Nothing says "national park" quite like a black bear ambling across a meadow with its cubs or a brown bear fishing in a turbulent mountain stream. Bears are found in nearly a third of all national parks across the United States.

Three species of bears live in North America: black bears, brown bears (which includes grizzlies), and polar bears. While bears of the same species might look similar, everything from their size, coloring, diet and sleeping patterns depend on the bear and its location. For example, a bear’s diet varies depending on what foods are available during a specific season in a specific region. The species pages listed here explore some of these varying characteristics by profiling bears in different parks. For more information about bears and bear behavior in a specific national park, please contact that park.

American black bears (Ursus americanus) are the most common and widely distributed species of bears in North America. They can be found anywhere from forested areas to the beach to the alpine zone.

While bears of the same species might look similar, everything from their size, coloring, diet, and sleeping patterns depend on the bear and its location. For example, a bear’s diet varies depending on what foods are available during a specific season in a specific region. The home range for an adult black bear can vary depending on the location, season, and food availability.

Let’s take a look at two different black bears, one in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and another in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve to see how they differ in diet, winter denning, and life cycle. For more information about bears and bear behavior in a specific national park, please contact that park.

What Do Black Bears Eat?

Black bears will eat almost anything. They are omnivores, meaning that they eat both plants and animals. Their curved claws help them climb trees to search for food, but they cannot dig for food as well as a brown bear. Black bears are very smart and can identify food not only by smell but also by appearance.

Bears who have been fed human food will begin to associate campsites, bags, garbage cans, and even cars with food. These food-conditioned bears can become dangerous. So please remember: Don’t let bears get your food or garbage! Help keep them wild by following these tips on food storage and bear safety.

Black Bear in Great Smoky Mountains

Black bears are one of the largest predators living in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but the majority of their diet is made up of plants. Eighty-five percent of a Great Smoky Mountains black bear’s diet comes from berries and nuts. Black bears in the Great Smoky Mountains also eat insects and animal carcasses when they are available.

Black Bear in Glacier Bay

Black bears in Glacier Bay eat a wide variety of plant and animal foods. They often graze on shoreline grasses and sedges, dandelions, wild celery, cow parsnip, and other beach and meadow plants. They use their long claws to dig up plants and roots and to pick ripened berries in the summer. In the late summer and fall, black bears eat salmon from the large streams of Alaska. Occasionally, black bears will eat other animals including bumblebees, birds, bird eggs, rodents, and animal or whale carcasses.

Winter Dens

Black bears spend the winter months in dens to avoid the cold weather and lack of available food. They make their dens in hollow trees or logs, under the root mass of a tree, in rock crevices, or even high in a tree in warmer climates. Bears may spend up to six months in hibernation, during which they do not eat, drink, or expel waste.

Black Bear in Great Smoky Mountains

Bears in the Great Smokies will den during the winter to escape the cold weather. While some bears den in hollow stumps and tree cavities, these bears are unusual in that they often den high above ground in standing hollow trees. It is believed that these black bears do not enter a true hibernation, and they may leave their den for short periods of time if the weather is warm or if they are disturbed.

During the winter denning period, pregnant black bears will give birth to cubs. Bears without cubs emerge in the early spring; mother bears and cubs emerge last usually in late March or early April.

Black Bear in Glacier Bay

Like the ones at Great Smoky Mountains, black bears in Glacier Bay enter dens during the winter if there is little to no food available. Black bears in Alaska will make their dens in the snow, under root structures, or in caves.

In colder parts of Alaska, black bears will hibernate for about seven months. Bears along the warmer coast may hibernate for only two to five months, or not at all.

Just like their Great Smoky Mountains counterparts, pregnant black bears in Glacier Bay give birth to their cubs in their dens. Cubs are usually born within the first two months of hibernation. Cubs and their mothers stay in their dens for the rest of the winter while the mother bear rests and the cubs nurse and grow. Females and their cubs usually emerge from their winter dens in late March or early April.

Life Cycle

For the most part, adult black bears lead solitary lives, except when mating season takes place. Black bear mating season occurs during the summer, but the embryos do not begin to develop until the mother bear enters her den. Cubs are born in the middle of the winter denning period, usually between mid-January and early February.

Cubs are born tiny, helpless, and hairless, weighing less than half a pound. A mother bear will typically give birth to one to three cubs at a time. By the time a mother bear and her cubs are ready to emerge into spring, the cubs typically weigh around five pounds.Young bears grow very quickly and can weigh around 80 pounds by their first birthdays. Cubs will remain with their mother for about 18 months or until she is ready to mate again.

Brown bears (Ursus arctos) can be distinguished from American black and polar bears by their distinct shoulder hump, dish-shaped face, and long claws. They can vary in color from black to blonde.

Brown bears, also known as grizzly bears, can be found in many of our national parks. The name grizzly usually refers to bears living inland, away from the coast. While bears of the same species might look similar, everything from their size, coloring, diet, and sleeping patterns depend on the bear’s location. For example, a bear’s diet varies depending on what foods are available during a specific season in a specific region.

Let’s take a look at two different brown bears, a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park and an Alaskan brown bear, to see how they differ in diet, winter dens, and life cycle. For more information about bears and bear behavior in a specific national park, please contact that park.

What Do Brown Bears Eat?

Brown bears are omnivorous, eating a mixed diet of plants, berries, fish, and small mammals. Unlike black bears, brown bears have long, strong claws that they use to dig for food, pick fruits, and catch prey.

Brown bears are very intelligent, curious, and skilled at finding food. Bears who are fed by humans may begin to associate people with food, and this can become dangerous. So please remember: No matter where you are, don’t feed the bears! Help keep them wild by following these tips on food storage and bear safety.

Grizzly Bear in Yellowstone

Grizzly bears in Yellowstone eat a wide variety of foods. They are effective predators and prey on vulnerable animals such as elk calves and spawning trout, or small mammals and insects. Their long claws and strong shoulders allow them dig efficiently for food. They eat a variety of plants, including pine nuts, berries, grasses, glacier lilies, roots, bulbs, tubers, and dandelions. In the fall, whitebark pine seeds are a preferred food for grizzly bears; the reduction of whitebark pine due to white pine blister rust and other factors may influence grizzly cub production and survival. (Read more about grizzly bear recovery and conservation in Yellowstone.) Grizzlies will also scavenge meat, when available, from elk and bison carcasses or road kill. Grizzly bears spend most of their time feeding, eating up to 30 pounds of food per day to store fat for the winter.

Alaskan Brown Bear

Alaskan brown bears are the largest brown bears and require a very high caloric intake of food. Brown bears in Alaska can eat 80 to 90 pounds of food per day in the summer and fall, gaining around three to six pounds of fat each day, in order to store fat for the winter.

Alaskan brown bears are opportunistic eaters and will eat almost anything. Their diet consists of berries, flowers, grasses, herbs, and roots. They get their protein from beavers, deer, caribou, salmon, carcasses, and other small mammals.

Winter Dens

Most brown bears spend the winter hibernating in dens to avoid the cold weather and lack of abundant food sources. During their winter slumber, bears’ bodies drop in body temperature, pulse rate, and respiration. Their bodies use the fat they stored in the summer as energy.

Grizzly Bear in Yellowstone

Yellowstone grizzlies enter their winter dens between mid-October and early December, when the weather gets cooler. Most grizzly bears, especially mothers with cubs, will sleep through the winter. Some bears may wake up and leave their dens to search for food.

Pregnant female grizzlies give birth during the winter in their dens, usually in late January or February. Mother and cubs remain in their dens for the duration of winter while the mother sleeps and the cubs nurse and grow.

Alaskan Brown Bear

Brown bears in the coldest parts of Alaska hibernate through the winter. Hibernation can last from five to eight months. Most bears hibernate, but bears in warmer areas, like Kodiak Island off Kenai Fjords National Park, may remain active throughout winter.

During the winter denning period, pregnant Alaskan brown bears give birth. Like the Yellowstone grizzly, Alaskan brown bear cubs spend the rest of winter nursing and gaining weight to prepare to leave the den in the spring. Bears emerge from their dens in April or May.

Life Cycle

Adult brown bears lead fairly solitary lives but will be found together when there is abundant food or during mating season. The life cycle of brown bears in Yellowstone is very similar to that of a brown bear in Alaska.

Female brown bears do not mate until they are at least four or six years of age. Mating season occurs from mid-May to mid-July and bears will mate with multiple partners during the season.

When the female enters her den in the fall, the embryo will start to develop. After about eight weeks, or in January or February, the cubs are born.

Typically a female will have a litter of one to three cubs, although litters of four occur occasionally. They are born tiny and hairless, sometimes weighing less than half a pound. They spend the winter sleeping and nursing, warm in their dens with their mother.

By the time spring arrives, the cubs will have grown and weigh anywhere between four and eight pounds. Mother and cubs emerge from their dens in search of food. Male grizzlies have no part in raising cubs. In fact, male grizzlies may pose a threat to cubs, and mother bears are very protective of her young. Cubs will stay with their mother for about two years learning survival skills. After two or three years, a female bear is ready to mate again.

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are closely related to brown bears but have adapted to life in the snow and ice and live in the coldest environments in the nation. They have black skin to better absorb heat and thick white coats that repel water and provide camouflage in the snow and ice. Their large webbed paws help make them excellent swimmers.

In the United States, polar bears are believed to be found only in Alaska. The Alaska polar bear population is estimated to be between 4,000 and 7,000 individuals. Only two national park units—Bering Land Bridge National Preserve and Cape Krusenstern National Monument—are reported to have polar bears living nearby with a home range reaching into park boundaries. If you’d like more information about polar bears in a specific national park, please contact that park.

What Do Polar Bears Eat?

Polar bears eat more meat than other bear species, perhaps because of the lack of vegetation in arctic climates. Polar bears typically eat seals but will also feed on whale carcasses when they are available. They have a strong sense of smell and can detect a carcass from nearly 20 miles away. When food is scarce, polar bears may hunt small rodents and fish or eat berries.

Winter Dens

Because food is usually abundant throughout the winter, only pregnant polar bears make winter dens on the sea ice. Mother polar bears sleep deeply in their dens, but they are awake for the birth and nursing of their cubs.

Life Cycle

Female polar bears reach sexual maturity around four or five years of age. Mating season occurs in the spring, but embryos do not begin to develop until the female enters her den. Polar bears give birth to one to three cubs during the winter; twins are the most common.

Newborn cubs are 12 to 14 inches long and weigh a little more than a pound. In the spring, the mother bear and her cubs will emerge from their den.

Mother bears are very protective of their cubs, and sometimes have to protect them from male polar bears who are known to kill young of their species. Polar bear cubs grow rapidly and will stay with their mother for a little over two years learning survival skills.

Being outdoors means being with wildlife. Many people never encounter a bear. But if you do, here's some simple advice:

• DO NOT RUN.
• Remain calm.
• Group together and pick up small children.
• Continue to face the bear and back away slowly, talking calmly to identify yourself as a human.
• If the bear continues to approach, try to scare it away by making yourself as large and imposing as possible by stretching your arms overhead and making loud noises.
• Carry and know how to use bear spray, which is available at many outdoor retailers and can be used to deter a charging bear.

Food Storage

Bears are always searching for food. Bears are curious, intelligent animals that have great memories. Their eyesight is similar to humans and their sense of smell is seven times more powerful than a blood hound’s, enabling them to smell food from miles away.

Food storage lockers are provided at many campsites and should be used at all times to store attractants (U.S. Forest Service).

Those are the very traits that can sometimes get them – and us – into trouble. Most bears are wary of humans and try to avoid them. However, bears can learn to associate people with food and be tenacious in their pursuit of something to eat. Even if humans are around.

Everyone in bear country must do our part to store food and other attractants in bear-resistant containers at all times, and dispose of trash in bear-resistant dumpsters.

Bears remember and recognize familiar food sources like favorite berry patches, decaying logs swarming with delectable insects, and streams and rivers teeming with fish that provide much needed fat and protein.

But bears also remember human packs, campsites, and dwellings offer tempting options. While bears are attracted to any edible food, they also might try to feast on items we might not consider edible:

• toothpaste
• shampoo
• lotion
• soap
• cooking utensils
• empty cans
• wrappers
• coolers
• pet food
• bird seed
• garbage
• petroleum products (including fuel)

There are three species of bears living in North America:

Black bears (Ursus americanus) are the most abundant and widely distributed of the three species of North American bears. Black bears vary in color from jet black to cinnamon to white, although black is the color encountered most frequently. Given the number and extensive range of black bears in North America, this is the bear species you are most likely to encounter during your visit to the national forests.

Brown bears and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) are the same species, even though there are notable differences between them. “Brown bears” typically live along the southern coast of Alaska where they have access to seasonally abundant spawning salmon. The smaller “grizzly bear” lives in the northern and interior areas of Alaska as well as the northern Cascades and Rocky Mountains of the lower 48 states.

Polar bears live in the arctic and are not found in any of our national forests.

Here are more tips to help you stay safe while visiting bear country. Know more about bear interactions by contacting the camp host or district ranger at your national forest or grassland destination.

Hiking in Bear Country

• Do not feed bears or other wildlife.
• Visit or call the local Forest Service office to learn about special requirements or guidelines for the area.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.
• Read all signs at trailheads.
• Stay alert, do not wear headphones and cautiously approach any blind corners in the trail.
• Carry bear spray such that it is easily accessible. Know how to use it.
• Hike as a group, keep children with you and dogs leashed.
• Make plenty of noise.
• For extended trips, keep food and other attractants in personal use size bear resistant containers.
• If you see a bear, maintain a safe distance and alter your route to avoid the bear. Never block a bear’s travel route.
• If you see a cub alone, don't approach. Momma bear could be nearby.

Camping in Bear Country

• Do not feed bears or other wildlife.
• Visit or call the local Forest Service office to learn about special requirements or guidelines for properly storing food while camping in the area.
• Keep a clean camp site.
• Do not store food or any scented items in a tent, including clothing with food residues.
• Do not leave food unattended at a campsite or in your vehicle.
• Use bear-resistant food lockers and dumpsters where provided or bring your own.
• Clean utensils and food prep area thoroughly after cooking.
• Do not store garbage at camp site. Use a designated dumpster.
• At an undeveloped camping location, cook and store food away from sleeping area.

Bears are wild animals and can be dangerous. There are a combination of characteristics to look for that can help you identify between black and brown bears. Knowing the difference between the two can help you make safe choices in bear country.

Brown/Grizzly Bears

Brown and grizzly are common names for the same species, Ursus arctos; the difference between the two is geographic location, which influences diet, size, and behavior. Those that live in coastal areas of Alaska are called brown bears, while typically inland bears that have limited or no access to marine-derived food resources are often smaller and called grizzlies. Both have the same distinctive body shape described below.

• Distinctive shoulder hump.
• Rump is lower than shoulder hump.
• Face profile appears dished in between the eyes and tip of the snout.
• Ears are short and round.
• Front claws are slightly curved and 2-4 inches longs, depending on how much digging the individual bear does.
• Toes are close together, and form a farily straight line. A line drawn under the big toe across the top of the pad runs through or below the bottom half of the little toe on grizzly/brown bear tracks. Claw marks are often visible in the tracks.
• Brown bears are larger than black bears, standing 3-5 feet at the shoulder when on all fours.

American Black Bears

American black bears (Ursus americanus) are the most common and widely distributed species of bears in North America. They can be found anywhere from forested areas to the beach to the alpine zone.

The name "black bear" is misleading, however. This species can range from black to gray to cinammon to white depending on the location and the individual. To ensure proper identification of an American black bear, do not depend on the bear's coloration. Instead, look for a combination of the following features.

• Shoulder lies level or flat with back/lacks shoulder hump.
• Rump is higher than front shoulders.
• Face profile is straight from between the eyes to tip of muzzle.
• Ears are taller and more oval shaped and can appear to be very prominent on the head.
• Front claws are less than 2 inches long and curved.
• Toes are separated and fairly arced. A line drawn under the big toe across the top of the pad runs through the top half of the little toe on black bear tracks. Claw marks do not always show in the tracks.
• Black bears are smaller than brown bears, standing 2 - 3.5 feet at the shoulder when on all fours.

Side-By-Side Comparison of Black and Brown/Grizzly Bear Characteristics

When trying to identify a bear, do not rely on color and size alone, as they can be misleading. Instead, use tracks and the physical appearance of a bear to determine whether it is a brown/grizzly or American black bear.

Be aware. Be alert while on the trail, and always be on the lookout for bears. Keep an eye out for fresh tracks, scat, other signs (torn up logs, digging, fresh claw marks on trees), and carrion (carcasses) in the area.

Check with individual parks to find out what kind of bears can be found in the park and if any areas are closed for bear management. Stay out of these areas!

Know your bear country. Watch out for good bear habitat. Bears prefer habitat that’s suitable for them to feed, rest, and sleep—thick brush and heavy tree stands for example. Also, be mindful of features that can easily hide a bear, like tall bushes, gulleys, and boulder fields.

Be aware of places you might encounter a feeding or sleeping bear. During the late summer and fall, bears will be foraging, which can make it harder for them to notice you. Watch out for large swaths of flowering plants, or plants that have fruit on them like berries. Be extra careful near water sources where bears might be feeding or drinking. Tall vegetation can also hide bears that are foraging or resting.

Hike in a group. Hiking in a group will decrease your chances of surprising a bear, and it decreases your chances of a bear attack. A group of three or more hikers is more likely to deter an encounter, and bears will be able to see, hear, and smell you more easily. Hiking in a group also increases the odds at least one person will be alert and notice a bear before a surprise encounter.

Trail running in bear country is highly discouraged. Trust us — you do NOT want to surprise a bear or provoke an attack.

Make noise while hiking. Making noise on the trail can alert a bear to your presence before you have the chance to surprise it. Talk to your partners and occasionally sing loudly, yell “hello” or “whoop! whoop!” and clap your hands loudly to let any bears know you’re coming. Make extra noise when you’re close to loud natural features such as rivers, streams, and on windy days. Also make lots of noise when approaching features that make it hard for a bear to see you (such as a crest in the trail or a blind corner).

Bear bells may be a popular item to put on your backpack, but they don’t effectively warn a bear you’re in the area. Bears won’t hear the bells until you’re too close. Yelling, clapping, and talking are more effective ways of alerting a bear to your presence.

Never surprise a bear. If you see a bear before it sees you, slowly and calmly back away from the area and keep an eye on the bear.

Never approach a bear that doesn’t see you—it could lead to surprising the bear, which can cause the bear to react.

Avoid hiking at dawn, dusk, and at night. These are the time periods when bears are most active. They’re often foraging or hunting during these times.

Watch out for sows (adult mother bears) with cubs. If you find a cub, or a pair of cubs, leave the area. Even if you don’t see the sow right away, they could be nearby and they will be ready to protect their cubs. DO NOT APPROACH CUBS. Never get between a sow and her cubs. If you find yourself in this situation, slowly and calmly move away from the bears in a non-threatening manner and watch the sow. Be ready to defend yourself if the sow becomes aggressive.

You’ve taken a lunch break while hiking and sat down just off the trail, when out of nowhere you hear an animal. You see the bushes move not too far away, and then out comes a bear! What do you do now?

If a bear happens to surprise you, stay calm. Do not surprise the bear if it’s unaware of your presence.

Slowly stand up and speak to the bear in a calm, confident manner. Speaking to the bear in a calm, confident tone will distinguish your voice from the noise of a potential prey animal. You’re trying to let the bear identify you as a person and not an animal.

Immediately pick up any small children that are with you and hold onto them. Do not make any loud noises or screams—the bear may think it’s the sound of a prey animal. Slowly wave your arms above your head and tell the bear to back off. Do NOT run or make any sudden movements.

Put away any food and keep your pack on. Do not leave any food or personal items lying around. The bear may become conditioned to associate people with food sources. Do not attempt to distract a bear by throwing food items or backpacks at it.

Avoid direct eye contact with the bear, it may see it as an aggressive move. Slowly back away from the bear and keep an eye on it. If you back away and the bear follows you or begins to act aggressively, be ready to stand your ground and fight.

Remember every bear encounter is different. Bears wil exhibit different behaviors in different situations. Understanding bear's behavior can make the difference between life and death.

Every encounter is different. Bears exhibit different kinds of behaviors during different situations, and understanding the bear’s behavior can make the difference between life and death.

There are two types of charges—bluff charges and aggressive charges.

Bluff charges are more common.
Bluff charges are meant to scare or intimidate. When a bear bluff charges, it will have its head and ears up and forward. The bear will puff itself up to look bigger. It will bound on its front paws toward you (moving in big leaps), but then stop short or veer off to one side. Often bears retreat after a bluff charge, or they may vocalize loudly.

If you can see a bluff charge is about to happen, slowly back away while waving your arms above your head, and speak to the bear in a calm voice. 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.

Do NOT run during a bluff charge, it may trigger the bear to attack. Stand your ground. Be ready for the bear to make contact in case the charge is not a bluff charge. Know how to protect and defend yourself in case the bear turns aggressive.

Aggressive charges are very dangerous. Bears may yawn or clack their teeth, and pound their front paws on the ground while huffing—these are warning signs. These behaviors indicate that a bear is stressed, and it may be getting ready to charge. It will have its head down and ears pointed back, and the bear will come at you like a freight train. Be ready to protect and defend yourself!

• If a black bear charges and attacks you, FIGHT BACK WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE! Do not play dead. Direct punches and kicks at the bear’s face, and use any weapon like rocks, branches, or bear spray to defend yourself.

• If a grizzly/brown bear charges and attacks you, PLAY DEAD. Do not fight back! 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 not get up right away because the bear may still be in the area. Wait several minutes until you are sure that the bear is gone.

  • Fighting back during an attack from a grizzly/brown bear will usually worsen the attack, but if the attack persists, then fight back with everything you have!

What If I Surprise a Bear?

If you surprise a bear, regardless of the species, don’t fight it. Unless the bear is acting predatory, do not fight it. This can cause the bear to act more aggressively toward you and trigger an attack.

If you surprise a bear, slowly and calmly back away while avoiding direct eye contact—the bear may see this as an aggressive or challenging behavior. Slowly and calmly speak to the bear, wave your arms to let the bear know you are a human. Pick up any small children or pets immediately. Watch the bear as you leave the area.

• If you surprise a black bear and it charges or attacks, fight back with everything you have!

• If you surprise a grizzly/brown bear and it charges or attacks, do not fight back! Only fight back if the attack persists.

Never run from a surprised bear because it can cause a predatory reaction from the bear. Do not try to climb a tree. You cannot outrun or out climb a bear.

Predatory Bears

Predatory bears are very different than surprised or defensive bears. If you encounter a bear that’s curious or stalks you like a predator, be ready to fight. Do NOT run. Stalking and curious bears are not in a defensive mindset like a surprised bear. They are ready to attack their prey at a moment’s notice, and YOU are the prey. Try to seek shelter in a car or building if possible. If that isn’t an option, be ready to fight. If you notice a bear stalking you, now is the time to get your bear spray ready. If the bear attacks you, fight back with anything that you have. Use any available weapon to fight the bear (sticks, rocks, bear spray, even your fists). If a predatory bear attacks you, no matter the species, fight back with everything you have.

Report all bear encounters. If you are involved with a bear conflict or encounter, report it to park authorities as soon as possible. If the conflict is serious and cell service is available, call 911.

Bear spray and firearms are the last tools in your toolbox. They should not provide a false sense of security.

It is recommended that you carry bear spray when hiking in bear country. However, some parks do not allow the possession or use of bear spray. Check park regulations before your trip.

Have your bear spray ready. Keep your bear spray on a belt holster or on a chest holster at all times. Never keep it in your backpack while hiking—you won’t be able to reach it in time if a bear charges or attacks you.

Know when to spray it. Only use your bear spray when the bear is charging or attacking you. When an aggressive charging bear is within 60 feet of you, this is the time to use it!

Know how to use your bear spray. Practice using bear spray before you go hiking, so you know what to do when the time comes. Practice pulling the canister out of its holster and removing the safety on the trigger, but be careful to not discharge it. Inert (non-active) cans are available for training purposes.

When a bear attacks or charges you, spray a cloud between you and the bear, and be ready to spray multiple times or empty the can.

• Point the canister at a slight downward angle and fire toward the bear.
• Strong winds will affect spray distance and direction. Snow, rain, and cold weather will decrease spray distance. Always be upwind if possible.

Bear spray is not meant to be worn; it’s an irritant. Never spray on skin, clothing, camping gear, or other personal items. Always keep bear spray secure, and never leave it in your enclosed, hot vehicle when it’s not being carried.

Have the right bear spray. Be sure to buy EPA-approved bear spray. It’s the only kind that’s effective enough to ward off or stop an aggressive bear. Personal protection or law enforcement sprays aren’t strong enough to affect the bear’s senses. Many law enforcement or personal protection sprays shoot out in a narrow stream instead of a dispersed cloud, which makes it harder to hit a charging bear.

Be sure to check if your brand of bear spray is allowed in certain parks, or allowed outside of the United States if you’re travelling in a park that shares an international border. Always check park regulations before bringing or purchasing bear spray.

Firearms

Firearms are not recommended for stopping an attack. Using a firearm during a bear attack may only worsen the attack. An injured bear will be more aggressive, especially during a fight. It’s also harder to hit a charging bear with a firearm rather than bear spray, and a firearm can be dangerous to any hiking partners. While firearms have been effective at stopping an attack, they aren’t recommended.

Wounded bears can be even more dangerous. If a bear is wounded with a firearm, it can potentially be defensive or aggressive. This can put park rangers and other park visitors at risk if a wounded bear must be tracked down.

Firearms are not a substitute for proper bear avoidance practices and knowing how to properly handle a bear encounter.

Bear spray is the recommended tool for self defense against a bear. Bear spray is easy to use without much experience, and it’s a highly effective tool for stopping or deterring attacks.

The NPS strives to protect wildlife populations. If a firearm is effectively used during an encounter, it can be lethal for the bear, while bear spray allows the bear to likely remain in the population.

If a firearm is used in self-defense against a bear, contact park authorities immediately.Federal regulations prohibit the use or discharge of any weapon within a park area. The applicability of a state statute pertaining to self-defense in a wildlife encounter may vary state to state and by park area and will generally take into account any provoking or negligent actions by the person.

With forethought and planning, it’s amazing how much food you can fit into a canister. If you choose the right foods and repackage them, you can maximize canister space. It takes a little effort and time but the results are rewarding.

Remember, when you are using a canister ALL scented items - food, toiletries and garbage - must fit inside the canister throughout your entire trip. Learn more about bears.

How to Do It

• Choose the right foods.
• Measure out every meal.
• Repackage your food and toiletries into baggies or small containers.
• Carry the first two meals outside of the canister: lunch and dinner.
• At the trailhead, make sure that ALL food, trash, toiletries and scented items will fit inside the canister the first night.
• Put the canister and your kitchen 50 feet from your sleeping area. Leave the canister on the ground. Do not hang the canister from a tree.

Food Choices

Choose foods that are compact, compressible and high in calories. This includes rice, tortillas, jerky, flat pastas, dehydrated powders, nuts, dried fruits, peanut butter, candy and nutritional bars. Try to put as much food in the canister that you can. Think about volume when you purchase food. For example, instead of bread rolls, buy tortillas. Instead of macaroni, choose spaghetti. You get the picture - don’t waste space on bulky food items.

Plan Your Menu

Carefully count every meal that you will be eating. By doing this, you will save weight and space. Put all the food on a table and plan each meal, snack, drink and condiment. Pre-measure and pre-mix food.

Repackage Your Food

Take food out of its original package. This allows you to fit more food inside a canister and reduces the amount of garbage you generate. Repackage food from boxes, bottles, jars and cans into resealable plastic bags. These bags are flexible and fit into small spaces. Force air out of packages. Poke tiny holes in freeze-dried packages to release the air. Save instructions for cooking and put inside meal bags. Write food contents on outside of bags with a permanent marker.

Toiletries

Pack toiletries similarly to foods. Put toothpaste, soap, sunscreen, bug repellent, etc. into small containers. Stores sell small, lightweight plastic containers that work well for this. Don’t take more than you need.

Benefits of Using a Canister

• Less stress, increased peace of mind
• More time at camp to relax instead of thinking of ways to store food
• Guaranteed food supply if bears or other animals visit your camp
• No aborted trips because bears ate your food
• Freedom to camp anywhere: above treeline or away from food storage lockers
• No need to search for the right tree or carry ropes and food sacs for counter-balancing
• More time at camp to relax instead of thinking of ways to store food
• A small table to use, something to sit on
• Increased safety for you and protection of wild animals

Suggested Food Items

• Cheese
• Jerky, sliced meats
• Tortillas, pita bread
• Trail mix,raisins, nuts
• Dried fruit, candy
• Spaghetti, flat pastas
• Rice

Dehydrated food:

• Fruit, vegetables, soups, sauces, beans
• Nutrition bars
• Peanut butter
• Freeze dried meals

Packaged food

• Condiment packets
• Oatmeal
• Powdered milk
• Instant coffee
• Tea

Question: Do bears feed only at night?

Answer: Bears tend to feed at dusk and dawn but it is not uncommon for bears to actively feed throughout the day.

Question: Why do bears hibernate?

Answer: Bears hibernate because of dwindling food supplies. Bears do not hibernate simply because the weather has turned cold or snow is falling.

Question: Do bears always avoid people?

Answer: Bears will not always try to avoid people. A bear may approach people because it is curious, testing dominance, habituated, food‐conditioned or potentially predatory.

Question: Why do bears stand up, are they getting ready to attack?

Answer: A bear may stand on its hind legs to get a better look or to pick up your scent if it cannot tell what you are.

Question: Will making direct eye contact make the bear more likely to attack?

Answer: It’s important to watch the bear so you can assess the situation. In non‐defensive situations, look at and face the bear, stand tall and maintain an air of confidence.

Question: Is climbing a tree a good way to avoid an aggressive bear?

Answer: Both black and grizzly bears can and will climb trees. Black bears are very comfortable in trees and mothers will often send their cubs up trees for safety.

Question: Is running downhill a way to avoid an aggressive bear?

Answer: Both black and grizzly bears can run just as fast downhill as they do uphill, and won’t hesitate to, and can easily outrun even the fastest human.

Question: Will ammonia or moth balls prevent bears from getting into garbage?

Answer: No, household products such as these don’t work and may provide a unique scent or attractant. Keeping garbage in bear resistant containers or behind locked doors is the most effective way to keep bears out of garbage.

Question: Are menstruating women in greater danger of a bear attack?

Answer: There has been no evidence linking menstruating women and bear attacks, but consider soiled menstrual products a potential attractant and keep secure from bears.

Question: Is the advice to fight a black bear, play dead with a brown bear, good advice?

Answer: Your response should be based on the motivation of the bear. You must pay attention to the bear’s behavior to know how to respond.

Question: So to be safe, should I just lie down and play dead if a bear approaches?

Answer: Lying down is a last resort and should only occur when a defensive bear makes physical contact with you. It is rarely necessary and could trigger a predatory response from the bear.

Question: Do bears defend territories?

Answer: Bears defend personal space. Your goal is to give bears plenty of space. Even bears habituated to human presence have spatial limits. Females with cubs, even more so.

Question: Have bears developed a better sense of smell because they can’t see well?

Answer: Bears have good vision similar to humans and can see in color. Their night vision is excellent and they are particularly sensitive to detecting movement.

Question: How can I rapidly assess how big a bear is?

Answer: You can rapidly assess the size of a bear by looking at its ears. If the ears are large (and close together on the head) then this is a small bear, maybe a juvenile. If the ears are small (and far apart on the head), then this is a big bear, maybe an adult.