Attacked By a Bear? DO THIS!

September 5, 2021

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Camping is a nice way to unwind and destress. Currently, people are getting more into camping due to the pandemic. While it’s nice to be one with nature at times, challenges and emergencies occasionally happen. One of the common tendencies? Bear attacks.

Soft toys and cuddly bears are nice but encountering a real-life bear can be no fun. Here are some tips what to do in case of bear attacks.

Before camping…

It is always best to plan ahead and do research of the place you are going to. Identify what wildlife animals are present in that area. If you know beforehand what you may be seeing, it will be easier to prepare necessary stuffs and tools to bring along with you when camping.

Also take note of the camping site’s contact information. Most campsites are guided by park officials. Do keep a number of at least one of those officials in case of emergency.

Preparing and ensuring everyone’s safety should be a top priority. Here are 3 crucial tips in order to survive a hurricane.

If you already know that you are going to a place where bears naturally inhabit, learn to identify and differentiate bear types to better know how to make ready. Prepare supply and emergency kits. Invest on quality tents with safety features. Buy a bear spray.

While camping…

Set up your tent in a spacious area. Always make sure there is enough space between the tents’ walls and campers.

Bears just like most animals can be attracted with food and certain smells. When cooking your food, make sure to cooking in the direction of wind. Immediately clean up after eating and properly dispose all your trash. Only cook what you can finish.

Always keep guard and be extra aware of your surroundings. Never wander off alone into the wilderness.

Now what would you do if a bear attack actually happens?

First of all, don’t panic. Staying calm is a virtue. Identify which type of bear it is. Black bears tend to be climbers while brown bears are runners.

Experts highly discourages running and making loud movements in front of a bear. While your instinct may tell you to run as fast as you can, you will more likely end up dead than alive if you do that. It is best to stay put, assess the situation and decide. If the bear is still quite far from you, slowly attempt to walk backwards to a safer spot. Don’t ever turn your back on a bear.

However, if the bear starts to walk towards you and there is nowhere to go, start looking for the tallest tree and start climbing it. Aim for the highest spots as bears tend to be huge and can easily snatch you from the tree if you are hanging low.

Once safe in a tree, start calling for help.

On the other hand, if the bear appears to be a grizzly, using a bear spray is the best weapon. If the bear doesn’t seem too aggressive, start spraying on its direction until it backs away. Keep in mind though to only use the spray if the bear is 30 feet away or less.

If the worst thing happens and you are overpowered by a bear, act or play dead. Pretend that you are defeated for about 20 minutes. This trick is proven and tested.

Lastly, know where you stand. You are only visiting the wild and bears rightfully belong with nature. Know how to respect bears and where they live.

Having the awareness and knowledge along with preparedness, surviving a bear attack is not impossible. Bear attacks are a rare occurrence but being ready in case of unfortunate events is instrumental.