Stand your ground. If it charges, use your bear spray, when the bear comes within 30-60 feet. If the bear is going to touch you, go face down on the ground, cover your neck and head as much as possible, and deploy your bear spray in the bear’s face.
What are the odds of getting attacked by a bear in Montana?
According to the National Park Service, the odds of being attacked by a bear are 1 in 2.1 million. This means that it’s more likely to be killed by a bee than a bear.
What months are bears most active in Montana?
If you want to give yourself the best chance to see an active bear, September and October are the best months. Bears are most active during this period, preparing for their lengthy hibernation. Some of the most popular activities for bears include snoozing, wandering, and fishing.
What to do if a black bear is coming at you?
Alter your route or back away slowly, preferably in the direction you came. Walk, do not run, and keep your eye on the bear so you can see how it reacts. In most cases, the bear will flee. If the bear walks toward you, act boldly, yelling and throwing something at it.
Should I worry about bears in Glacier National Park?
On average, there are only one or two non-lethal bear “incidents” in a given year. And, there have only been 10 bear related fatalities in the history of the park (all of those have occurred since 1967). Only three of those fatalities involved hikers, and at least two of those were solo hikers.
What time of year are bears most aggressive?
Fatal bear attacks seem to correlate with visitor volume to parks. 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.
What time of day do bears usually come out?
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 are the most bears in Montana?
Northwest Montana has the largest concentration of grizzlies in the Lower 48 states, with more than 1,000 bears across Glacier National Park and nearby expanses of forested wilderness, an area known as the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem.
What time of day are you most likely to see a bear?
Bear Behavior
Bears are most active during early morning and late evening hours in spring and summer. Mating usually takes place in July.
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 do you do if a bear charges you?
When the bear charges you, hold your ground and stay calm. After the bear charges, slowly retreat while keeping an eye on the bear. Let the bear know that you’re a human, and that you aren’t a threat. Continue to speak to the bear in a calm voice and make it clear that you are a human.
How aggressive are black bears?
In fact, they are often attracted to people’s food sources or get used to the presence of humans. However, black bears are typically not aggressive and fear the “repercussions of attacking someone,” Garshelis said. “They just don’t want to attack people,” Garsheilis said. “They’re kind of timid animals.”
Do I really need bear spray in Glacier National Park?
So, do you need bear spray if you are traveling to Glacier National Park? The short answer is “yes”. The National Park Service recommends that visitors carry bear spray in the backcountry because it has been proven to be the most effective deterrent of bear attacks.
Do I need bear spray in the Rockies?
Yellowstone, Glacier, and Grand Teton are just a few of the national parks that have bears. If you are planning on doing any back country hiking, carrying bear spray is strongly recommended. Bear spray shoots an average of 30 feet for the duration of 5-9 seconds in fog form.
Can you buy bear spray in Glacier National Park?
In Glacier National Park, you can usually find bear spray being sold at a good value at the Glacier Guides and Montana Raft Company store in West Glacier.
What are bears afraid of?
The vast majority of bears are too afraid of humans to come near them, but this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, bears overcome their fear of humans and will approach people or campsites. The main reason bears will overcome their fear of humans is because of food rewards.
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 smell deters black bears?
Ammonia or cider vinegar- soaked cloth in trash can or hung on doors and windows can deter bears. The smell of Lysol and PineSol also repels bears.
How do you know when a bear is near?
Bear often walk in an over-step manner, with their rear foot falling in front of where the front foot fell. If the rear foot falls just a bit in front of the front, the bear can leave something like a double track, which can give the impression of a much larger bruin.
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.