Be Bear Aware: Bear Safety

Image: Alaska Dispatch News

Be Bear Aware: Bear Safety

Do you have plans to hike in the backcountry, go camping, or visit a national or state park this summer? Well then you’re also making plans to visit bear territory. If you’re like many outdoorsy people, you hike and camp so often without any bear encounters that you take bear safety less seriously. Thankfully bear attacks are fairly rare, but it never hurts to learn as much as you can about bear safety. Black bears and grizzly bears are the most common in North America and these are the bears that we’ll cover in our bear safety guide.

Bears don’t seek out humans as prey, but rather most bear attacks are a result of a startled bear, a sow defending her cubs, or a bear that has been fed by humans searching for more food. Because grizzly bears evolved in more open, tundra environments, they are more likely to fight to protect their young, whereas black bears typically gather their young and flee. Bear safety is even more crucial in the regions grizzly bears call home. The most important bear safety tip you should follow is to never leave your food out. Keep food in a secure container and hanging high from a tree rather than laying on the ground. When hiking, make sure bears know you are present before they even see you. A startled bear is more likely to charge. Be assertive and loud when talking and don’t hesitate to yell something like, “hey bear!”

For more bear safety tips and facts, follow the bear safety guide below.

Source: Fix.com Blog