Communicating with Bears: Grizzlies

One of the cardinal rules when pressed, followed, or charged by a grizzly is DON'T RUN! This seems to give the grizzly the irresistible impulse to chase you and may even inspire predatory behavior. A surprising number of bear mauling victims were trying to run to a tree, or had even climbed part-way up before being dragged down. You must quietly but firmly hold your ground, looking at the grizzly but not quite directly. This signals your desire for no trouble but also your willingness to fight back if you have to. Unarmed bear researchers have stood down hundreds of grizzly charges without being harmed this way. Glaring at the grizzly, shouting and arm-waving tends to suggest that you are spoiling for a fight. It is appropriate when dealing with half-grown grizzlies (who MUST be discouraged from the idea that it's fun to intimidate humans) but not the big guys or a mother with cubs. The grizzly is likely to pull up only a few feet away and grumble and whuff at you. Accept the reproach as calmly and confidently as possible (body posture is ALWAYS important around bears, stand tall, don't cringe) and stay where you are until the bear decides to move away, then slowly and calmly move away.

One teenager walking a dark road at night suddenly heard a deep, fearsome growl from the bush only a few feet away. It just dripped menace and gradually built up to a roar. The boy just froze in place. After a while, he heard the sounds of something big getting up and moving off into the woods. He had disturbed a big sleeping male in his bed and the grizzly was letting him know just what he thought about that. Nevertheless, he got up and left the boy unharmed. You should get a useful lesson from this. If he had screamed and tried running, he might well have been eaten.

Grizzlies are highly emotional, passionate, and rather impulsive animals. You have to make allowances for their fierce and touchy pride. They are the true lords of the wilderness where they live, and the only thing they really have to fear is you. You need to communicate respect to them without acting panicky or terrified. A grizzly will often fake a charge or two, tear something up or roar to show

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