The grizzly bear is a subspecies of brown bear inhabiting North America. These powerful animals are occasionally involved in human conflicts, which naturally raises questions about their intent. The fear that grizzlies actively hunt humans for food is largely unfounded, as true predatory attacks are exceedingly rare and constitute a small fraction of all recorded human-bear encounters. The vast majority of incidents involve defensive aggression, where the bear perceives a threat rather than identifying a meal.
Predation Versus Defense
Understanding the difference between a predatory and a defensive encounter is crucial for bear safety. A defensive attack is not about hunting; it is a rapid, high-intensity response to neutralize a perceived threat, typically a surprise intrusion into the bear’s personal space. These attacks are characterized by short duration, often ending as soon as the bear feels the threat has been eliminated. A bear may display warning signs like huffing, jaw-popping, or a bluff charge before making physical contact.
A predatory attack, by contrast, is a deliberate, sustained effort to obtain food. This type of encounter often involves the bear stalking or circling the person with an intense, focused demeanor. Predatory behavior may also manifest as an attack that occurs at night, or one that is not provoked by any obvious defensive trigger. Predatory behavior is significantly less common than defensive reactions.
Primary Causes of Human-Bear Conflict
Almost all conflicts resulting in injury stem from a bear reacting defensively to one of three specific situations. The most frequent trigger is a surprise encounter at close proximity, which occurs when a person inadvertently startles a bear unaware of their presence. This is particularly common in dense vegetation or when traveling off-trail, giving the bear insufficient time to retreat.
Another source of conflict involves a female grizzly, or sow, protecting her cubs. This is the most common motivation for a defensive attack by a grizzly. The third primary trigger is the defense of a food source, such as a carcass, a field-dressed animal, or a human food cache. In these situations, the bear views the human as a competitor and responds with aggression to protect its meal.
Avoiding an Encounter
Proactive measures reduce the likelihood of an encounter by alerting bears to human presence and preventing food conditioning. Making noise while moving through bear country is the most effective strategy for avoiding a surprise encounter. Instead of relying on small bear bells, talking loudly, singing, or periodically shouting helps the bear hear you from a distance and move away before you get too close.
Properly managing all food and scented items is necessary to prevent bears from associating humans with easy calories. Food, cooking gear, and toiletries should be stored in bear-resistant containers, such as certified canisters, or hung from a tree at least 10 to 12 feet off the ground and four feet away from the trunk. Always carrying bear spray and knowing how to access it immediately is a crucial safety measure. This deterrent should be kept readily accessible, not packed away inside a backpack.
Responding to an Attack
The correct response to an encounter depends on whether the bear is acting defensively or predatorily, which is determined by the bear’s body language and the context of the attack. If the bear is charging and the attack is defensive—such as a surprise encounter or one involving a sow with cubs—the recommended action is to deploy bear spray and then drop to the ground. You should lie flat on your stomach, protect the back of your neck with your hands, and spread your legs slightly to make it harder for the bear to flip you over. Remaining still signals to the bear that you are no longer a threat, and the attack will usually cease once the bear feels safe.
If the attack is determined to be predatory—for example, if the bear is silent, stalking, or attacks you inside a tent—you must fight back immediately and aggressively. The goal is to convince the bear that you are not easy prey, using any available means to strike the bear’s face and eyes. Bear spray should be deployed in both scenarios, but it is most effective when the bear is within the range of 25 to 30 feet, providing enough time for the spray cloud to fully disperse.