Bear Country
Bears are majestic animals, and perhaps one of the greatest symbols of wilderness. While their presence remains one of the most intimidating factors on the minds of many backcountry travelers, bears typically do not pose a threat to people when left alone. In fact, the majority of bear-human interactions are the direct result of bears becoming accustomed to the presence of people in their environment and/or becoming dependent on human food. As a backcountry traveler, there are a number of actions and precautions that you can take to help minimize the chance of bear encounters and stay safe when you do encounter a bear. Recognizing the type of bear you are dealing with is the first step because your response in a bear encounter is dependent on the type of bear.
Black Bears Black bears range from five to six feet long and can weigh between 200 and 600 pounds, with males typically being larger than females. Despite their name, black bears come in a variety of colors, including blue-gray, blue-black, brown, black, and (although very rarely) white. They have small eyes (which leads to poor vision), and big, rounded ears (which leads to a fair sense of hearing), and a large nose (which leads to an exceptional sense of smell).
Like most mammals, black bears are most active at dawn and dusk, but they do move about during the day. Other than when a mother is raising cubs, black bears are most often solitary animals (and when her cubs are threatened, black bears will be very aggressive). |
Although almost all black bears hibernate between two and four months each winter (with the exception of those that reside in the Deep South) they can be aroused from their slumber quite easily and often leave their den for several hours at a time. Black bears are omnivores and eat fruit, berries, plants, insects, fish and animals. However, they are quite intelligent and opportunistic, and as a result will happily eat people food after they realize that a backcountry campsite provides tasty treats and the inhabitants of those sites aren't really much of a threat. While not known to attack people readily, they are dangerous animals that should be respected from a distance.
Grizzly Bears Grizzly bears range from six to seven feet long and can weigh between 300 and 900 pounds. Grizzly bear colors range from yellowish to dark brown or nearly black with a whitish color on the tips of the hairs, particularly on their backs, giving their hair a frosted or "grizzled" appearance. Their face is concave and they have a pronounced hump at the shoulder.
Unlike black bears, grizzlies only inhabit a small portion of the continental United States, but are much more prevalent in Alaska and parts of Canada. Their diets and feeding habits resemble those of the black bear, but they also eat a lot of salmon. While still relatively gentle creatures, grizzly bears are far more aggressive than black bears and have been known to attack and, in rare cases, kill humans. |
Know the Difference - Black Bear or Grizzly Bear
Despite what seems like obvious differences in both size and color, black bears and grizzly bears are often difficult to tell apart. This is important because, as stated above, you need to know the difference between the two species if you encounter them in the backcountry so you know how to react appropriately. And trust us - spend enough time backpacking and you will run into a bear at some point.
Remember, you cannot rely on color alone because both species may can exhibit a range of colors. And while grizzlies are typically bigger than black bears, size alone is not a good indicator of which species is which.
The most accurate indicators are the size of the shoulders, the profile of the face, and the length of the claws. The black bear lacks the pronounced shoulder hump of the grizzly, has a "straight-faced" profile, larger ears, and smaller claws. Grizzly bears, in addition to the hump on their shoulders, have a concave or "dish-faced" profile, smaller ears, and much larger claws.
Remember, you cannot rely on color alone because both species may can exhibit a range of colors. And while grizzlies are typically bigger than black bears, size alone is not a good indicator of which species is which.
The most accurate indicators are the size of the shoulders, the profile of the face, and the length of the claws. The black bear lacks the pronounced shoulder hump of the grizzly, has a "straight-faced" profile, larger ears, and smaller claws. Grizzly bears, in addition to the hump on their shoulders, have a concave or "dish-faced" profile, smaller ears, and much larger claws.
Refer to the picture on the right to help you understand the differences between grizzly bears and black bears.
Think you can tell them apart? How about testing your knowledge? The link below leads to a quiz by the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department . You'll have a chance to review before taking the quiz in case you breezed through this page (we scored a 93%; didn't read one of the questions carefully enough). Good luck! Bear Identity Test |
Bear Precautions (on the Trail and in Camp)
While most backpackers dream of seeing any type of bear from a safe and respectable distance, follow the advice below to minimize encounters. Remember, bears like traveling on the same trails that we do because they provide a much easier way to get around, and they also tend to be more daring in areas where people regularly visit.
- In bear country, it's best to travel in groups; groups are noisier and easier to detect.
- Make noise when traveling to alert any nearby bears of your presence. This can be done by occasionally clapping your hands and shouting "Hey bear," wearing bear bells on your pack (which we do not recommend as they make constant noise, and we enjoy the quiet solitude that nature has to offer), singing, or even simple conversation. Remember to make more noise when traveling near moving water and/or when it's windy (the bear might not be able to hear you over the other noise) or when walking through thick berry patches (where bears, like us, like to stop for snacks).
- Try to avoid hiking near lakes or streams at dawn or dusk, as this is when animals, including bears, are most active and seeking food and water.
- Diligently keep a clean camp, and make sure cookware and cooking utensils are cleaned and packed away. Clean up and hang all excess food and garbage.
- NEVER put any type of food or food product in your tent! This includes any items that animals may mistake for food as well, including tooth paste, medications, etc. Some backpackers even hang the clothes that they cook in with the rest of their food. We don't.
- Establish your cooking area downwind of your sleeping area so that you don't attract a hungry bear through your camp.
- Understand that bears and other animals become more daring in areas that people frequent regularly, such as campsites. Over time they become accustomed to finding food scraps left by careless hikers. Bears will seek out food wherever they can find it in lean seasons, so keeping a clean camp by practicing Leave No Trace ethics will prevent bears from becoming accustomed to humans and consequently keep backpackers safer in the backcountry.
Bear Encounters
Anytime you encounter a bear, your actions should attempt to minimize any perceived threat the bear may feel. Bear behavior is very complex and this website does not cover it adequately. However, the following points are important to remember with bear encounters.
What to Do in a Bear Encounter/Approached by a Bear
What to Do in a Bear Encounter/Approached by a Bear
- If a bear has not detected your presence, try not to let it do so at a close distance. If you can, quickly determine why type of bear you are dealing with and the circumstances surrounding the situation (are there cubs nearby, water that may muffle your presence, etc.) and slowly back away or give the bear a wide berth and go around. If the bear notices you, try and let it know that you're a human and mean it no harm. The bear may stand on its hind legs, but this is not a sign of aggression - remember, bears' eye sight is not that strong and it may just be trying to figure out what you are.
- If the bear has detected your presence, remain calm and avoid abrupt movements. Normally, bears just want to be left alone and will most likely run away when they see you. While still facing the bear, act big (but not threatening), back away slowly, and speak to the bear in a quiet, monotonous voice. Stop if any of these things appears to agitate the bear further.
- Do not look directly into the bear's eyes - this may be scene as a challenge and might even provoke the bear.
- Do not run - this may provoke the bear to chase you and they can run over 30 mph, you can't outrun them.
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What to Do if Charged by a Bear
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What to Do if Attacked by a Bear
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Bearproofing Your Camp
Ok, so there is no such thing as a "bearproof" camp in bear country. But, there are strategies to minimize odors that might attract bears and ways to set up safe storage areas for food and garbage away from your sleeping area that are inaccessible to bears and other animals. While some people may view this as a hassle and even unnecessary, remember that bears do become more habituated to people over time and learn to associate humans with easy food - this can become problematic and in some instances, problem bears must be relocated or, in extreme circumstances, even killed.
The best way to bearproof your camp is to start with a camp setup that facilitates your goal of minimizing odors and establishing a safe food storage area. Your camp set up should include a bedroom (your sleeping area) that is upwind and 300 feet apart from your kitchen and pantry (your cooking and food storage area). If possible, establish your living room (where you hang out by your camp fire) between your bedroom and kitchen - the smoke from the fire may help disguise the scents coming from your kitchen and pantry or at the very least make a bear think twice about visiting for a midnight snack.
One way to ensure safe storage of your food and garbage is bear bagging, which is a term used for hanging food. Even if there are no bears where you are backpacking, you will still want to hang your food because there are many other animals, including raccoons, opossums, coyotes, skunks, and chipmunks, that would also thoroughly enjoy your food. You may even want to speak with a ranger or another local land manager about any specific precautions you should take against the local animal populations. Many areas with significant bear problems provide permanent food-hanging stands or food containers for your use, so speak with those that know the area best for the most accurate precautions.
The best way to bearproof your camp is to start with a camp setup that facilitates your goal of minimizing odors and establishing a safe food storage area. Your camp set up should include a bedroom (your sleeping area) that is upwind and 300 feet apart from your kitchen and pantry (your cooking and food storage area). If possible, establish your living room (where you hang out by your camp fire) between your bedroom and kitchen - the smoke from the fire may help disguise the scents coming from your kitchen and pantry or at the very least make a bear think twice about visiting for a midnight snack.
One way to ensure safe storage of your food and garbage is bear bagging, which is a term used for hanging food. Even if there are no bears where you are backpacking, you will still want to hang your food because there are many other animals, including raccoons, opossums, coyotes, skunks, and chipmunks, that would also thoroughly enjoy your food. You may even want to speak with a ranger or another local land manager about any specific precautions you should take against the local animal populations. Many areas with significant bear problems provide permanent food-hanging stands or food containers for your use, so speak with those that know the area best for the most accurate precautions.
Before hanging your food, inspect your camp to make sure there aren't food scraps on the ground and double check to make sure you have not forgotten anything. Hang all your food, including pots, pans, cups, bowls, utensils, French press, toothpaste, sunscreen, bug-spray, soap, dish towels, and garbage. Some people even recommend changing out of and hanging the clothes that you cook and eat in. Find a tall tree with strong, sturdy branches 300 feet from your camp, and suspend your food and cosmetic items in your stuff sack 12 feet above the ground, 5 feet from the tree trunk, and 5 feet below the trunk that is supporting your food. The idea is to hang your food from a point where the tree can still support the weight but bears and other animals will have difficulty reaching it.
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We recommend that you set up your food storage rope as early as you can in order to make your post-dinner food-stowing as painless as possible. There are few backpacking-related things worse than looking for a sturdy tree to hang your food while the sun dips below the horizon and the temperature drops, and it's even worse if your throwing arm is less than desirable. Finally, we also recommend putting your breakfast items, such as coffee, oatmeal, fruit, etc. near the top of your stuff sack for quick access the following morning; that way you don't have to dump out and repack your entire food cache to make breakfast before hitting the trail.
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