If you surprise a bear at close distance, it may feel threatened and act defensively, especially if it has cubs or food. Continue to stand your ground. If the bear moves away, walk away slowly, keeping your eyes on the bear. Increase your distance.
How worried should I be about bears in Alaska?
Admittedly, Alaska grizzlies are more dangerous than black bears. Many grizzly attacks occur without warning, and possibly that is one reason for the unreasonable fear of bears in the Alaskan Bush. However, you can rest assured that the odds of a bear attack are miniscule in the Bush.
Do bears attack humans in Alaska?
According to a 2019 report by Alaskan health officials, 68 people in the state were hospitalized for injuries sustained in 66 bear attacks from 2000 to 2017. Ten people died as a result of bear attacks during that period.
How likely are bear attacks in Alaska?
12. There were 66 bear attacks in Alaska from 2000–2017. During this period, bear-human incidents contributed to 68 hospitalizations, as bear attack statistics for Alaska report. That averages 3.8 admissions every year, while the average rate of bear attack hospitalizations is 8.6 per 10,000 hospitalizations annually.
What to do if a bear is attacking you?
Cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. Lay flat on your stomach, and spread your legs apart. Keep your pack on, it will help protect you during an attack. Stay still and don’t make any noise—you’re trying to convince the bear that you aren’t a threat to it or its cubs.
Do I need bear spray in Denali?
Avoid hiking in thick brush, and try to stay visible at all times. Pack food in bear-proof containers, and bring wrappers and food waste back with you. Always carry bear spray and know how to use it. Remember the 300-yard rule, and change your route if you encounter a bear on the trail.
Which bear Do you play dead?
Brown/Grizzly Bears: If you are attacked by a brown/grizzly bear, leave your pack on and PLAY DEAD.
What months are bears most aggressive?
Most of the fatalities have happened during July and August, when trails are heavily populated. Attacks are minimal December through April, when most bears are hibernating for the winter and spring.
Which bear kills the most humans?
Most fatal attacks by black bears have been judged as predatory. Bear researcher Stephen Herrero determined that in black bear attacks, the bear acted as a predator in 88 percent of fatal incidents.
Can you outrun a bear?
Myth: Bears can’t run downhill.
If you’re being chased by a bear, don’t run downhill! Bears can run as fast as a horse (35 mph), and they can do it uphill, downhill, and everything in between. A bear can outrun you no matter what, so if you see one in the wild do not try to run away from it.
What smells do bears not like?
Bears also dislike the strong scent of pine-based cleaners, but avoid using anything with a fresh, lemony or fruity smell. And never mix bleach and ammonia; the combination produces fumes that can be deadly to both people and bears.
What’s the meanest bear?
Grizzly Bears
Grizzly Bears
Grizzly bears are by far one of the most aggressive and dangerous species of bear that you can encounter. They usually live in the northern and western regions of the US, as well as in Canada and Alaska.
What time of day are bears most active?
Bears are usually active from dawn to dusk, but they may be seen any time of day or night. Bears in many places of high human use have become nocturnal in order to avoid people.
Where do you stab a bear?
The bear intends to kill and possibly eat you, so fight back with any available weapons—a knife, sticks, rocks, your fists. Aim for the eyes and nose, where the bear is most sensitive. There’s no tried-and-true, written-in-stone protocol for handling a bear attack, in part because attacks are so rare.
Where do you aim at a charging bear?
But with a close, fast-incoming bear, don’t waste time with a warning shot. Aim for the deadliest point you can find. On a close-in, charging bear, this will probably be the face or upper chest. Often full-attack grizzlies lower their heads as they come in, so that’s about all you have to aim at.
What is the best defense against a bear?
Premium magnum slugs are probably your best bet for stopping a charging bear. A shotgun with a short barrel and a long magazine works best for bear defense. The popular Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 pump-actions are perfect for the job.
How many bear attacks Denali?
It’s the only fatal bear attack in the park’s 90-year history. Forty-nine-year-old Richard White of San Diego – a solo backpacker – had been photographing the bear for some eight minutes before he was killed. Other hikers found his backpack and bloodied clothing, and alerted park rangers.
Do you need bear spray to hike in Alaska?
One of the first things I did upon arrival was buy bear spray, it is a MUST! Most car rental spots will give you some and all the backcountry huts we stayed in had extra but you should always carry it. Beyond that bring a bear bell and attach it to your backpack while hiking.
How common are bears in Denali?
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) estimates that there are about 2700 black bears in Game Management Unit 16, or about 334 bears per 1,000 mi2 (131 bears per 1,000 km2). Based on the proportion of GMU 16B that is in Denali, there are about 200 black bears in the park on the south side.
What part of a human does a bear eat first?
The bear has also been known to bite its prey in the back of the neck to kill it. The bear begins eating its prey from the chest or hip regions. The animal’s entrails are also among the first parts to be eaten. The bear has a very special way of storing the carcass.
Should you run in a zig zag from a bear?
You have two options: stand your ground and scream, or run. If you DO choose to run, go in zig-zag routes. Elephants’ bulky frames make it hard for them to change directions quickly.