Bear Safety

Though it is highly unlikely that you will encounter a bear while frolicking in the woods, it is important to remember that they are there and to know how to protect yourself.

In general bears want to avoid you as much as you want to avoid them. When hiking, follow these tips to ensure your safety:

• Stay on designated trails
• Make noise—sing, talk loudly, or carry a noisemaker. Be especially careful when hiking near streams, rivers, or in strong winds when the sounds of nature may prevent bears from hearing your approach
• Use caution near natural bear foods such as berries, nut crops, and salmon-rich rivers
• Steer clear of any animal carcasses you come across as bears will defend their kills
• Keep an eye out for signs that bears are near, such as tracks or bear droppings
• Always supervise small children
• Keep dogs leashed at all times

Bears are often attracted to campsites and other places where people congregate by the smell of food—they'll investigate anything that resembles a potential meal. When you are camping or picnicking in the woods, take care to store all food items carefully and follow these rules:

• Never cook, eat, or store food in your tent
• Store food in airtight containers in bear lockers, bear canisters, the trunk of your vehicle, or suspended from a tree (at least 15 feet high and 4 feet from the tree trunk and 100 yards from your campsite)
• Store film and film canisters along with food in bear-resistant containers. Bears don't eat film, but they may associate the strong smell with humans, hence food
• Always clean fish at designated fish cleaning stations.
• Pitch your tent in the open, away from dense bush, streams, and game trails
• Leave your pack outside of your tent with the flaps open
• Dispose of dishwater and food scraps away from your campsite
• Always supervise small children
• Keep dogs leashed or inside your vehicle at all times

If you should happen to encounter a bear, experts agree that the key to survival is staying calm. Resist the instinct to turn and run. Instead, stop, face the bear, and back away slowly.  Be sure that the bear has an escape route then begin to yell and wave your arms about making yourself appear as big and scary as possible. If your bear is especially bold, it may charge. While most charges are bluffs, it is a good idea to be prepared for this possibility. If the bear does attack you, fight back with any thing you can get your hands on—a stick, a knife, or any other implement you can grab.

If a bear enters your campsite, again it try to stay calm. Do not run, make sudden movements, or chase the bear. If it is at a safe distance, calmly but quickly place any food into your vehicle. If the bear has already found your food, do not try to take it away. Instead, get into your vehicle and drive to the nearest ranger station to report he incident.