\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. Once it realizes you arent prey, it wont attack. As a whole, bear attacks are rare, but it is still important to know how to react when in the presence of a bear and what you should do if one decides to attack. Panic might be your first instinct, but you should never panic in the presence of a bear. Bear Spray is 98% effective, so using this is your best bet. Make sure to talk in a low voice to identify yourself as a human, and not a prey animal. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. 10 Best Hikes in the United States in 2022, The surprise must-have item for your winter sports adventures, Heres how to live in your car comfortably for a few weeks (or longer), Learn how to tie a bowline knot in 5 easy steps, Dont let rain and snow douse your campfire, How to keep warm while winter camping: 9 life-saving tips you need to know, How to handle bear encounters in the wild: A simple guide, Stay hydrated on the go with our water purification tips, Stay hydrated this winter with these fantastic insulated water bottles. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Whether we so choose or not, they can come to an abrupt end at any time without a second's warning. They can usually be found foraging for berries or chilling out after a long day. One study on bear attacks writes that "the bear may swat at or bite the victim, but the if. They contain capsicum which causes unpleasant effects like eye pain when it comes into contact with. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Try to keep your cool and slowly back away from the bear. 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. In the backcountry, you can take steps to avoid bear encounters. Do what you have to do to minimize or avoid an encounter. For a book like this to be of any entertainment value, it needs to feel a little more thought through and when you're describing things like knot-tying, you need to splash out on a few drawings. Fight back against attacking black bears. tobebie 2 yr. ago. Alternatively, you can make a noise by singing or playing a childrens song. They're generally bigger and more aggressive than black bears, but color alone isn't a reliable way to tell them apart. Despite their immense size, polar bears are surprisingly agile and running away might alert them to your presence (also, you can't outrun them). Shout, make yourself known, holler, talk to one another loudly, and generally make some noise. Avoid any sudden movements, and never run away, as a bear can easily outrun you. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. But there are animals in the backcountry that - if startled - will go into attack mode and can cause you serious injury or even kill you. Avoid using firearms if possible. .orange-text-color {font-weight:bold; color: #FE971E;}View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look. Maybe theyll help you scare the bear by singing along. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. With brown and grizzly bears, playing dead can help you survive an attack. So if the bear attacking you is in defense mode, playing dead is probably the right thing to do. Then get creative and build a huge sheep, parrot . They can usually be observed early in the mornings and evenings as they forage for food, but they prefer to spend the bulk of daytime resting. Instead, you should "fight back." Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. American black bears occasionally attack humans, but since they're smaller, faster and better climbers than grizzlies, they'd usually rather flee than fight. In order to keep yourself safe, you must always stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Polar bears rely heavily on sea ice for traveling, hunting, resting, mating and, in some areas, maternal dens. Now he steps up with a Survival Guide hardly trivial! Manage Settings Packed with step-by-step survival guides to some of the most remarkable scenarios imaginable. As with all bears, anticipate their presence when you're on their turf, and avoid an encounter whenever possible. Regardless, well break down everything you need to know about preventing bear attacks, scaring them off, and surviving in the event that the worst happens. However, color and size alone are not enough to distinguish black bears from brown bears. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you make yourself appear as a threat by waving your arms, shouting, and making yourself big, you should scare black bears away. If your board has been in your bag since last winter, it's probably needing a little care and attention before you hit the slopes this winter. Travel in groups. Using a firearm instead of a bear spray is more likely to result in injury to the bear or human, which is why firearms are not recommended for stopping bear attacks. One of the main reasons for bear attacks is because people often approach the bear with food. Bears can run at speeds of up to thirty miles per hour, and are triggered by movement, so its important to stay still to reduce the threat of an attack. You should also be aware of any cubs around in spring time and avoid getting between a mother bear and her cubs. Fight back. The best strategy is to stay out of the woods. But life is anything but predictable. "Keeping your distance and not surprising bears are some of the most important things you can do. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. If you have a flashlight, try shining it in the bear's eyes to scare it away. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Black bears are smaller than their grizzly cousins, usually up to about 6 feet tall. 100% Super Working Tips, Be Prepared Survival Kits: Comprehensive Guide to Emergency Preparedness, Emergency Preparedness: How to Ensure You Are Ready for Anything, Preppers Dos and Donts When Preparing for an Emergency, How to Perfectly Practice Fire-Making Skills, The Essential Guide to Survival Gear: Preparing for Any Situation. Preventing a bear from accessing your food is essential if you plan to spend time in bear country. Polar bears are found in the arctic region. That will only excite the bear further. If backing away doesn't work and the grizzly keeps approaching, be ready with your pepper spray. Last Updated: February 27, 2023 You may be interested in, How To Dispose Of Expired Bear Spray? It's rare to go into polar bear territory without a high-caliber weapon, and most Arctic guides will carry a gun with them. This is how much it actually costs to climb Mount Everest. Please try your request again later. Though less common, even black bears can attack, especially when provoked.. If you encounter a polar bear, keep these tips in mind: While black, brown and polar bears are the most well-known varieties, there are also several other types of bears spread around the world, albeit in fewer numbers and covering less area. Also, a good kick to the snout can be enough to stun the bear. Fighting back might also be necessary if you are attacked by a polar bear. come in useful. The best way to do this is to lie flat on the ground. Overnight: Order by 1 Most bears only attack when startled, and usually, this is when you catch an inquisitive bear in the act of snaffling your food. In the rare occurrence of a bear attack, follow these steps to protect yourself. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Generally if a black bear attacks, you need to fight for your life with whatever is on hand. In general, take the same precautions you would in grizzly country: Carry bear spray in areas where black bears are active, keep food and trash packed away, and make noise when. We dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout. Conflicts with North American grizzly bears have been rising in the U.S., due partly to growing grizzly and human populations, and partly to food shortages that some scientists blame on global warming. How To Survive A Bear Attack Chances of Surviving A Bear Attack. How to Survive a Bear Attack: Nonlethal Deterrents You know you should carry bear spray if you're headed into bear country. If a person is driving on open rural roads, the person driving may be able to outpace the tornado. Look after the baby Minecraft sheep, shear the dyed sheep and collect wool building blocks. Stand your ground If it doesn't notice you, slowly retreat. Most encounters with a black bear will end with the bear running away, but let's walk through a few survival strategies should the situation escalate. You're probably going to want to sit down for a few minutes anyway, but make sure you don't suddenly jump up and present the bear with another threat. When possible take a cab instead of walking at night. , Dimensions 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. If you do have bear spray, continue to spray the bear as it gets close and aim for the eyes. "While it is an exciting moment, it is important to remember that bears in national parks are wild and can be dangerous. If you don't have bear spray, play dead if you encounter a grizzly bear or brown bear. ", https://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/FSA-9087.pdf, https://blog.nwf.org/2013/12/5-myths-about-bears/, https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/bears/faqs, https://bearwise.org/bear-safety-tips/bear-encounter/, https://kjzz.com/news/utah-family-with-three-young-children-comes-face-to-face-with-black-bear-while-hiking, https://above.nasa.gov/safety/documents/Bear/bearspray_vs_bullets.pdf, https://bear.org/how-dangerous-are-bluff-charges/, https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/bearspray.htm, https://www.insider.com/what-to-do-if-you-see-a-bear-attack-2019-4, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/27/travel/animal-attack-mountain-lion-alligator.html, https://www.whsv.com/content/news/Reminder-from-wildlife-experts-If-you-see-a-bear-cub-leave-it-alone-569739941.html. This article has been viewed 586,747 times. Panda bears (also-known-as Giant Pandas) are life-threatening animals and could kill you if you approach them too close. He has enhanced our knowledge of the world with his many books on all sports trivia, unexplained mysteries, interesting stories, Hollywood secrets, the CIA, little known facts about WW I & II, the Civil War, and the Korean and Vietnam wars, inventions, many countries and states, rock and roll, the Titanic, decades of madness, famous badass figures of history, and more and more. When youre outdoors, always keep the bear spray close to you in an easily accessible area. While it can be hard to remain calm in stressful situations, you must do your best so you do not stress the bear out. Climate Change Plays Role in Annual Polar Bear Migration, 10 Extraordinary Facts About the Elusive Okapi. March 2, 2023 / 10:24 AM Please provide a valid email address to continue. In what was intended to be a somewhat serious announcement, the organisation urged people to not "push a slower friend down" in the event of crossing a bear. Wave your arms around and make noise. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. The chances of you bettering a polar bear in hand-to-paw combat are pretty slim, but if all else fails you might just have to try your luck.