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Communicating With Bears: Black Bears - Page 3

© Gerald Eugene Smith

Some bears are willing to intimidate people. This is particularly likely with a young male who hasn't yet learned that bears that mess with humans are usually not long for this world. It can also happen with bears that have been fed handouts, especially if they charge hikers or enter inhabited campgrounds. The basic tactic here is to call the bear's bluff, especially in the case of the cocky young male. If you start backing up, you will be relentlessly followed, possibly for miles. The more scared you act the more intimidating the bear will act towards you. The bear will very slowly get closer, but will usually avoid actual contact. The bear will NOT be impressed by anything you do to warn him away once you act scared of him. He knows you're bluffing and that he has established dominance over you and controls the situation.

The whole trick is for YOU to establish dominance first. Do NOT back up! Act calm and confident. Call the bear's bluff by striding confidently towards him. (This trick is more effective if a man does it than if a woman or child tries it. Bears know the difference.) It is particularly effective if you put some strangeness in your stride and expression. Stomp along heavily like Frankenstein with your arms outstreched. Open your mouth (taking care to display all your teeth) and eyes and act REAL happy. Take high, exaggerated "moon walking" steps. Using a wicked witch cackle, tell him what a delicious morsel he is and how much you would like to eat him for dinner. Bore into his eyes with your own. Lean forward and tense up, like you are about to pounce. Reach for him like a hungry velociraptor. In practice, even the biggest, toughest black bear is likely to bolt up the nearest tree or into the shrubbery if confronted with such wierdly alarming human behavior as that. On the off chance it doesn't work, stop about 15 feet from the bear, stand firmly and look at him quietly. Explain the situation to him calmly, and if he approaches, hunker down a little and hold out your hand for him to sniff. Keep talking to him until he leaves on his own initiative. On later occaisions, try being friendly with him. If he isn't afraid of you, it is better to be on his good side.

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