For many backpackers, bears are at the top of their mind while they’re in the wilderness. Bears are the animals that we want to see the most while we’re backpacking, but they’re also the animals that we’re most afraid of. Bears are big, strong, smart, incredibly fast, and they have an excellent sense of smell. They also generally want absolutely nothing to do with humans. Bear attacks do happen, but the likelihood of a bear attacking is incredibly small. Since the year 2000, an average of less than 3 people per year have been killed by bears in North America. So, to say that you’re more likely to die in a car accident on the way to the trailhead would be an extreme understatement. You’re about 10 times more likely to die from a dog attack than a bear attack. You’re about 12 times more likely to die from a bee sting than a bear attack. Even though the danger of a bear attack is very low, you should always be prepared for bear encounters and know how to properly handle the situation. The most important consideration when camping in areas where bears live is to never allow bears to get into your food. If a bear gets food from humans it can affect its natural foraging instincts and the bear may start to associate humans with food. So don’t ever let a bear get an easy meal! Know how to store your food properly or don’t go into the backcountry. It’s just that simple. Bears can often be found where the food is. They frequent berry patches, areas with acorns and other nuts, streams filled with spawning fish, and they sometimes feed off of dead animal carcasses. If you see a bear in the wild, the most important thing to remember is to stay calm and don’t run. Running away from predatory animals can trigger their chase instincts and bears can run much faster than you. So never run. You’ll also want to be able to quickly identify the type of bear that you’ve encountered. In North America, grizzly bears are most commonly found in Canada and Alaska. The best way to quickly distinguish between a black bear and a grizzly bear is the distinctive shoulder hump that grizzlies have and black bears do not. Even if the bear is acting aggressively, by slapping the ground, huffing with its mouth, or making short lunges forward, it’s very unlikely that it will attack. It’s more likely that it is nervous and is trying to scare you. Grizzly attacks generally happen suddenly when a bear is surprised and feels threatened, especially when people get between a mother bear and her cubs. For that reason, experts say that, if you get attacked by a grizzly, the best course of action is to show them that you’re not a threat. Lie on your stomach with your pack on and cover your neck and head. Once the bear doesn’t feel in danger anymore, it will likely leave you alone. In incredibly rare circumstances, bears may make predatory attacks. If you ever see a bear (or any animal) that appears to be stalking you, arm yourself and be prepared to fight back. If you are ever attacked by a black bear, consider it a predatory attack. Use any weapon that you can get your hands on and fight back with everything you have. Another protection option that experts recommend, especially in grizzly country, is bear spray. Bear spray is like a stronger version of pepper spray that will irritate the nose, eyes, throat, mouth, and lungs of a bear. It can be shot in the face of a charging animal to avoid an attack. If you choose to bring bear spray, you’ll want to keep it on your belt in an easily accessible location. To avoid bear encounters altogether, the most important thing is to make sure that a bear can hear you coming. That will give them an opportunity to leave the area before you get there. The main thing you want to avoid is surprising a bear at close range and making them feel threatened. Also, if you’re in bear country, it’s generally a good idea to cook your dinner away from the spot that you’ll be pitching your shelter. It’s easy to get frightened about bear encounters in the wilderness, but you have to remember the facts. It’s very unlikely that you’ll even see bears in the wilderness and extremely unlikely that you’ll ever be attacked by one. So take the proper precautions, know what to do if you see a bear in the wild, and enjoy the safety of the trail.

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