Can I scare off a black bear?
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.
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.
Slowly wave your arms above your head and tell the bear to back off. Do NOT run or make any sudden movements. Do not make any loud noises or screams—the bear may think it's the sound of a prey animal. Hike and travel in groups.
- Stand your ground.
- If it doesn't notice you, slowly retreat.
- Never Run – It can trigger an attack.
- Don't climb a tree – black bears can climb trees really well.
- Don't make eye contact – they may see it as a threat.
- Use bear spray to ward off the attack if it gets close.
Black bears are mostly afraid they will be attacked. If a person doesn't want a black bear to come closer, act aggressively. Black bears that come into campgrounds are looking for food, not people, and can easily be chased away in most cases.
Some sources recommend ammonia-filled balloons covered with honey or peanut butter as a deterrent; theoretically when the bear tries to bite the balloon, it gets a face full of ammonia instead of a treat. But an eyeful of ammonia or bleach is more than a deterrent – it can seriously injure or blind a bear.
If you encounter a black bear, do not make eye contact. If you make eye contact, black bears will take this as an act of aggression.
Bears are attracted to anything that smells; it doesn't even need to smell good. Garbage, compost piles, dirty diapers, pizza boxes, empty beverage cans…to a hungry black bear, it all smells like something good to eat.
Black bears: Black bears in North America are smaller than grizzly bears and are considered to be less dangerous to humans, though they are still powerful predators that should not be interfered with. A black bear meeting may point to a protective presence in your life.
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.
What triggers a bear to attack?
Most bear attacks result from hunters suddenly appearing in front of them, startling a bear into an instinctive act of aggression. A bear's first reaction upon detecting a human is to run away.
First thing is: Stand your ground with bears. With either grizzlies (a subspecies of brown bears) or black bears, "please don't run. Bears can outrun anybody," Pratt said. "Don't climb a tree either.
Big beach balls tossed at bears often scares them off, as do opening and closing an umbrella, shaking a big tarp or garbage bag, or banging pots and pans. If a bear climbs up a tree to escape, yell at it and beat the base of the tree with a baseball bat or heavy stick.
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!
Most attacks involve grizzly bears, and occur during summer
The vast majority of attacks (66 percent) involved grizzly bears; black bears account for the other one-third of deaths.
The most effective noisemaker in bear country is you. Talking or singing loudly can help prevent surprise encounters with wildlife. With enough warning of your approach, wildlife typically remove themselves and their young from the area.
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.
Reason 3: Motion Sensor Lights Won't Keep Bears Away Long Term. Given the above information, motion sensor lights really won't do much to keep bears away from your backyard.
No. Wifi does not have a smell.
Choose your tent wisely.
Bright, solid-colored tents are more likely to attract a bear's attention. They're especially drawn to the color yellow. Choose something in a camouflage print or another natural color.
How far does a black bear roam?
The size of home ranges vary, with males generally having larger home ranges than females. While males have ranges of movement of approximately 3-4 miles, females typically travel 2-3 miles. Juvenile bears may travel hundreds of miles when dispersing from their mother to establish their own home ranges.
Bears try to scare intruders by huffing, panting, hissing, growling and jaw-popping. They will stare at you with their heads lowered and ears laid back.
Black bears use sounds, body language, and scent-marking to express their emotions of the moment. Amiable sounds are grunts and tongue clicks used by mothers concerned for their cubs and by bears approaching other bears to mate or play.
Just like dogs, bears have a predatory instinct to chase running animals — so running may only make the bear chase you. You'll also want to avoid trying to climb a tree, as grizzly bears and black bears are also able to climb them.
Don't yell or throw rocks. If the bear charges, stop backing away and use your bear spray. If the bear shows no signs of stress and is approaching, make yourself look big and scary by outstretching your arms, holding packs above your head, making loud noises, throwing rocks, and preparing to use your bear spray.
Black bears usually run away when dogs chase them. Even the smallest breeds of dogs have scared black bears away. However, bears learn to ignore dogs that are tied up or in pens.
Grizzly and polar bears are the most dangerous, but Eurasian brown bears and American black bears have also been known to attack humans. Some species depredate livestock on occasion, and some bears, such as Asiatic and American black bears, may destroy fruit or other crops, especially corn.
Myth #13: People traveling in bear country are often attacked. Fact: Bear attacks are extremely rare. Although there are thousands of human-bear encounters every year, only a very few result in personal injury. Most bears will actually retreat before you are even aware of their presence.
It stalks you just like a lion might stalk you.” Given that there are about 900,000 black bears in North America, the number of attacks is small, but it has increased as both the human and bear populations have grown. Eighty-six percent of attacks occurred between 1960 and 2009, 17 of those since 2000.
The research confirms that it's highly effective. A 20-year study, published in the Journal of Wildlife Management, of bear-spray incidents in Alaska found that these sprays stopped a bear's “undesirable behavior” more than 90% of the time. The few times someone using spray sustained an injury, that injury was minor.
Should I be scared of black bears?
In reality, only rare individuals attack. About one black bear in a million becomes a predator. For the rest, attacks are difficult to provoke. Bear Center researchers have not heard of anyone being attacked because he or she was afraid.
Should you stand your ground against bears? If they are coming at you, and know you are there, it's best to make yourself seem very large. Running away makes you seem like prey, and you will increase the chance of attack. On the other hand, if you can slowly back away to get out of the confrontation.
Humans are more 'bear aware' and employ hazing/scare tactics
If you encounter a bear while hiking, there's no need to panic. Most bears can be scared away just from the simple noise of your voice.
It is a common misconception that shotgun ammunition is a good way to chase away a bear. In reality, target or bird-hunting shot is an ineffective solution that often leads to unnecessary outcomes. Bears have relatively thin skin and shotgun ammunition can be extremely harmful and even lethal.
Big beach balls tossed at bears often scares them off, as do opening and closing an umbrella, shaking a big tarp or garbage bag, or banging pots and pans. If a bear climbs up a tree to escape, yell at it and beat the base of the tree with a baseball bat or heavy stick.
Untrue. This is a common worry, but most people are afraid near bears and are not attacked. Meeting a black bear close-up can trigger deep, primal fear.
Be ready to protect and defend yourself! If a black bear charges and attacks you, FIGHT BACK WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE! Do not play dead. Direct punches and kicks at the bear's face, and use any weapon like rocks, branches, or bear spray to defend yourself.
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.
You have two options: stand your ground and scream, or run. If you DO choose to run, go in zig-zag routes.
Black bears usually run away when dogs chase them. Even the smallest breeds of dogs have scared black bears away. However, bears learn to ignore dogs that are tied up or in pens.
Is bear spray better than a gun?
No deterrent is 100% effective, but compared to all others, including firearms, proper use of bear spray has proven to be the best method for fending off threatening and attacking bears, and for preventing injury to the person and animal involved.
For a bear cartridge anything equal to or more powerful than a . 41 Magnum or . 44 Magnum will be fine. Oldtime black bear hunters say that any load that throws at least a 200-grain or bigger solid bullet at 1000 fps or more will take any bear in the woods.
Deterrent/lethal shell sequencing can be critical. A warning shot near a bear that doesn't know you are there will usually make it run for cover. If it charges your way, shout and jump so it'll know where and what you are.