When humans and bears coexist in shared environments, prevention strategies are important for the safety of both people and wildlife. Bears are naturally curious and possess highly developed senses, leading them into human-populated areas. Minimizing potential conflicts protects human communities and supports bear populations, allowing for responsible interaction in shared natural spaces.
Managing Attractants
Bears are frequently drawn to human areas by food and scented items, primarily due to their exceptional sense of smell. A bear’s sense of smell is significantly more acute than a human’s, estimated to be between 2,100 to 3,000 times better, allowing them to detect scents from considerable distances. Human food presents an easy and attractive energy source. Once bears obtain human food, they quickly learn and remember these sources, leading to repeated visits and habituation. This learned behavior can result in bears losing their natural wariness of humans, increasing the likelihood of encounters.
Securing all potential attractants is important to prevent such occurrences. In campsites, food, garbage, and scented items like toiletries should be stored in bear-resistant containers or hung from trees at least 10 to 15 feet high and four feet out from the trunk. Bear-resistant containers are often required in many national parks. These containers must be kept closed and locked, even when in use, and placed at least 100 feet from sleeping areas.
At home or in vehicles, store food out of sight in a locked car with windows closed. Remove all food wrappers, crumbs, and even canned goods from vehicles, as bears consider anything with a scent to be food. Manage household garbage by using bear-resistant trash cans or storing bins indoors until collection day. Regularly cleaning barbecue grills and composting properly are additional steps that reduce tempting odors for bears.
Practicing Safe Behavior
Adopting cautious behaviors can reduce the chances of a bear encounter. When hiking, making noise by talking, singing, or clapping helps alert bears to human presence, preventing accidental surprise encounters. Bears prefer to avoid humans and will move away if they hear people approaching. Hiking in groups can also increase safety, as groups are noisier.
Staying aware of surroundings is important, especially in areas with dense vegetation, near noisy streams, or around blind corners where visibility is limited. Avoiding hiking at dawn or dusk, when bears are most active, reduces encounter risks. It is important to keep pets leashed at all times, as unleashed dogs can provoke defensive reactions from bears.
Approaching or feeding bears is discouraged, as this can lead to bears associating humans with food, making them bolder and more dangerous. If a bear is seen from a distance, calmly backing away and giving the animal space is recommended. Never run from a bear, as this can trigger a chase response.
Utilizing Deterrent Measures
Specific tools and techniques can deter bears, particularly if an encounter escalates. Bear spray is a recommended deterrent, proven effective in stopping aggressive behavior. This product contains active ingredients called capsaicin and related capsaicinoids, which irritate a bear’s eyes, nose, and respiratory system. When deployed, bear spray creates a cone-shaped cloud, reaching a charging bear from a distance of 25 feet or more.
Proper usage involves holding the canister with both hands, aiming slightly downward towards the bear’s face, and releasing a short burst of spray for two to three seconds. Carry bear spray in an easily accessible location, like a holster, rather than inside a backpack. While effective, bear spray is a tool for last resort and should not be used as a general repellent or sprayed on tents or equipment.
Other deterrents include air horns and electric fencing. Air horns can startle bears and alert them to human presence, especially from a distance. Electric fencing offers a physical and psychological barrier, effective in protecting specific properties like beehives, chicken coops, or campsites. These fences deliver a shock upon contact, teaching bears to avoid the area. For optimal effectiveness, electric fences often require a minimum of 5,000-7,000 volts and can be baited with strong-smelling attractants to encourage bears to touch the wire with their sensitive noses.