Bear Safety
Grizzly Bear stroll at Sunset
© Wild by Nature Gallery
Yellowstone is home to both grizzly and black bears. Although the risk of an encounter with a bear is low, there are no guarantees of your safety. Minimize your risks by following the guidelines below:
Hiking Etiquette in Bear Country:
- Make loud noises if hiking on trails. Loud enough that bears are aware of your presence. Occasional shouts or singing will lessen the chances of a sudden and surprise bear encounter. The sound of a bear bell will not carry over far distances; the human voice is free-of-charge and has been found to be more effective to alert a bear that you are there.
- Hike in groups (the National Park Service recommends 3 or more) and use more caution where your vision and hearing might be obstructed (thick wooded areas, near loud rivers, windy days).
- Do not hike after dark. Bears seem to be more active on hiking trails between the hours of dusk and dawn.
- Avoid carcasses; bears often defend this source of food.
- If you encounter a bear, do not run. Bears can run over 30 miles per hour, or 44 feet per second, faster than Olympic sprinters. Running may elicit an attack from otherwise non-aggressive bears. If the bear is unaware of you, detour away from the bear. If the bear is aware of you and nearby, but has not acted aggressively, slowly back away.
- Climb a tree to avoid a bear attack? This is sometimes advisable, but not very practical. All bears found in North America, both black and grizzly bears have been known to climb trees. Running to a tree may provoke an otherwise uncertain bear to chase you.
Camping Etiquette in Bear Country:
Hiking and camping restrictions are occasionally posted as a result of bear activity. It is advisable to check with a local visitor center or ask a ranger about recent bear sightings before heading out on a trail. By doing so, you will get the most up-to-date information for bear activity in that area. Check at the trailhead for recently posted bear warning signs.
- Never camp in an area that has obvious sign of recent bear activity. Evidence such as fresh digging, tracks, or scat could mean that a bear frequents this area.
- Avoid carrying or cooking with odorous foods. Odors have been known to attract bears. Keep a clean campsite; do not cook or store food in your tent. All food, garbage, or other odorous items used for preparing or cooking food must be secured from bears.
- Store all attractants properly. Most backcountry campsites have food poles from which all food, cooking gear, and scented articles must be suspended high off the ground when not being used. Treat all odorous products such as soap, deodorant, or other toiletries in the same manner as food.
- Never leave backpacks with food unattended! Allowing a bear to obtain human foods, even once often results in the bear becoming aggressive about obtaining such food in the future. Never throw your pack down on the ground to divert the bear's attention away from you. Most likely at that point, the bear perceived you or your group as a threat and is not interested in the contents of your backpack.
Aggressive bears present a threat to human safety and eventually must be destroyed or removed from the park. Please obey the law and do not allow bears or other wildlife to obtain human food. - Sleep a minimum of 100 yards (91 meters) away from where you hang, cook, and eat your food. Keep your sleeping gear clean and free of food odor. Don't sleep in the same clothes worn while cooking and eating; hang clothing worn while cooking and eating in plastic bags.
What to do if a Bear Attacks:
Some bears will bluff their way out of a threatening situation by charging, then veering off or stopping abruptly at the last second. Bear experts generally recommend:
- Stand still until the bear stops and then slowly back away.
- If a bear makes physical contact, drop to the ground, lie face down, and clasp your hands behind your neck.
- Lie still and remain silent. It may take all the courage you have, but resistance will only provoke the bear.
- Before moving, listen and look around carefully to make sure the bear is no longer nearby.
- When it's safe to do so, remove yourself from the area as quickly as you can. Bears are sometimes curious creatures and may return to the site of the encounter.
There is not a recipe book breakdown of what to do when you encounter a bear on the trail. You will need to figure out the step-by-step details over the duration of the encounter. If you pay attention to bear sign and follow the easy rules while out in bear country - you dramatically lessen your chances of a bear encounter! Remember, there are no guarantees of your safety, but don't let your concerns interfere with getting you out and enjoying Yellowstone…just be diligent regarding your actions in bear country and be bear-aware at all times.
Menstruating Women in Bear Country:
Considering bears' highly developed sense of smell, it may seem logical that they could be attracted to odors associated with menstruation. Studies on this subject are few and inconclusive. If a woman chooses to hike or camp in bear country during menstruation, a basic precaution should be to wear internal tampons, not external pads. Used tampons should be double-bagged in a zip-lock type bag and stored the same as garbage.
Immediately Report any Bear Activity!
If you are involved in a conflict with a bear, regardless of how minor, report it to a park ranger as soon as possible. Another's safety may depend on it!
In areas in and around Yellowstone bears find exceptional combinations of natural foods, shelter, and open-space. These provide ideal situations which draw grizzlies to some parts of the park more than others. Some locations in Yellowstone have been designated Bear Management Areas, human access is restricted to reduce impacts on the bears and their habitat. Ask at ranger stations or visitor centers for more information.
Information found on this webpage has been updated and added by MacNeil Lyons, a Resident Instructor with the Yellowstone Association Institute.
Page content provided by:
Yellowstone Association - Official Park Partner
Visit their website for more infomation on:
"Yellowstone Travel Tips: Bear Safety"
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