What to Do If You Encounter a Bear

Don't run — bears are faster than you and running triggers their chase instinct. Make yourself look large, speak in a calm, firm voice, and back away slowly. If a brown or grizzly bear attacks, play dead: lie face-down, spread your legs, clasp your hands behind your neck, and stay still. If a black bear attacks, fight back aggressively — punch, kick, use rocks or sticks. Bear spray is statistically more effective than a firearm in most encounters. The key difference is knowing what species you're facing before the encounter escalates.