacks at both Glacier and Yellowstone. Which is, in weird a way, kind of helpful for me. Because while I am also nervous about the possibility of a bear attack, fielding others’ questions does help me remind myself about the known bear safety tips that can prevent an attack and save my life. And one thing’s for sure: we saw a lot of bears in our time at Yellowstone, although we have yet to see any at Glacier. We also learned enough about bear safety for me to feel comfortable with a certain level of risk. So although I may seem unaffected or cavalier in the face of questions from friends and family, I am motivated more by the wish not to panic and to dispel misinformation by spreading accurate facts. So here are a few, in no particular order:

Bear in mind that bears don’t really want to encounter us. This is pretty much true for all wildlife, and we should take some care to keep it that way. In my opinion, the best thing we can do when we are lucky enough to see wild animals on the trail is to keep our distance and make noise to frighten them away if they seem apt to approach us. This is actually not for our own safety, but for theirs. Wildlife that remains avoidant of human contact is much less likely to be shot, poisoned, or run over by us. Let’s appreciate each other from afar. If you have the option and have not come upon an animal by surprise, rangers will recommend that you stay at least 100 yards (about the length of a football field or 7-8 school buses) away from bears, wolves, or mountain lions, and 25 yards away from all other wildlife.

Bears are more active as they are coming out of hibernation in the spring, and before they go into hibernation in the fall. Bears are, understandably, super hungry when they come out of hibernation, having lost between 20 – 40% of their body weight over the winter. And as autumn approaches, they experience a phase known as hyperphagia, where they can eat up to 90 pounds of food daily, as they try to bulk up in preparation for hibernation. So spring and fall are riskier times in the year for any bear–whether black bear or grizzly–to be looking for food. However, it’s worth knowing that bears are typically not looking at humans as food. Grizzly bears, in particular, have been less habituated to see humans as a food source, as they primarily try to stay away from people. Black bears may be more curious and are the typical culprits known for raiding campsites and garbage cans, and this makes it more likely that they will be curious about whether humans they encounter might have food on them. Unfortunately, once a bear has been conditioned to seek food from humans, it has to be put down, which rangers actually do on a regular basis without informing the general public. What You Can Do: don’t carry food that can be smelled by bears (package any food securely), keep food out of tents by using a bear box (if available) or by hanging your food from a tree.

Grizzlies are most active at dawn or dusk. So hiking during the day is the safest option if you don’t want to encounter a grizzly bear. Brown or black bears are less predictable in this respect, as they are often foraging for berries or other edibles during the day. So stay alert, and keep an eye out for features such as berry bushes that might prove interesting to a bear, or a fresh carcass or scat that might indicate recent bear activity.

Bears don’t like to be surprised. Staying alert will also help you avoid coming upon a bear accidentally. Rangers recommend making noise, whether by conversing with others in your hiking party, yelling “Hey bear!” or even just “Yo!” periodically while hiking. Rangers also recommend hiking in groups of three or more people. Even a bear that is startled and feeling defensive is less likely to approach a group of people where it could potentially be outnumbered. In any case, if you surprise a bear–particularly a mother bear with her cubs–it will view you as a threat and is much more likely to become aggressive and defend its territory. Which leads to my final point:

Carry bear spray and know how to use it! This is stressed by all park rangers, as bear spray is really your best line of defense. Bear spray is sold readily at all national park visitor centers, where rangers will talk with you and demonstrate how to use it correctly. If you’re on a budget, you can rent bear spray and return it when you leave the park. Be aware that bear spray has an expiration date, which is typically a couple years past its date of manufacture. For the cynical: this is not just a marketing ploy. Bear spray and its propellant tend to degrade in response to both extreme heat and cold, and the propellant dissipates slightly over time. So you want to make sure not to store it in a super-hot vehicle, or leave it in an unheated garage over the winter. When in doubt, buy more bear spray! And as a corollary to this: Talk with park rangers before you head out on a trail! Rangers will know the latest conditions and areas where bears are being reported, and will be able to make recommendations that can help you stay safe. They will often close some areas of the park to hikers because of bear activity in these areas. They will typically post signs in these areas and/or have personnel patrolling them to inform visitors of the increased danger. They can also give you a little information about what constitutes normal bear behavior, so that you don’t have to feel like you need to use your bear spray the minute you see a bear.

I thought bear spray was my final point, but now I see there’s one more: Talking about the potential for a bear attack doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. In fact, bear attacks are quite rare: the last fatal attack at Glacier, prior to last week, was in 1998. And acknowledging the potential for danger does not make the danger a certainty. It means that there is risk in a situation. And with risk, we always have some options. Some will decide that they don’t want to assume any risk of encountering a bear. So they might not hike at all. Some will feel that it’s safe to hike on trails they’re familiar with, or in groups. And, of course, some will feel safe hiking alone. That’s beyond my personal risk tolerance, but not everyone’s! Many people are more experienced hikers than I am, and feel that they understand the risks better than I do. And one way to stay safe is to become more knowledgeable and informed about every aspect of the risk you are taking. So take some time to learn more about the hazards posed by bears; there are lots of books and websites with accurate information about bear safety. And talk with both the experts and the members of your hiking party. In the end, it’s worth checking in with yourself about your own anxiety level and tolerance for risk. And whatever that is, make peace with yourself. Hiking is not supposed to be a white-knuckle event. I hope that the wilderness, however you encounter it, will provide you with opportunities for joy! So have fun out there and Stay Safe!