Pixabay/Joe Breuer
It’s possible that you didn’t have to survive a bear attack. There are only about 40 bear attacks per year worldwide, with an average of 11 occurring in North America. With North America’s population close to her 600 million, there’s no need to explain how unusual this is.
Alas, the National Park Service wants to make sure you stay safe. With millions of Americans heading to the trails as a safe outdoor activity after an extended period of relatively empty national parks, bears are easily frightened. It didn’t take me long to get used to it. This has resulted in increased sightings in various parks.
The National Park Service took to Facebook to publish guidance on how to survive if you encounter a bear. They want to make it clear that slow friends shouldn’t be pushed to the ground and sacrificed. As bait even if it escapes.
Here’s what they had to say:
“Read: Don’t try to save yourself by running from a bear or pushing your slow friend down.
As a follow-up to my previous post, if you encounter a stationary bear, slowly step away from it to the side. This allows you to keep an eye on the bear and avoid tripping over it. Moving sideways is also not a threat to bears. Don’t run, but stop and hold the ground if the bear is chasing you. Like dogs, they chase fleeing animals. Do not climb trees. Both grizzly bears and black bears can climb trees.
Keep calm and remember that most bears don’t want to attack you. They usually just want to be left alone. aren’t we all? Identify yourself by making noises so that the bear knows you are a human and not prey. Allow bears to recognize you as a human. We recommend using your voice. (Waving or showing the other thumb doesn’t mean anything to the bear.) Bears may come closer or stand on their hind legs to get a better look or smell. Standing bears are usually curious and not threatening.
PS I apologize to the “friends” who were brought on the hike as “bait” or sacrificed to save the group. I will miss you when you are gone. “
Planning to run into a bear this summer or fall?
I’ve encountered more bears in the wild than I can count on one hand in my lifetime, but somehow these safety tips drill down into my head. It’s kind of like how you were taught to ‘stop, drop, roll’ and watch out for quicksand, even though you never had to and didn’t have to use ‘stop, drop, roll’. I had to test the doorknob for heat to see if there was fire on the other side.
Nevertheless, don’t impose your slow friends. They may survive bear attacks. Move away slowly. It’s the only thing you can really do to improve your chances of survival.