More specifically, you may need a pepper spray made for deterring bears. The above suggestions DO NOT guarantee your safety during a bear encounter. During times of danger or threat, bear cubs will take shelter in trees. If it gets too close, use your pepper spray*. Bears are magnificent creatures and it can be exciting to see one—from an appropriate distance. DON’T approach a bear. Your vacation in Great Smoky Mountains National Park might include hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking, bird watching, or some other outdoor activity. As of 2016, more than 11 million people and 1,600 black bears share the park each year. If the bear attacks you fight back with any surrounding object and spray it with pepper spray. Clap your hands. Use the pepper spray, blow your whistle. [Like] any wild animal, black bears need to be respected." Move to a safe position away from the bear. Ensure the bear has an escape route. Finally, if there is physical contact, Forbes says the best advice is … What to do if you see a black bear. Meaning: The bear has determined that you are a threat and needs to defend itself or it sees you as prey. Avoid direct eye contact. For the most part, they coexist without incident. Response: DO NOT play dead! Meaning: This behavior communicates that the bear believes you are too close and it feels threatened and afraid. Remove the safety tag. Black bear attacks in the park are extremely rare, but they do happen. If you do see a bear in your yard, bang pots and pans or blow a loud whistle, he said. Recycle wisely. In most black bear encounters in California, the bear will take off as soon as it sees you. Remain still until the bear leaves the area. Back away when possible. In a bear’s mind, just getting close to them may be considered aggressive behavior. We do not want to contribute to an unhealthy fear of bears, but apparently this is not the problem. How to Use Bear Spray. Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. "If you encounter a black bear, consider yourself very lucky," Norcott told The Dodo. Scenario: You have food out and a bear approaches. Your vacation in Great Smoky Mountains National Park might include hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking, bird watching, or some other outdoor activity. 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. However, be sure you are not doing anything to attract the bear to your yard. Walk away slowly, if the bear is not approaching. • 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. Several bear pepper sprays are on the market. Stay away from the bear and tell others to do the same. Scenario: A bear is following you or it is approaching you slowly. This relaxed mind-set is very dangerous. 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. We at My Smoky Mountain Guide want you to have a wonderful vacation right here in our backyard, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The best way to handle a bear encounter is never to have one. Aim at the bear’s face and keep in mind the direction of the wind. Your IP: 91.121.79.58 Use your hiking stick to intimidate the bear and move to higher ground by backing away. However, speaking as someone who sucks at climbing trees, this doesn’t seem like a good option. "Even if we're quiet in the woods, we're not that quiet," Madden said. 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). Identify yourself by speaking in a calm, appeasing tone. 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. 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. Continue spraying until … Bear encounters in the woods are relatively infrequent, Madden said, as bears want to avoid people more than we want to avoid them. If attacked in a building or tent, immediately fight back. Avoid a confrontation. Fight back with every resource you have; use rocks, sticks, a hiking pole, anything. Remove the safety tag. Black bears tend to be more timid than … Black bears are dangerous and unpredictable wild animals. A pair of black bear cubs sitting in a tree. 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. Stay calm: Walk slowly and speak in a loud and calm voice. If the bear walks toward you, act boldly, yelling and throwing something at it. Give the bear a clear escape route. You may not know you are approaching a bear until it is too late. Spray when a curious bear is 25-30 feet (8-10 meters) away. Our goal is to provide valuable, proven information for you and your safety. Gary Carter Photo. What to Do If You Encounter a Black Bear. The average weight of a black bear is 300 pounds. Response: Slowly back away while facing the bear. While this behavior is not threatening, it could lead to it. The black bear is a wonderful part of their experience. IMPORTANT: Black bears are wild animals and their behavior can be unpredictable. The key to staying safe is knowing ahead of time what to do if, and when, you see a bear. • RELATED: The Best Place to Spot Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains. It is now the bear’s food. At a campsite Despite their size, black bears are very agile tree climbers. DO NOT play dead, run, climb a tree, or leave food behind. Here are several small tools we believe may make a difference in your safety. If you have bear spray, remove the safety, and be ready to use it if the bear approaches you. 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. Remember, black bears are WILD ANIMALS and will attack if they think it is necessary. 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. Enjoy them; safely! Meaning: It is curious and wants to find out what you are doing. Loud noises scare most animals, causing them to run for cover. Bears do injure people, but only one person died because of a black bear attack inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Millions of people come from throughout the world for the outdoor vacation of a lifetime, and they get it. Vacationers get so excited about seeing a bear that they forget that these creatures can, and will, kill if they feel threatened. "You'll be fortunate because they are shy and timid animals. We want your Smokies vacation to be the best ever! The above links take you to Amazon.com where you may purchase these items if you are so inclined. Back away slowly, preferably in the direction you came. However, if the attack persists, fight back vigorously. Cloudflare Ray ID: 60f179021de2fa5c This holds true for black bears. To some, seeing a black bear can be a thrilling experience, but to others, it can be a bit unnerving. Attempt to scare the bear off by making noise, such as banging pots and pans, shouting or using an air horn or whistle. Copyright 2016-2020 Marc & Ann Bowman | All Rights Reserved | Powered by, 9. Use whatever you have at hand to hit the bear in the face. Black bear playing in a puddle in Yellowstone National Park | Shutterstock Leave slowly: Cautiously back away from the bear and leave the area. It does not change your price at all. Every bear encounter must be met with caution. If you’re dealing with a black bear, fighting back might be your best option. If a bear is sighted in town, leave the animal alone. Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to the web property. If you store recyclables outside, use enclosed bins. The low number of black bear attacks may be contributing to an unsafe lackadaisical attitude toward bears. More often than not, they will give up and leave. Typically a bear is more afraid of humans. Using Bear Spray During a Bear Encounter. Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over. Fight back if you're being attacked. 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. If a black bear (or any bear that is stalking you) makes contact. It is your first line of defense, along with throwing rocks and sticks. All of this fun will be carried out in the great outdoors, where you will share space with a multitude of wild animals! Because bears are becoming more active during this time of year, chances of an outdoor encounter increase. ; Don't: Approach, surround, or corner a bear: Bears aggressively defend themselves when they feel threatened. Do not climb a tree. 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. “Being prepared” means you need the proper safety tools. Wild, powerful, and unpredictable, bears and cougars pose a substantial threat to people. If you encounter a grizzly, do not run. If that doesn’t work, a specially formulated pepper spray for bears will likely do the trick. Response: Back away slowly from the food and give the bear plenty of room. In addition, state laws may apply. 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. Try to appear large by holding up your arms and jacket, and/or standing on a rock or stump. While these bears may be “cute,” it’s important to remember that they are wild … The National Park Service announced that the park will re-open in phases beginning May 9, 2020. From 1900 to 2015, only 64 people were killed by black bears in all of North America, mostly in Canada and Alaska. Fighting back usually increases the intensity of such attacks. Make noise; a lot of noise. 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. In general, when you encounter a black bear you should: Remain calm. "Do not climb a tree. 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. Walk, don’t run, and keep your eye on the bear so you can see … It is not making any noise or swatting the ground with its paws. Black bears are large, strong wild animals that should be treated with respect and appreciated from a distance to ensure your safety as well as the bear’s. Here is what to do if you run into a cougar, black bear, or grizzly bear in B.C. In case of a charging bear, spray when it is 30-60 feet (10-20 meters) away. (Persistent bears will break into … Make sure you know you to use it properly, though. Scenario: A bear is looking at you, making loud noises, and/or swatting the ground. You may need to download version 2.0 now from the Chrome Web Store. For details, please read our Front Page News post. Scenario: A bear begins charging and shows no signs of stopping; you are under attack. “Being safe” is knowing how and when to use them. All of this fun will be carried out in the great outdoors, where you will share space with a multitude of wild animals! If the bear charges, stand your ground (you cannot outrun it). We are required by law to tell you that we receive a small referral commission if you buy something. Having black bears around is not an immediate threat, and like all wild animals, black bears should be treated with respect and given space. Quietly back away and leave the area. Talk to the bear in a calm voice. Response: Walk in a different direction and see if the bear continues to follow you. Do not approach bears or allow them to approach you. Differences Between Black Bears and Grizzly Bears. 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. Continues to follow you a calm, appeasing tone these animals and will attack if they think it is feet. Within 50 yards of a black bear, bear spray w/Hip Holster-Max Strength & Range-35 ft-9.2 oz Counter Assault bear... Scenario: a bear approaches you at you, making loud noises, and/or swatting the ground to a... 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