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Home > Programs and Policy > Wildlife Conservation > Conservation Solutions > Coexisting with Carnivores > In Your Neighborhood > Encountering Wildlife

What to Do if You Encounter a Bear

While most of us will never encounter a bear, it's still a good idea to know what to do in case you do. If you live or travel in areas where bears may be present, it’s best to be 100 percent prepared at all times.

  • Report all bear sightings and incidents on your property to your local wildlife agency. It’s important for local wildlife managers to know if bears are frequenting neighborhoods and potentially becoming conditioned to humans or habituated to receiving food rewards.
  • © Joel Sartore, NGS
    Keep bear spray handy. Always have a canister of bear spray (at least 8oz.). If you live in areas with bears, you should keep a canister on your belt and in strategic locations like your garden, trash storage areas and near the front and back doors of your house. Make sure it is an Environmental Protection Agency-registered bear spray with one- to- two percent capsaicin and related capsaicinoids, a spray duration of at least six seconds and a range of 25 feet.
  • Learn how to use bear spray by buying an extra one to test in a safe location. Familiarize yourself with the directions for using the spray and don’t use bear spray like insect repellant.
  • If confronted with a charging bear, spray the bear’s face. The mucous membranes—eyes, nose and lungs—are the only parts of the bear that are sensitive to bear spray. After spraying the bear, immediately move to safety even if you’ve been hit by the bear spray. A bear incapacitated by bear spray believes it is fighting for its life and is extremely dangerous.

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How to react if you encounter a bear

  • If you unexpectedly encounter a bear and it does not see you, slowly and quietly retreat to safety. If the bear sees you, remain calm and don’t run. Avoid eye contact and identify yourself as a human by speaking calmly and waving your arms. Then, slowly retreat to safety inside a secure building or vehicle. Bears can be strong climbers so you should only climb a tree if it your only option.
  • © Minden Pictures
    If you surprise the bear and it charges, hold your ground. Scared or frightened bears may “bluff charge"—charging and then retreating without hurting you—in an attempt to neutralize a perceived threat. Stand your ground initially and slowly retreat as soon as you can. If you have bear spray, attempt to spray the bear in the face. If you have a walking stick – point it at the bear. Often a bear will strike at the stick and then retreat without touching you.
  • If the bear has cubs, do not retreat in their direction. Keep alert of the cubs because older cubs may charge you as well. Do not appear aggressive if there are cubs in the area. Retreat as soon as possible in the opposite direction of the cubs.

If a bear makes contact

  • If the bear makes contact with you, you have two options: lay face down or choose to fight. If the bear is in a defensive attack, it is best to play dead and not fight back. If it is a predatory attack (and there are ways to distinguish the two) then fight back aggressively.
  • Defensive Attack: If you surprise a bear at close range and it views you as a threat to its cubs, food or itself, you will likely provoke a defensive – not predatory – attack. In this situation, you want to appear as unthreatening as possible. Back off, talk softly, bear the brunt of a charge (bluff or otherwise) and play dead. Lie face down and clasp your hands over the back of your neck with your legs spread slightly so it is more difficult for the bear to roll you over. If a bear rolls you over, take measures to roll over again to lie face down.
  • Predatory: If a bear is stalking and exhibiting predatory behavior, react aggressively. Target the bear’s most vulnerable locations by punching its nose or poking it in the eye with your finger. Use bear spray even if the bear is on you. If you cannot spray it in the bear’s face, spray it anywhere.

Safety measures for living or traveling in areas with bears

  • Make loud noises while walking along the trail.
  • Do not feed or approach bears.
  • If you hear a bear grunting or snapping its jaws, retreat immediately. It is trying to tell you there is something it is willing to defend such as cubs or a dead animal.
  • Always carry bear spray.
  • Walk in a group whenever possible.
  • Place dogs on a leash. A free roaming dog may bring a bear to you.
  • Be aware of your surroundings. Avoid game trails, especially those with bear tracks or scat. Avoid streams with spawning salmon or areas showing extensive digging by bears for roots or ground squirrels and areas with lots of wild berries.
  • Avoid dense brush as bears, particularly sows with cubs, often retreat to dense brush during the heat of the day.
  • Never approach a dead animal or carcass smell. Stay away from areas where scavenging birds such as ravens, crows or vultures are hovering. Immediately retreat the way you came.
  • Before heading out on a hike or camping trip, check with authorities about bear alerts or warnings and avoid areas with reported bear activity.