Be(ar) Aware!!!

Please read this sign carefully. It's for your own safety!

So, I have a totally irrational fear of bears. Not sure why. Last summer I had to confront my fear while serving as the 2nd Counselor in Young Women. I did a lot of research to try to ease my mind and educate myself and the young women so we would be safe at camp. I'm happy to say we had a successful girls camp with no bear encounters. Well, no real bears. (Who knew you could make realistic bear sounds with an empty can and a wet shoelace?) I thought I would pass on my bear safety facts and tips to you all.

I also purchased some bear spray.


Note: Where I live, there are only black bears, so most of this info only applies to black bears. Grizzly bears have a whole different set of rules.

General Black Bear Facts:
Black bears are generally shy, solitary animals. They try to avoid humans and are considered non-aggressive except when injured, protecting their young, or protecting themselves. The black bear is inclined to escape for human presence.

Bears are most active in the cool of the evening or early morning. Dawn and dusk. During the heat of the day, they will seek shade in dense underbrush.

Black bears are not always black in color. They vary in color from white through chocolate brown, cinnamon brown, and blonde to black, but most are black or a dark shade of brown.

Each bear has a different temperament sort of like humans. Some bears will attack, others will not.

Black bears are carnivores, however they act like omnivores, with only one quarter of their diet being meat. They mostly eat plants and other vegetable matter.

Black bears can run about 35 miles per hour.

For every death caused by a black bear in America, there are 17 deaths from spiders, 25 deaths from snakes, 67 deaths from dogs, 150 deaths from tornadoes, 180 deaths from bees, 374 deaths from lightning. You are more likely to get struck by lightning or killed by a bee sting than being attacked by a bear. (This does make me feel better about bears...but now I need to be afraid of spiders, snakes, dogs, tornadoes, bees and lightning. Actually, I'm not really afraid of any of those things.)

How to keep bears from campsite:
Do not leave food, garbage or any scented items out at the campsite. This includes any and all food, food wrappers, juice, pop, soap, feminine products, gum, deodorant, shampoo, lotion, sunscreen, lipgloss, chapstick, toothpaste, hairspray, perfume. Bears are attracted to smells and will taste anything even if it is unedible.

Do not keep snacks in your tent. Not even gum.

Do not eat anything in your tent.

All garbage must be kept together and stored away from tents.

What to do if a bear enters our campsite:

Never feed the bear!!!

Never try to get food away from a bear.

Try to scare them away by making loud, deep noises, or banging pots and pans.

If a bear tries to rip through your tent, talk in loud and deep tones, try “There is a bear in my tent. I am now leaving.” :) Make sure others are aware of your situation. Do not turn your back to the bear. Do not run away. Try to make yourself as large as possible. Stand together in a group.

How to avoid bear encounters when hiking:
Be loud. Sing, talk continuously and loudly and make unnatural noises. This will alert bears that we are near and will scare them away.

Do not whistle, this may sound like an animal noise.

Do not spend time near bears food sources like animal carcasses, berry patches and fish streams.
At night, always carry a flashlight.

Stay together. Do not get separated from the group.

If you do see a bear, do not panic or scream.
Stand close together.
Make loud noises.
Do not make eye contact with a bear.
Do not turn your back or run away.
Do not climb a tree. Black bears are good climbers.

Never try to get a closer look.
Never approach a bear.
Never corner a bear. Always leave an escape route for the bear.

Bears do not like surprises. If you see a bear that has not seen you, do not disturb it. Retreat slowly and quietly. When you are far away from the bear, begin talking loudly to prevent future encounters.

If the bear sees you, remain calm, and try to look as large as possible.

If the bear is not aggressive, talk softly and back away slowly. If a bear rears up on its hind legs and waves its nose in the air, it is trying to identify you. This may seem intimidating, but do not panic. This is a gesture of curiosity and is a bears way of getting a better look at you. Keep still and speak softly. It doesn’t matter what you say, try “Go away bear”.

Signs of an aggressive bear are, snapping its jaws together, making a whoofing sound, or keeping its head down with ears laid back. If the bear begins to approach, this is a good time to throw a large rock or stick toward the bear.

If the bear charges at you, muster all your courage and stay standing. Do not crouch down, play dead, or show fear. The charge is most likely a bluff and if you stand your ground the bear will turn away.

If a bear attacks you:
If you find yourself being attacked by a black bear, do not play dead. Black bears eat dead animals. Your only option is to fight back. Yell loudly, hit the bear with rocks, fists, anything handy, really. You can punch the bear in the nose, try to poke his eyeballs out with your thumbs. A blind bear cannot attack you. The bear most likely does not want to eat you. It may be wounded, or immature and may be easily scared if you fight back.


Hopefully no one will actually need these tips, but it's better to be informed. Leave me a comment and tell me what you are afraid of.