What to do if a black bear approaches you?

Alter your route or back away slowly, preferably in the direction you came. Walk, do not run, and keep your eye on the bear so you can see how it reacts. In most cases, the bear will flee. If the bear walks toward you, act boldly, yelling and throwing something at it.

What to do if a black bear is coming towards you?

Back away when possible. If attacked, immediately fight back. DON'T feed bears. A word about bear spray: Bear spray (pepper spray specifically made as a bear deterrent) can be an effective tool if you encounter an aggressive bear.

Will a black bear attack you for no reason?

Stay calm and remember that most bears do not want to attack you; they usually just want to be left alone. Bears may bluff their way out of an encounter by charging and then turning away at the last second.

How do you scare a black bear away?

To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans or using an airhorn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.

How aggressive are black bears?

Black bears are dangerous wild animals that can act aggressively when threatened; yet there are a very low number of fatal bear attacks yearly. There is an average of one fatal black bear attack in North America every year, according to AZ Animals, which lists a total of 16 fatal attacks since 2010.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ENCOUNTER A BLACK BEAR !!!

What months are black bears most aggressive?

7 ) Be extra careful in August, when hungry bears are filling up with high-energy foods in preparation for winter denning. Fatal attacks most often occur in this month.

What are black bears weaknesses?

Predation: The stocky body that gives black bears strength and minimizes heat loss makes them a poor predator. The stocky, insulated body makes them overheat during chases and gives them poor turning ability. They cannot match the agility of specialized predators or potential prey.

Should you look a bear in the eyes?

Here's what the experts say:

Avoid direct eye contact. Walk away slowly, if the bear is not approaching. If the bear charges, stand your ground (you cannot outrun it). Don't scream or yell.

What attracts a black bear?

Bears are attracted to garbage, pet food, compost piles, fruit trees, and birdfeeders. Make your place a "No-Bear-Food-Zone"! NEVER feed bears, intentionally or accidentally! Remove birdfeeders and bird food from late March through November.

How far should you stay away from a black bear?

Know how to respond to a black bear

If you do find yourself too close to a black bear and it either hasn't seen you or doesn't seem interested, keep your distance—300 feet if possible—and cautiously vacate the area.

How likely is a black bear to attack you?

Fatal black bear attacks on humans are so rare -- more so than any other species of bear -- that they occur on average of once per year across North America, Garshelis said. In addition, about one black bear out of 1 million will attack a human in a predatory manner, Rogers said.

Which bear do you yell at?

Intimidate the black bear by making yourself look bigger and making noise (wave arms, shout, clap, bang stick). Prepare to fight or use bear spray.

How fast can a black bear run?

Running Speed: Lean bears can exceed 30 mph. Can run uphill, downhill, or on level ground. Fat bears in winter coats overheat and tire quickly.

Should you scream at a black bear?

Make as much noise as possible by yelling, banging pots and pans or using other noisemaking devices. If the bear approaches and you have bear spray, spray the bear as he approaches. In the very rare case that a black bear does attack you, fight back (don't play dead).

Should I yell at a black bear?

Stand tall and look it directly in the eye. Yell at the bear and firmly tell it to leave: “Get out of here, bear!” Keep a can of bear spray ready (with the safety removed) in case the bear approaches too closely. For more information on how to deter black bears, click here. Never try to move a grizzly bear!

How can you tell if a black bear is near you?

What time are black bears most active?

Bear Behavior

Bears are most active during early morning and late evening hours in spring and summer. Mating usually takes place in July. Both female and male bears may have more than one mate during the summer. Bears choose a denning site with the coming of cold weather.

What smells do black bears not like?

Some people spread cayenne pepper in and around their camps, believing that the irritants in the pepper will annoy bears that sniff it. Some people place cups of household ammonia around their site. Apparently the odor irritates a bear sufficiently to keep it out of your site. This technique seems to work well.

Are black bears ever friendly?

Black bears, for instance, are usually less aggressive and more tolerant of people. They often live near human settlements, whereas grizzly bears prefer to stay away from human settlements and are often extirpated from heavily used or populated areas.

Should you whistle at a bear?

The National Park Service does not recommend that you whistle, use a whistle or scream⁠—these noises can sound like an animal in pain, which may actually attract a bear.

What color do bears not like?

What color do bears not like? Colorless green ideas sleep furiously. Black bears are fast learners when it comes to finding food. If a bear has found food in a yellow tent it will associate that color with food.

Should you hit a bear in the nose?

And while it's not a sure thing, punching or hitting the bear is certainly going to help you fight it off. Go ahead and clock it in the nose if you need to [source: NPS]. Of course, the animal that's really going to be useful to punch is one that has a crazy sensitive snout.

Can humans fight off black bears?

Unless the bear is acting predatory, do not fight it. This can cause the bear to act more aggressively toward you and trigger an attack. If you surprise a bear, slowly and calmly back away while avoiding direct eye contact—the bear may see this as an aggressive or challenging behavior.

What is a black bears biggest threat?

Habitat loss is the biggest threat to all three types of bears in the United States. At the same time, conservation measures and changes in land use have started to allow brown and black bear populations to rebound in certain areas.

What animal kills black bears?

Humans, mountain lions, wolves and brown bears are the only predators of American black bears. Lean bears are fast.