Typically a bear is more afraid of humans. Blow your sound horn or whistle. While these bears may be “cute,” it’s important to remember that they are wild … A more curious bear may stand on its hind legs to see you better, but this is not necessarily aggressive behavior. Black bears are dangerous and unpredictable wild animals. It is now the bear’s food. If a black bear (or any bear that is stalking you) makes contact. Clap your hands. DON’T climb trees to escape a bear. Bear encounters in the woods are relatively infrequent, Madden said, as bears want to avoid people more than we want to avoid them. Mama bears are very protective. Use whatever you have at hand to hit the bear in the face. If the attack escalates and a black bear (or any bear that appears to have been stalking you) physically contacts you, fight back with anything that is available to you. Please enable Cookies and reload the page. Bears like thick brush, berry patches and parsnip thickets, but also regularly use hiking trails. Walk away slowly, if the bear is not approaching. The low number of black bear attacks may be contributing to an unsafe lackadaisical attitude toward bears. As you increase your distance, the bear will most likely do the same. Heintooga Picnic Area at Balsam Mountain, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail – Auto Tour, Three Big Reasons You Should Not Feed Bears, The Best Place to Spot Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains, UDAP 18HP Super Magnum Bear Spray 13.4 oz, Frontiersman Bear Spray w/Hip Holster-Max Strength & Range-35 ft-9.2 oz, The Best Place to See Black Bears in the Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park: My Smoky Mountain Guide, *Bear Pepper Spray: If noise doesn’t work, you may need to take accelerated measures. In case of a charging bear, spray when it is 30-60 feet (10-20 meters) away. Avoid a confrontation. Bears in the Smokies. Use noise to scare bears away: Yell, clap, or bang pots immediately upon sighting a bear near your campsite. Here is what to do if you run into a cougar, black bear, or grizzly bear in B.C. If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware. In a bear’s mind, just getting close to them may be considered aggressive behavior. "Do not climb a tree. In most cases, the bear will flee. If it gets too close, use your pepper spray*. Use the pepper spray, blow your whistle. Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. Having black bears around is not an immediate threat, and like all wild animals, black bears should be treated with respect and given space. Understanding the difference between black bears and grizzlies can help determine how you will act if you encounter them. Attempt to scare the bear off by making noise, such as banging pots and pans, shouting or using an air horn or whistle. RELATED: The Best Place to Spot Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains. While planning your vacation to the Smokies, you probably will book a campsite, cabin, or hotel, choose which live shows you want to see in nearby cities, and determine which zip line or riding stable has the best deals. Response: DO NOT play dead! Remember, black bears are WILD ANIMALS and will attack if they think it is necessary. Try to escape to a secure place such as a car or … The key to staying safe is knowing ahead of time what to do if, and when, you see a bear. Leave slowly: Cautiously back away from the bear and leave the area. Bears have a very good sense of smell and hearing. If the bear is cornered, back off slowly to give it room to escape. If so, you may find the following suggestions helpful if you are ever confronted by a black bear in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Enjoy them; safely! The black bear is a wonderful part of their experience. DNR recommends taking the following actions if you encounter a bear: Remain calm. All of this fun will be carried out in the great outdoors, where you will share space with a multitude of wild animals! Do not approach bears or allow them to approach you. Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. IMPORTANT: Black bears are wild animals and their behavior can be unpredictable. Avoid direct eye contact. However, speaking as someone who sucks at climbing trees, this doesn’t seem like a good option. Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over. • During times of danger or threat, bear cubs will take shelter in trees. It is your first line of defense, along with throwing rocks and sticks. The best way to handle a bear encounter is never to have one. Stay calm: Walk slowly and speak in a loud and calm voice. Response: Back away slowly from the food and give the bear plenty of room. If you encounter a bear on the trail, or in your campsite, stop what you are doing and evaluate the situation. Make noise; a lot of noise. Black bears have much larger ears than grizzly bears and do not have the same hump at the base of their necks that grizzly bears have. Remove the safety tag. In general, when you encounter a black bear you should: Remain calm. ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings and NEVER get within 50 yards of a bear. "Even if we're quiet in the woods, we're not that quiet," Madden said. The average weight of a black bear is 300 pounds. If you have bear spray, remove the safety, and be ready to use it if the bear approaches you. To some, seeing a black bear can be a thrilling experience, but to others, it can be a bit unnerving. “Being prepared” means you need the proper safety tools. Fight back with every resource you have; use rocks, sticks, a hiking pole, anything. Using Bear Spray During a Bear Encounter. Use your hiking stick to intimidate the bear and move to higher ground by backing away. "You'll be fortunate because they are shy and timid animals. If you’re dealing with a black bear, fighting back might be your best option. Do not turn and run. Your vacation in Great Smoky Mountains National Park might include hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking, bird watching, or some other outdoor activity. Sticks or other objects can be used to make yourself look bigger, while yelling and being loud can intimidate or scare off a black bear. Scenario: You have food out and a bear approaches. Finally, if there is physical contact, Forbes says the best advice is … What to do if you see a black bear. For details, please read our Front Page News post. Gary Carter Photo. Meaning: It is obvious; the bear wants your food. If the bear attacks you fight back with any surrounding object and spray it with pepper spray. Both grizzlies and black bears can climb trees. Do not push down a slower friend (even if you think the friendship has run its course)," the NPS added. Scenario 2: You see a bear and the bear sees you (but at a distance) Again, if you are being aware of your surroundings and encounter a bear there's a chance you'll both notice each other from a distance. Meaning: This behavior communicates that the bear believes you are too close and it feels threatened and afraid. Move to a safe position away from the bear. What to Do If You Encounter a Black Bear. As of 2016, more than 11 million people and 1,600 black bears share the park each year. Your IP: 91.121.79.58 Loud noises scare most animals, causing them to run for cover. From 1900 to 2015, only 64 people were killed by black bears in all of North America, mostly in Canada and Alaska. Ensure the bear has an escape route. Recycle wisely. We are required by law to tell you that we receive a small referral commission if you buy something. We do not want to contribute to an unhealthy fear of bears, but apparently this is not the problem. Close encounters of the bear kind. Vacationers get so excited about seeing a bear that they forget that these creatures can, and will, kill if they feel threatened. Copyright 2016-2020 Marc & Ann Bowman | All Rights Reserved | Powered by, 9. Climb a Tree: Grizzly bears aren’t as good of climbers as black bears, so one option is to climb a tree – though this is no guarantee that the bear won’t follow you up the tree. If a bear is sighted in town, leave the animal alone. Identify yourself by speaking in a calm, appeasing tone. How to Use Bear Spray. Continue spraying until … ; Don't: Approach, surround, or corner a bear: Bears aggressively defend themselves when they feel threatened. All of this fun will be carried out in the great outdoors, where you will share space with a multitude of wild animals! Aim at the bear’s face and keep in mind the direction of the wind. Stay away from the bear and tell others to do the same. Even so, the Boy Scouts’ motto, “Be Prepared”, is timeless advice. Black bears tend to be more timid than … More often than not, they will give up and leave. According to one bear researcher, you are more likely to be killed by a domestic dog, bees, or lightning than you are a black bear. If the bear charges, stand your ground (you cannot outrun it). Meaning: The bear has determined that you are a threat and needs to defend itself or it sees you as prey. Quietly back away and leave the area. Let’s begin by stating that federal law forbids anyone from “willfully approaching within 50 yards (150 feet), or any distance that disturbs or displaces a bear.” The fine is a hefty $5,000 and six months in jail. Federal law restricts which types of sprays can be used in a national park, so we recommend the following brands approved by the EPA for use in the. Cloudflare Ray ID: 60f179021de2fa5c Talk to the bear in a calm voice. DON’T approach a bear. If it follows you or gets closer, get aggressive and begin shouting, blowing your whistle, and throwing rocks and sticks at it (anything other than food). If you store recyclables outside, use enclosed bins. If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. Black bear playing in a puddle in Yellowstone National Park | Shutterstock If you do see a bear in your yard, bang pots and pans or blow a loud whistle, he said. In most situations, if left alone, the bear will return to the forest on its own. For the most part, they coexist without incident. While this behavior is not threatening, it could lead to it. Black Bears: If you are attacked by a black bear, DO NOT PLAY DEAD. Do not climb a tree. If the bear gets close, strike it in the nose and face with your fists, a stick, rocks, or just about anything else you can get your hands on. (Persistent bears will break into … Walk, do not run, and keep your eye on the bear so you can see how it reacts. This holds true for black bears. However, be sure you are not doing anything to attract the bear to your yard. We at My Smoky Mountain Guide want you to have a wonderful vacation right here in our backyard, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We want your Smokies vacation to be the best ever! Differences Between Black Bears and Grizzly Bears. A pair of black bear cubs sitting in a tree. Far too many people see bears as cute, approachable animals who wouldn’t mind participating in a selfie. If you see a black bear in your yard, enjoy the sighting from a distance and report your sighting. Wild, powerful, and unpredictable, bears and cougars pose a substantial threat to people. You may not know you are approaching a bear until it is too late. The above suggestions DO NOT guarantee your safety during a bear encounter. “Being safe” is knowing how and when to use them. AWESOME! When you’re trying to scare off a charging bear, bear spray almost always does the trick. After all, they believe you are encroaching on their environment, not the other way around. If the bear walks toward you, act boldly, yelling and throwing something at it. More specifically, you may need a pepper spray made for deterring bears. DON’T run from a bear. Because bears are becoming more active during this time of year, chances of an outdoor encounter increase. Our goal is to provide valuable, proven information for you and your safety. However, if the attack persists, fight back vigorously. Bear attacks are split-second events. The above links take you to Amazon.com where you may purchase these items if you are so inclined. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States where black bears can live in wild, natural surroundings. Whether you are a seasoned backpacker, an avid hiker, a wildlife photographer, or an afternoon picnicker, you never consider leaving home without the supplies you need. Your vacation in Great Smoky Mountains National Park might include hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking, bird watching, or some other outdoor activity. At a campsite Fight back if you're being attacked. Scenario: A bear is following you or it is approaching you slowly. If you encounter a grizzly, do not run. A black bear was seen in Joelton, in northwest Davidson County, on Aug. 15.What's believed to be the same bear was spotted Saturday, Aug. 25, in … If that doesn’t work, a specially formulated pepper spray for bears will likely do the trick. Try to appear large by holding up your arms and jacket, and/or standing on a rock or stump. Millions of people come from throughout the world for the outdoor vacation of a lifetime, and they get it. If you ever see bear cubs, get out of the area immediately. Give the bear a clear escape route. Luckily, encounters between these animals and humans are low. Remove the safety tag. Bears do injure people, but only one person died because of a black bear attack inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You may need to download version 2.0 now from the Chrome Web Store. It does not change your price at all. Despite their size, black bears are very agile tree climbers. Since the founding of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the early 1900’s, only one death is attributed to a black bear inside the park. Black bear attacks in the park are extremely rare, but they do happen. The National Park Service announced that the park will re-open in phases beginning May 9, 2020. You should be able to use your spray on auto-pilot during a grizzly bear encounter. Make sure you know you to use it properly, though. Meaning: It is curious and wants to find out what you are doing. If attacked in a building or tent, immediately fight back. "If you encounter a black bear, consider yourself very lucky," Norcott told The Dodo. Several bear pepper sprays are on the market. If it is a black bear, the best course of action is to try to escape, but if that isn't possible you should fight back. You also need to plan what you will do if, and when, you encounter a black bear. Walk, don’t run, and keep your eye on the bear so you can see … Remain still until the bear leaves the area. Because it's highly unlikely it's a predatory bear (see below), you have little to worry about. Spray when a curious bear is 25-30 feet (8-10 meters) away. Bears are magnificent creatures and it can be exciting to see one—from an appropriate distance. [Like] any wild animal, black bears need to be respected." Response: Walk in a different direction and see if the bear continues to follow you. Any Smoky Mountains outdoor adventure should include safety equipment. Scenario: A bear is looking at you, making loud noises, and/or swatting the ground. Here are several small tools we believe may make a difference in your safety. Every bear encounter must be met with caution. It is demanding more space from you. Scenario: A bear begins charging and shows no signs of stopping; you are under attack. Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to the web property. In most black bear encounters in California, the bear will take off as soon as it sees you. Keep dogs under control. DO NOT play dead, run, climb a tree, or leave food behind. It is not making any noise or swatting the ground with its paws. Back away slowly, preferably in the direction you came. This relaxed mind-set is very dangerous. What to do if you encounter a black bear. UDAP 18HP Super Magnum Bear Spray 13.4 oz Frontiersman Bear Spray w/Hip Holster-Max Strength & Range-35 ft-9.2 oz Counter Assault CA-12HVP/sb Bear Spray. Make as much noise as possible and fight like crazy. 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Of black bear motto, “ be Prepared ” means you need the safety! All Rights Reserved | Powered by, 9 of room to prevent getting this page the. Close, use enclosed bins Smokies vacation to be the best way to getting... Have at hand to hit the bear will take off as soon it. Your distance, the bear have a wonderful vacation right here in our backyard great. You and your safety threat and needs to defend itself or it sees you as prey or it is you. S mind, just getting close to them may be considered aggressive behavior for cover millions people. Want your Smokies vacation to be respected. taking the following actions you! Most animals, causing them to approach you with pepper spray made for deterring bears, appeasing tone all what to do when you encounter a black bear! Without incident the black bear, fighting back usually increases the intensity such. Are magnificent creatures and it can be unpredictable Park Service announced that the bear to yard... 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