Being chased by a bear is a scary situation that can happen when hiking or camping in bear country. Knowing how to respond if a bear starts chasing you can help increase your chances of survival. Here are some quick answers to key questions about what to do if a bear starts chasing you:
Why do bears chase humans?
There are a few main reasons a bear may start chasing a human:
- The bear is surprised and sees you as a threat
- The bear is defending a food source, cubs, or territory
- The bear is predatory and views you as prey
Bears have poor eyesight and may not recognize what you are at first. If surprised, they may instinctively give chase before realizing you are not a threat.
What type of bear is most likely to chase you?
Grizzly bears and polar bears are more likely to see humans as prey and chase after them. Black bears are less likely to be predatory, but any bear can chase if it feels threatened or needs to defend itself.
What triggers a bear to start chasing you?
Some common triggers that could cause a bear to start chasing you include:
- Getting between a mother bear and her cubs
- Startling a bear by getting too close without it noticing
- Coming between a bear and a food source like a carcass
- Running away from the bear which can trigger its predatory instinct
What should you do if a bear starts chasing you?
Here are the steps to take if you find yourself being chased by a bear:
- Stay calm and avoid panic. The bear can likely outrun you, so avoid wasted energy by panicking.
- Do not run downhill. Bears can run very fast uphill, so they will likely catch you.
- Run in a straight line. Zigzagging or changing directions can actually slow you down.
- Seek shelter in a building, car, or up a tree if possible. This can provide protection.
- If no shelter is available, lay flat on your stomach with hands behind your neck. Play dead.
- Remain still until the bear leaves the area. If attacked, continue playing dead.
Are you supposed to play dead during a bear attack?
Playing dead is an effective strategy if a bear actually starts attacking you. Here’s why it works:
- It shows the bear you are not a threat
- Many attacks are defensive, so playing dead can cause the bear to lose interest
- It protects vital organs from attack
- It prevents fighting back, which can provoke the bear further
Playing dead is effective for black bears and grizzlies. With polars bears, playing dead may be less effective since they often view humans as prey.
What safety precautions help avoid bear encounters when hiking?
These tips can help hikers avoid unwanted bear encounters:
- Hike in groups and keep conversation low
- Stay on marked trails and avoid dense brush
- Watch for bear signs like tracks, scat, and markings
- Make noise to avoid startling bears
- Avoid strong scents from food or toiletries
- Keep dogs leashed and away from bears
- Know bear behaviors and warning signs
- Carry bear spray for protection
What are aggressive bear behaviors to watch for?
Watch for these behaviors that indicate a bear is stressed or aggressive:
- Snapping jaws
- Excessive huffing or growling
- Lowered head with ears drawn back
- Raising up on hind legs
- Charging forward or chasing
- Hair standing up on the bear’s back
How effective is bear spray at stopping a charging bear?
Bear spray has proven very effective at stopping aggressive bears and preventing attacks. According to research:
- Bear spray stopped aggressive bear behavior in 92% of cases
- When sprayed directly at charging bears it was effective 98% of the time
- Wind can decrease effectiveness, so spray at close range
- The spray should last at least 6 seconds to maximize effectiveness
How far can bears chase humans?
Bears can chase humans for extended distances and have endurance when motivated. Some recorded cases of bears chasing humans include:
- Grizzly bears chasing humans up to 2 miles
- Black bears chasing humans up to 1 mile
- Polar bears chasing humans nearly 1.5 miles before giving up
So bears can sustain chases for a mile or more if they see reason to. This highlights the need to seek shelter or use bear spray when possible. Attempting to simply outrun them often will not work.
Can you outrun or outclimb a bear?
| Type of Bear | Can Outrun Human? | Can Outclimb Human? |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bear | No, can reach 25 mph | Yes, excellent tree climbers |
| Brown/Grizzly Bear | Yes, can reach 35 mph | No, poor tree climbers |
| Polar Bear | No, can reach 25 mph | No, poor tree climbers |
As this table shows, black bears are the only common bear species that a fit human could potentially outrun. But even then, the odds are low given the terrain. Climbing a tree is effective against black bears, but not brown or polar bears.
Key Takeaways on Outrunning Bears
In summary:
- Grizzly bears can outrun any human in most cases
- Polar bears can outrun all but elite athletes
- It’s challenging to outclimb brown and polar bears since they can reach up to 12 feet
- Stay calm and use deterrents like spray instead of relying on speed
Do you make yourself appear bigger to deter a bear?
Making yourself appear larger and threatening can sometimes intimidate a bear and cause it to retreat. Strategies include:
- Spreading out arms and jacket to expand size
- Holding sticks or trekking poles over your head
- Standing tall instead of crouching down
- Clapping and shouting aggressively
- Throwing rocks and sticks toward the bear
This works best on curious black bears. It may aggravate brown bears and is ineffective on predatory polar bears. Only use this method if the bear is acting defensive, not aggressive.
Will climbing a tree stop a bear?
Climbing a tree can provide effective escape from a black bear. However, brown and polar bears can climb as well, so trees do not guarantee safety. Follow these tree climbing tips:
- Use a sturdy, tall tree with limber branches
- Climb at least 15 feet up the trunk to be safe
- Don’t climb higher than the lowest branches
- Hold on tight if the bear climbs and shakes the tree
- Don’t jump down until certain the bear has left the area
Climbing a tree stops a chase about 50% of the time with black bears based on data. It is less effective on brown bears and rarely stops polar bears.
Will a bear keep chasing you up a tree?
Whether a bear continues chasing you up a tree depends on why it started chasing in the first place:
- Black bears: Unlikely to keep chasing up a tree if you don’t pose a threat
- Grizzly bears: May chase you up a tree depending on if they see you as a threat
- Polar bears: Likely to chase up a tree due to viewing you as prey
Bears after prey are more likely to persist in chasing you up a tree. However, even black bears may chase you up a tree if defending cubs or a kill. Each scenario is different.
Should you fight back against a bear attack?
Fighting back against a bear should be a last resort. Here are guidelines on when to fight back:
- If the attack is clearly predatory (i.e. a polar bear), fighting back is your only chance
- If the bear continues attacking after you play dead, fight back as a last option
- Use sticks, rocks, or hands to hit the bear in the face and muzzle
- Focus on vital areas like eyes and nose
- You want to persuade the bear retreat is its best option
However, know that fighting back often further provokes the bear and results in more severe injuries. All other deterrent methods should be tried first if possible.
How can you avoid false charges from bears?
Some tips for handling bluff charges from bears include:
- Hold your ground instead of running, which can trigger pursuit
- Seek cover behind a tree or rock if available
- Prepare to use bear spray if the charge seems serious
- Act submissive by looking down and holding arms over vitals
- Speak in a calm, low voice to reassure the bear
- Slowly back away diagonally once the bear stops advancing
By recognizing bluff behaviors like huffing and making yourself seem small, you can often prevent a mock charge from turning into an actual pursuit.
Conclusion
Being chased by a bear is a frightening situation, but there are strategies you can use to improve your odds at survival. The keys are to remain calm, avoid running to trigger the bear’s predatory instinct, seek any shelter possible, and use deterrents like bear spray liberally. Playing dead also works very well if a bear makes contact. While encounters are rare, being prepared can save your life in the event a bear starts chasing you.