Grizzly Bear Attack Information

Glacier National Park, Montana, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons & Alaska

However, if you do come across a grizzly bear while hiking in Glacier National Park (which is one of the most exhilarating and frightening experiences you might ever have), how you react will either deter or encourage a grizzly bear attack.

Preventing a Grizzly Bear Attack

Now, what do you do? It’s more what you don’t do upon encountering a grizzly bear and that is DO NOT RUN AWAY.

Sure, this is your first instinct; it’s natural fight or flight taking over. But your hiking safety depends upon restricting this urge.

Why?

A running grizzly bear can reach nearly 40 MPH. Even without a pack weighing you down, unless you’re an Olympic caliber athlete, the fastest you can run is around 10 MPH. Furthermore, by running you’ll trigger their chase/attack instinct and this is the last thing you want.

Next, immediately break eye contact – staring a bear in the eyes is a sign of aggression.

Good. You’ve kept your ground, haven’t succumbed to your flight instinct, and have broken eye contact.

Now, slowly raise your hands to your chest, palms outward, and talk in a calm, monotonous, soothing voice while tiptoeing away.

While doing so, it’s essential to be attentive to the grizzly bear’s body language:

Picture of a wild, inquisitive bear Photo by David Cartier

• is it staring inquisitively at you




• rising on its hind legs




• cocking its head sideways




• and/or ignoring you?




Phew! The bear’s non-aggressive and just ensuring you’re not a threat.






But what if it’s chomping on its jaws, has its ears peeled back and is glaring at you? These are signs of an aggressive bear.

Prepare yourself. The grizzly bear’s readying a charge. But take comfort in the fact that

Photo by Kirsten Danley






Most Charges




don’t result in a




Grizzly Bear Attack


Provided you’re prepared and have a can of bear repellent ready (by ready, I mean at your side--NEVER have it buried uselessly in your pack) you have two options to defend yourself against the oncoming charge:

If the wind’s not blowing in your face, use the bear repellent and spray the bear. Bear spray’s essentially a long range, highly condensed pepper spray; however, if the wind’s blowing toward you, all you will do is injure yourself. If this is the case or you don’t have a can of bear repellent, which is necessary for your safety while hiking in grizzly bear habitat, your best option is to:

STAND YOUR GROUND! I know this sounds counter-intuitive. But most grizzly bear charges are bluffs that don’t result in an actual grizzly bear attack. They’re not hunting you, just ensuring you’re not a threat.

The majority of charges will stop feet away from you.

However, if the bear continues charging or you don’t have the brawn to stand your ground…

COLLAPSE TO THE EARTH. Lay on your belly. Cover your head with your arms and hands. Your pack will protect your back.

Unlike common thought, the grizzly bear isn’t just going to sniff you. It won’t be a full on grizzly bear attack like he’s hunting you for food, but the bear will claw and/or bite you.

Don’t scream, don’t flail, lie perfectly still and wait for the bear attack to end. Soon enough, the grizzly bear will leave you and continue on its way once it realizes you’re not a threat.

Terrifying? Yes. A proven, successful strategy? Indeed.



Why Do Grizzly Bears Attack?


Most bear attacks occur from a mother protecting its cub or a young bear protecting its turf.

Momma & Bear Cub picture Photo by John Brown


So, if you see a mother with its cubs

or a smaller, younger grizzly bear,

the chances of an aggressive attack increases exponentially.








Still take all this information to heart, but the charge probably won’t be a bluff. So, in case of a charge and you’re without bear spray, I’d suggest immediately falling to the ground and covering up.

In 2005, it's what saved Johan's life

Bear Repellent can be purchased in any of the park's gift stores. I'd never hike in Glacier National Park (or anywhere that's grizzly bear habitat) without it. If a bear attacks, it will save your life.




Scared of encountering a bear? Check out my Glacier National Park Hiking Guide for recommended hikes where your hiking safety is guaranteed.

Learn the difference between a grizzly bear and brown or black bears...

Or return back to Hiking Tips in Grizzly Bear Habitat



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