The folk wisdom that a person should “lie down” if a bear is brown and “fight back” if it is black is a dangerous oversimplification. This advice is flawed because coat color is unreliable; black bears can be brown, cinnamon, or blonde, and grizzlies can be dark brown. The appropriate response in any bear encounter is determined not by the animal’s color, but by its motivation and species, which requires accurate identification and careful reading of the situation.
Distinguishing Between Black Bears and Grizzlies
The most reliable way to differentiate the two major North American species involves looking at specific physical features. A grizzly bear possesses a prominent muscular hump between its shoulders, which is absent on a black bear. This hump anchors the powerful muscles grizzlies use for digging.
Grizzlies also have a distinct facial profile that appears “dished” or concave from the eyes to the nose, while a black bear typically has a straighter profile. Their ears also differ; grizzly bears have smaller, more rounded ears, while the black bear’s ears are larger, more pointed, and erect. Finally, the grizzly’s front claws are long, pale, and gently curved, reflecting their digging habit, while the black bear’s claws are shorter, darker, and more sharply curved for climbing trees.
Understanding Aggression: Defensive vs. Predatory Encounters
The bear’s perceived motivation determines the human response, falling into two main categories: defensive and predatory. Most aggressive encounters are defensive, occurring because the bear feels threatened and is protecting cubs, a food source, or its personal space. A defensive bear often exhibits stress signs, including jaw-popping, huffing, paw-swatting, or a stiff-legged stance with ears pinned back.
A predatory encounter is significantly rarer and involves a bear that views the human as potential prey. A predatory bear approaches with focused, deliberate intensity, often stalking without the stressed vocalizations or displays common in a defensive encounter. These predatory incidents are generally more common with black bears than grizzlies.
The Correct Action Plan During an Encounter
Non-Aggressive Encounters
If a bear is aware of your presence but does not seem aggressive, speak calmly, wave your arms to appear large, and slowly back away without running. Running can trigger the bear’s chase instinct. Slowly walking sideways is recommended to keep an eye on the animal without making direct, challenging eye contact.
Defensive Attacks
If the bear is a black bear and the encounter is defensive, the initial response is to make noise and stand your ground. Try to intimidate the bear by yelling loudly and looking as large as possible, only slowly retreating once the bear disengages. If a defensive black bear attacks, fight back immediately and aggressively, targeting the bear’s face and muzzle.
The response to a defensive grizzly attack is fundamentally different because their greater mass makes fighting a poor option. In this scenario, immediately play dead by lying flat on your stomach, spreading your legs to prevent being rolled over, and covering the back of your neck with your hands. Remaining still convinces the grizzly that you are no longer a threat, and the attack will typically end quickly.
Predatory Attacks
In the rare event of a predatory attack, the response is consistent regardless of the species. You must fight back with all available force, aiming blows at the bear’s face, eyes, and nose. Bear spray should be carried and immediately deployed at a charging bear within 25 to 30 feet, as it is the most effective deterrent in close-range encounters.
Prevention: Minimizing the Risk of Contact
Minimizing the risk of contact is the most effective way to handle a bear encounter. Bears possess an exceptional sense of smell, so all scented items, including food, garbage, cooking utensils, and toiletries, must be secured. Campers should use bear-resistant containers or hang food at least 10 feet above the ground and 4 feet away from the tree trunk.
While hiking, making noise alerts bears to human presence and prevents a surprise, close-range encounter. This can be achieved by talking loudly, clapping, or occasionally calling out, especially when moving through dense brush or near running water. Carrying EPA-registered bear spray is a necessary precaution in bear country, and it must be kept immediately accessible in a holster, not inside a backpack.