Living safely in areas shared with bears requires understanding their behaviors and proactively implementing deterrence strategies. Bears often seek food, which can lead them into human-occupied spaces. Taking preventative measures reduces bear encounters, promoting human safety and bear conservation. This approach emphasizes coexistence through informed action and responsible practices.
What Attracts Bears
Bears possess an exceptional sense of smell, enabling them to detect food sources from significant distances. Their primary motivation for entering human-occupied areas is easily accessible food. This includes household garbage, which bears readily identify as a calorie-rich reward.
Many other items found around homes or campsites can act as strong attractants. Pet food left outdoors, birdseed in feeders, and ripening or fallen fruit from trees can draw bears in. The scent of cooking, particularly from barbecues with residual grease, is also highly appealing. Bears are opportunistic omnivores and will investigate anything with an unusual odor, including toiletries, scented candles, or certain petroleum products.
Keeping Bears Away From Your Property
Minimizing attractants on your property is the most effective way to deter bears. Store all garbage in bear-resistant containers with tight-fitting lids, placing it out only on collection morning. Ideally, store garbage indoors in a house, shed, or garage. Regularly clean garbage cans with disinfectant to reduce lingering odors.
Outdoor food sources like pet food and bird feeders should be secured or removed. Feed pets indoors. Bird feeders should be taken down during non-winter months or hung at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet away from any climbable structure. For homes with fruit trees or gardens, promptly harvest ripe produce and remove any fallen fruit. Thoroughly clean barbecue grills after each use, disposing of grease, and store them in a secure building when not in use to prevent bears from being drawn to the scent. For higher-risk situations like chicken coops or beehives, electric fencing provides an effective barrier.
Bear Safety in the Outdoors
When in bear country, proactive measures significantly reduce encounter risk. Make noise while hiking (talking, singing, clapping) to alert bears and give them time to move away. Travel in groups; larger groups are less likely to be perceived as prey. Avoid hiking at dawn or dusk, when bears are most active, to lower the chance of unexpected encounters.
Carry bear spray and know how to use it; it is a primary safety tool for outdoor enthusiasts. Keep bear spray readily accessible, not buried in a backpack, and practice deploying it for emergencies. Proper food storage is also important in wilderness. Store all food, trash, and scented items (like toiletries) in approved bear-resistant canisters, hung from a tree at least 10 feet off the ground and 10 feet from the trunk, or secured in a locked vehicle. Cook downwind and a safe distance from sleeping areas to prevent attracting bears to the campsite.
Responding to a Bear Encounter
If a bear is encountered, remain calm. Identify the bear species, as appropriate reactions differ. If a bear notices you but isn’t approaching, speak calmly, wave your arms to appear larger, and identify yourself as human. Avoid direct eye contact, which bears might perceive as a challenge. Never run, as this can trigger a chase response.
If a black bear approaches or charges, stand your ground, appear as large as possible, and yell loudly. If a black bear makes contact or attacks, fight back aggressively with anything available. For a brown or grizzly bear that charges or makes contact, play dead: lie flat on your stomach, cover your neck, and spread your legs to make rolling over difficult. Remain still until the bear leaves, as moving too soon might provoke another attack. However, if a grizzly bear attack persists or shows predatory behavior (stalking with no signs of stress), fight back with all available means.