Most often, a bear shows aggression if it wants to protect offspring from a potential threat from a person. His behavior at such moments can be different, ranging from a simple manifestation of antipathy to the person he met and ending with active actions, that is, a direct attack on him.
In some cases, the bear himself initiates a meeting with people. Curiosity, the smells of delicious food make him slowly and carefully approach the camp of tourists or the village. If the bear lives nearby and often sees people, then most often it shows less aggression and can even let people to it at a fairly small distance. However, it is better not to risk and check the friendliness of this or that animal.
Many are familiar with such a concept as the “threshold of rapprochement”. It indicates the acceptable border of rapprochement with the animal. If it is violated and a person approaches a predator closer than what is permitted, then the beast sees the aggressor in him and behaves in an appropriate manner. Thus, a bear can attack a person not only if it is necessary to protect his cubs, but also in cases when he is wounded, is afraid to lose his prey, or a couple of minutes ago he was scared of something or someone else.
The degree of risk of an unfavorable outcome of such a meeting with a bear depends on the season and the time of day at which this event occurred. The bear is most aggressive and prone to attack after hibernation, woken up in winter or during rutting. Especially relaxed, these animals feel at night. Therefore, if you need to go to the taiga at precisely this time of day, then be sure to bring lighting with you.
How to avoid possible encounters with a bear
In order to reduce the risk of meeting such an animal as a bear in the forest, the following rules should be observed:
The bear in every possible way avoids any noise. In the forest you can sing loudly, talk. You can attach a bell to a backpack or clothes, make other noises. If possible, travel in large groups. Try to avoid windbreaks, do not go into dense thickets.
Do not create landfills or warehouses with food and food waste near the camp or settlement. They attract animals, contribute to their concentration in the vicinity of people. Do not dig organic waste into the ground - at any depth, brown bears with excellent sense of smell will find them and dig them out. All waste should be disposed of far from housing. The landfill site is indicated by a special sign, which should be warned by all local residents. If there is no possibility of disposal, then food waste should be burned regularly.
If possible, take your dog with you to the forest. We are talking about shepherds and other breeds that can show a malicious reaction and thereby protect you when a bear appears. It should also be remembered that any pets, as well as food for them, can become an additional bait for a bear.
Do not come close to the remains of fallen animals, birds, fish found in the forest. They may be the prey of a brown bear, which will protect it and attack you.
When moving through the forest, try not to walk along the bear paths. You can recognize them by shape: this is a path of two parallel lines of pits located about 20 centimeters from each other. Try not to go at dusk, at night and at dawn, to the river, especially along the spawning grounds where the bears hunt.
Bear behavior
Defensive
The defensive behavior of the beast can be encountered in cases when you invaded his private possessions or frightened him with something. Most often this is how a bear behaves with offspring, accidentally encountering a person in the forest. The beast perceives a person as a source of threat to offspring and to himself personally or protects his prey. Outwardly, such a reaction can be different: from light excitement to a sharp and sudden attack. Defensive
Curiosity
An animal can approach a person not only for defense purposes. Sometimes he is overcome by curiosity or attracted to the smell of food. Some bears specially walk around the camp, trying to smell the food. They approach slowly, raising their heads, guarding their ears.
Neighboring
Those bears that live in close proximity to people do not show much excitement and can be allowed close enough to themselves, especially where animals are already used to seeing humans. Individuals accustomed to people, the distance is not so clearly observed, but it still remains. A human invasion of the private space of any bear is dangerous.
Predatory
A predator bear will show particular interest in humans and will consider you as potential prey. At first, the beast simply shows curiosity, but if the bear is not rebuffed, it will turn out to be a predator. He will slowly approach you with his head held high, guarding his ears, or he will suddenly appear in your way. However, an event such as an attack on bear people does not happen often.
Avoiding danger when meeting a bear
If, while walking through the forest, you suddenly saw a bear nearby, you need to stop and soberly assess the situation. There is a possibility that the animal has not yet noticed you, then there is a chance to calmly retire at the minute when the beast turned away and looks the other way. Keep an eye on the animal. If you managed to quietly retire, make a small detour and go around the bear or go back the same route. It often happens that a bear is nearby and tries to avoid contact with a tourist or a hunter, and he does not even assume that a beast lurks here. The smaller the distance between you the second the animal has noticed you, the higher the likelihood of a defensive reaction in the beast.
When the beast began approaching you, be sure to observe the changes in its behavior. Stop and try to look natural. Talk to the animal, your confident voice will help him calm down. Try to make it clear that the bear has met a person. If the beast could not immediately understand who it was dealing with, it would either stand on its hind legs or approach a subject of interest to examine or sniff it. If the paws of the animal are lowered, it means that only curiosity drives them and at the moment it is not dangerous. Without taking your eyes off the beast (but do not look into the eyes), step back smoothly and slowly, however, with the slightest movement of the bear, immediately stop behind you and do not move anymore.
No need to scream or throw objects at the bear in the hope of defending oneself. Your aggressive behavior will anger the predator, and he will most likely attack you.
Also, do not run, you are unlikely to be able to do it, but flight can provoke the beast to aggression and attack.
Bear Attack Behavior
Faced with an aggressive bear in the forest is a terrible test for anyone. Despite the statistics, which show a small number of cases of aggressive attacks by humans from the bears, such incidents do occur. How to behave in such situations?
If a predator approaches you, do not move. Speak with him in an even calm tone. After the bear has stopped moving, carefully try again to increase the distance between you. A non-aggressive bear can abandon the intention to continue the attack and simply go to another place.
Whatever the attack - defensive or predatory - you should immediately freeze in place. If you couldn’t immediately scare away the beast and he started the attack, then the reaction may be different: in the case of the bear’s defensive tactics, you better not move, if the beast attacked, you should fight back.
Usually predatory attacks are accompanied by aggression from the bears. In this case, your reaction should also be an offensive. The beast must recognize your willingness to fight. And the more confidently the animal comes, the more aggressive your behavior should be. Try to make more noise: shout in a loud, but not piercing voice, if possible, knock on solid objects, nearby trees. Do not imitate sounds similar to the growl of a bear itself.
All the time, look the beast in the eyes if it has already attacked. Show your confidence and excellence. You can stamp your foot and take a couple of steps to meet him. If possible, stand on something to become taller. Bears are frightened by sharp sounds, you can slap, open a cloak or an umbrella. Threaten the animal with what is in your hands or what you can reach. Many bears are prone to a sudden cessation of an attack, so it can break off at any time.
When attacking for the purpose of defense, at the very last second you better fall to the ground down with your stomach and spread your legs or lie curled up. It is better to cover the head with your hands, putting crossed fingers on the back of the head - thanks to this pose, face and neck are protected. This is important because the face of almost all bears is the face. The beast will try to turn you over - in this case, roll back onto your stomach in order to provide maximum protection to the face and internal organs. Do not fight with a predator, do not shout. Remain still and silent. Otherwise, the beast who had retired would notice this and will return to continue the attack.
Additional literature: advice from Nikita Ovsyanikov, Russia's most respected scientist studying polar bears. It's about polar bears, so tips may vary.
If you met with a wolf
Without significant reasons, no animal attacks a person. The most common reasons for an aggressive attack by a wolf are the following:
- rabies, the main signs of which is a tail, a dull coat, a dull absent gaze, a head very lowered, profuse salivation, and the fact that the animal is not in a pack, but walks by itself;
- hunger, forcing the animal to seek prey among people;
- the desire to protect offspring, causing the wolves to attack everyone who appears in the immediate vicinity of their cubs.
However, whatever the true reason, when meeting with a predator there is absolutely no time to find out its motives, the main thing is to maintain composure and calmness, which will help you to be saved in this extraordinary situation.
How to behave if you saw a wolf
If you noticed a wolf in time in the forest, and he still hasn’t yet reacted to your presence, you can try to quietly leave this place. This attempt is not always successful, especially when it is not a solitary wolf, but a meeting with a whole flock, but it’s worth a try. Perhaps you are lucky, and then your life will be saved.
If you can’t leave unnoticed, you should try to slowly move back, but on the condition that the animal does not react to your movements and does not follow you. Do not look the beast in the eye, this can provoke him to aggressive behavior. Wolves see this as a message to decisive action and begin to attack. Growling means the wolf's confidence in his abilities and his readiness for a rapid attack. As soon as the beast pressed his ears to his head and crouched, expect an immediate jump from his side. Immediately try to grab the predator by the throat and, if possible, push it with all your might. In this battle, the one who has the strength and patience to resist the pressure of the opponent will win.
Do not even try to escape from the wolf or other predator in the forest. Any animal is faster and stronger than a person, so you simply will not have a chance of salvation. Turning away from the beast in an attempt to escape, showing him his back and trying to escape, you automatically recognize yourself as a victim and increase the likelihood of a subsequent predator attack. You can try to save yourself from the wolf by climbing the nearest tall tree. However, the wolf is incredibly patient, and you have to sit upstairs for a long time waiting for help or until the beast leaves.
To distract the wolf, you can throw something edible at him if you have something at hand. Often this option helps. The animal may abandon its intention to attack you if it receives a tasty treat and is occupied for some time.
If you understand that attacks from the wolf can no longer be avoided, take it in an embryo position. This position of the body will limit the wolf's access to many vulnerable places, including helping to cover the neck. It is better, however, not to give up, but to give the wolf a decisive rebuff using any improvised means. The use of pepper spray, a stun gun, sharp or sharp objects would be ideal to intimidate the enemy. However, if you do not have anything essential to protect with you, then use what you find next: a thick stick, a heavy stone, a dry tree trunk. Try to beat the wolf in the most sensitive place - in the face, aiming at the most painful - in the nose. You can also strike in the stomach of the wolf or in the chest at the moment when the predator jumps.
If there is a river nearby, get to it. Go waist deep into the water, then you will have an advantage over the wolf, because the paws of the beast will not reach the bottom and he will not be able to attack at full strength.
If the wolf knocks you down, immediately get up, not forgetting to constantly scold the enemy loudly. Your confident voice and clear movements will surely instill fear into the predator. However, do not panic, control your emotions. As soon as you surrender and show slack, the predator will immediately defeat you. Straying away from the wolf and moving away from the battlefield, do not stop out of the corner of your eye to follow the defeated enemy. Be prepared for the wolf to attack you again.
Group travel: meeting wolves
If you are traveling in a group and have been attacked by wolves, try not to separate. Stay together all the time. Keep track of young children and the wounded, if any - it is their wolves that are considered the weakest and are chosen as objects for attack. You should not show sympathy and pity for predators, they will not be able to appreciate this and still continue to try to attack you. If you have a firearm, use it. Even if you do not want to kill the wolf, a shot from a gun can scare him away and make him abandon his aggressive intentions.
If a dog is traveling with you, watch her all the time. Try to make sure that the animal does not bark in the forest, be sure to collect excrement after it so as not to attract the attention of predators. Do not compare the behavior of a domestic dog and a forest wolf. The wolf looks like a dog in appearance, but it is wild and unpredictable animals, and you can expect anything from him.
If the wolves decide to attack you after you set up camp, try to scare away predators with a bonfire. Everyone knows that wolves are most afraid of fire, especially if there is a lot of smoke. To get the maximum amount of smoke, put freshly picked leaves, a spruce branch, damp branches, or lightly burn burning wood with water in a bonfire. To make a bonfire, you need to choose the leeward side, then the wolves do not dare to attack the camp, and your group will be in relative safety.
In case of a negative outcome of an accidental encounter with wolves, be sure to consult a doctor for help. A biting wolf can be infected with rabies, and then you will also be infected. If you do not start timely treatment against this dangerous disease, a death will occur in a few days.
"If the bear wants to eat you, he will eat you."
Of the large animals, elephants, hippos, and bears are dangerous to humans. All three species are dangerous: brown, white and black American. About how to behave when meeting a bear, says zoologist Michael Kretschmar. You can listen to the lecture in the recording on our Youtube channel , and for those who prefer to read, we have prepared an article based on the lecture. The material will be useful to tourists, travelers, hunters, summer residents and everyone who rests or lives in the forest. Because where there is a forest, there is a bear.
Michael Kretschmar
Russian zoologist, writer, documentary filmmaker and journalist. Member of the International Association for the Study and Protection of Bears - studied brown bears for more than 20 years. Author of scientific works and monographs on the behavior and ecology of mammals, including the book "Shaggy God."
Conflicts between bears and humans are not uncommon. Often the outcome of such a conflict is the death of a person, and even more often the death of an animal. In order to avoid this and get out of the situation with minimal losses, it is important to choose the appropriate tactics of behavior and react correctly.
Where can I meet a bear
To understand how likely it is to meet a bear, we will consider its habitat and the total number of each species. In Russia there are 3 species of bears: brown, white and Himalayan.
Brown bear
A brown bear can be found in forests almost throughout the entire territory of our country and even outside the forest zone - for example, in the Chukchi tundra. Signs of its habitat are found even in the immediate vicinity of Moscow and within the Moscow and Leningrad regions.
The total number of brown bears in Russia is 200 thousand individuals. These data are approximate, because it is very difficult to calculate the exact size of the population, and no one knows the real numbers.
Polar bear
Its habitat is limited to the Arctic; accordingly, the probability of meeting it is very small.
Polar bears around the world are 10 times less than brown ones - only 20-30 thousand individuals. And in the territories adjacent to Russia (Spitsbergen-Novaya Zemlya, Laptev, Chukchi-Alaska populations) there are 8-10 thousand of them.
Himalayan (white-breasted) bear
The smallest species, about 5-6 thousand individuals. It is widespread only in the south of the Far East (Primorsky Territory, the southern part of the Khabarovsk Territory), but despite this, conflicts with its participation often occur, because there are a lot of bears in this territory and there are a lot of people.
Which bears are the most dangerous
Bears are dangerous regardless of age. The most dangerous are young bears, who actively study everything that surrounds them, and large dominant males, which already have their own territory. But first things first.
Cubs (30-35% of the population)
Very small cubs not older than 1-2 years old always stay close to their mother. They weigh a little, from 5-10 to 60 kg, and are no longer a danger to humans, but to camp property. The main threat comes from the mother, who is always somewhere nearby. If you saw a teddy bear, know: the bear is nearby and at any moment can come next.
It is easy to drive away the cubs with improvised means, but you need to do this carefully so that they do not begin to whimper and call for help mother. However, do not completely underestimate them: at least 2 cases are known when grown-up second-year-old cubs killed people.
“Middle class” - teenage bears (about 50% of the population)
These are animals aged 3-7 years who have not yet conquered their territory. They are forced to wander between the alien areas of large males and females with cubs until they are driven away.
These bears have a pronounced “teenager complex”: they go into the campground, turn everything around, which smells unusually, they overturn, they can easily spoil the tent and tear an inflatable boat into rags. There is no malicious intent in these actions, they just are interested in everything, they want to try a tooth, cut their claws - as a result, they start up so that they carry the entire camp.
They can be driven away by improvised means, however, this is not so easy to do as in the case of cubs. But in no case should they be underestimated - even the smallest single bear weighs from 60 to 150 kg and can easily cope with a physically strong person.
Teenage bears may not look mature, but they are already strong and capable of killing © scfh.ru
Females with cubs (15% of the population)
Large animals weighing 70-220 kg. Often come into conflict, as they seek to protect offspring. They are extremely difficult to drive away and they must be handled very carefully. In order not to provoke the bear’s aggression, the cubs cannot be offended - you just need to move away from them and not touch them.
Big bears (15-20% of the population)
This category includes adult dominant males and large single dipper. Feedless people enter into conflicts with humans in the season to protect their prey or if they are suddenly disturbed. Usually they do not seek to destroy a person and in 95% of cases they can be dispersed peacefully. However, it is in this species that there are cases of predation in relation to humans.
Large males do not give way and do not consider it necessary to avoid something on their territory. If you put up a tent on a bear trail, the bear will go right through your tent, without turning anywhere.
It’s hard to drive away a big beast, but it’s easy to provoke an attack. If such a bear decides to attack, it will be difficult to stop him.
A large beast seeks to protect its territory and may try to drive a person away © scfh.ru
What to expect from bears
When do bears attack humans? There are a number of situations in which an animal can harm a person or his property. Consider all the options.
Sunset in cities and towns
Usually, teenage bears and teddy bears do this. They come for the purpose of making money: they eat available food supplies, trample gardens, small domestic animals, and smash cottages. For example, in Khabarovsk over the past two years there have been cases when the bears came directly to the supermarkets and had to be driven out of there with great difficulty.
Bears are not afraid to approach human habitation. This male was spotted near the hut of zoologists in the South Kamchatka Federal Preserve - uses the catcher as a marking point © From the blog of natural photographer Igor Shpilenko: shpilenok.livejournal.com
If near the camp site, poultry farm or meat processing plant the normal disposal and disposal of waste is not established, this can attract bears. They especially like cattle cemeteries with insufficient burial depth or generally superficial. Such a poor burial cost the lives of so many bears.
The beast can come and smell the food from the tourist camp. For example, you heated the stew at the stake, it boiled over and spilled over the coals - as a result, all the bears within a radius of several kilometers know that somewhere nearby is tasty.
Territory protection
The protection of the territory is characteristic of large and adult animals - they will seek to expel a person from their possessions. With oncoming traffic, such a beast may simply not give way and go through the camp.
Offspring
This is the most basic basic instinct of the mother. Dipper always seeks to protect her cubs.
Prey Protection
Another unpleasant and dangerous topic. If the bear somewhere dug prey, he will sit on it and protect it. The problem is that you do not know where this mining is buried. Usually everything happens like this: a fishing team or poachers caught a fish, it fell out and was thrown into a bush in a compact heap. A bear came, fed, and lay down beside him. And here you walk past, but the bear does not know that you are not interested in his prey - he does not know and attacks.
Rutting period
Hormonal bursts in brown bears last from May to June, and in white ones from April to June. At this time, both males and females are very easily excitable and react to all large moving objects, and it does not matter who it is: another bear, elk, deer or person. They attack actively and often suddenly.
Predation
The most unpleasant part of conflicts and the least predictable. There is nothing to reassure: if the bear is busy with you, he will finish his business. There are no options.
Hungry Migration
Non-feeding periods occur in spring and autumn. But in the spring, the beast comes out of the den with a fair supply of fat, which allows him to live comfortably until the first grass appears. The beast becomes more dangerous in the fall, when a poor harvest of berries, a poor approach to fish - then the bear begins to look for food and is actively engaged in predation. Whole feedless seasons happen, then animals massively come to villages, attack livestock and people.
Power show
The bear is considered an omnivorous animal, but still it is a predator. He considers himself the most powerful and able to cope with a beast of any size, including humans. In this way he demonstrates his superiority. In places where animals did not see people for a long time (for example, in some regions of Chukotka), there were cases when a bear rushed onto an all-terrain vehicle - he did not understand what it was and decided that he could fill up a moving object.
How to avoid an attack
Experienced people who often encounter bears (huntsmen, shepherds, hunters, reindeer herders) have the expression: “A bear is a beast without eyes.” This is really so: the animal’s vision is monochrome and very poor - it distinguishes only nearby objects. If you stand still, while the wind blows AT YOU FROM the bear, then it can go at a distance of 5 meters and you may not be noticed.
Like most forest mammals, the bear focuses on movement, smells, sounds and touch. He has excellent hearing and smell: there was a case when a bear smelled the dead moose at a distance of 12 kilometers from the carcass and unmistakably stepped on it.
The bear receives a lot of information through touch - with the help of paw pads. But how exactly this happens is not completely clear.
If possible, you should try to avoid encountering a predator at all. There are several rules that will help insure against attack.
- You need to move in groups, while trying to speak out loud, make noise along the way.
Bears very rarely attack groups of tourists, they simply avoid them © From the blog of natural photographer Igor Shpilenko: shpilenok.livejournal.com
- It is advisable to have a dog in the group. She smells the bear and begins to bark, indicating where the beast is located - he realizes that he was found and leaves. But you can trust only those dogs whose reflex of protection is elevated to absolute. Many people died in the taiga due to the fact that a frightened dog rushed to the owner, knocked him down, and the bear instead of the dog “broke” the owner.
If the dog is not able to sacrifice his life for the sake of man - walking with him in a bear’s place is much more dangerous than without him
- Have at hand protective equipment: from metal utensils (or something similar that can be knocked loudly) to the raised fire.
Ways of repelling: what works and what doesn't
When meeting a bear, it is important not to be able to fight back from it, but to prevent a conflict in principle. The beast must be scared away so that he not only does not want to attack, but generally runs away from a person. There are many ways to scare away bears.
Vote
Regular situation: you are walking along the trail, and towards the bear, something very passionate about something, does not pay attention to anything. Bushes overgrown on the sides of the road, nowhere to go - what to do? Wait until the bear comes up about 20 meters away, and then in a calm voice, as in normal communication, say something like: "Where are you, idiot, breaking in?" In a few seconds you will not see this bear.
Metal knock
Bears are frightened by a sharp, unpleasant sound. You can beat it with a jar on a stone or a spoon on a metal bowl - the beast will stand on its hind legs, look around and wipe away. There was a case when a shipwrecked sailor walked 40 kilometers through very densely populated bear places: he picked up a naked man from the ground and hit him with a knife with a knife, a rather loud and unpleasant sound came out - the bears did not approach the sailor.
Due to the fact that it is impossible to foresee each specific case of a person meeting a bear, taking into account the circumstances, it is impossible to give a single summary of recommendations on this issue, which gives absolute guarantees against accident in case of an attack by the beast. At the same time, these tips can reduce the likelihood of a conflict situation to a minimum.
A bear extremely rarely attacks a person: only if it is disturbed in a winter den, wounded or taken by surprise with prey. Bears are dangerous, having cubs with them, "connecting rods".
To avoid meeting a bear in the forest:
1. In the forest, make noise, sing, talk loudly, or tie a bell to your backpack. If possible, travel with the group. Avoid thick bushes, thickets, windbreaks. Always let the bear know that you are here.
2. It is impossible to create around settlements, bases and camps, field detachments, tourist groups, at halts and routes of garbage dumps, landfills, garbage depots, contributing to the concentration of animals next to humans. Even the burial of organic residues at a considerable depth cannot solve this problem, since bears, having a well-developed sense of smell, easily find and dig them out. Food waste is recommended to be taken away (if it is impossible to dispose of it) at a considerable distance from the housing, the landfill site should be clearly marked with signs, and local residents should be warned about it. In case of impossibility to organize transportation on their own or by the forces of nearby villages and organizations, food waste should be destroyed by burning.
3. The presence of dogs with you, not afraid of the presence of the beast, with a malicious reaction will greatly help to protect you from the appearance of a bear. In no case can not be used to guard indoor and decorative dogs. Best used for guarding huskies and German shepherds. Remember that pets and their food can also attract bears.
4. Under no circumstances should one approach the remains of dead animals, the locations of dead fish, and other natural wounds, which are a significant source of animal decomposed food. First of all, this concerns the production of the brown bear itself. Remember: a bear disturbed by prey in most cases goes into attack.
5. In order to avoid encounters with a bear, it is advisable not to use bear paths while traveling in the taiga and tundra. The paths pierced by the bear differ from all other paths in that they are two parallel chains of pits at a distance of 20 cm from each other. You should also avoid moving along river banks and along spawning grounds at dusk and at dawn, as well as at night.
Encountered behavioral characteristics of bears:
1. The defensive behavior of the bear is usually the result of the fact that you violated the boundaries of his personal possessions, scared or constrained him. A typical example of defensive behavior is the reaction of a bear with cubs when it suddenly meets a person. The defending bear perceives you as a threat to itself and its cubs, or maybe it just protects its food from you. Outward signs can range from mild stress to extreme aggressiveness, such as attack.
2. A bear can come close not only for defensive purposes, but also for reasons of a different nature. Just out of curiosity, or because he is used to people. He may be interested in your food. Sometimes bears walk in circles on the leeward side, trying to smell. Being at a short distance, they begin to approach slowly and carefully, guarding their ears and raising their heads higher.
3. Bears that live near people are allowed to come closer to themselves, not expressing much concern, especially in places where they are used to meeting people. A bear, accustomed to people, does not keep the distance so strictly, but it remains unchanged. Invading his personal space is dangerous.
4. A predatory bear will be extremely interested and will focus on you as potential food. A bear that is initially curious or checks you out may be a predator if you cannot fight back. He will persistently approach you or appear suddenly, holding his head high and ears alert. Under any circumstances, bears attack humans extremely rarely.
In order to avoid dangerous situations when meeting a bear:
1. Whenever you see a bear, stop, stay calm and evaluate the situation. If the bear does not know about your presence, you can leave unnoticed, do it quietly, at that moment when the bear does not look in your direction. Watch him closely. Go around the bear with a wide hook, or go back the way you came here. The most common situation is when the bear avoids meeting you, and you do not suspect that it is nearby. The closer you are to the bear when he finds you, the more likely it will be a defensive defensive reaction.
2. If the bear moves toward you, carefully monitor whether its behavior is changing. Try not to look threatening, stop. Speak with the bear in a confident tone. This can calm him, and help calm you down. Let the bear know that you are human. If the bear cannot recognize who you are, it may come closer or stand on its hind legs to better see or sniff. A standing bear with its legs down is usually curious; it is not dangerous.
You can try to slowly move back diagonally without taking your eyes off the bear, but if the bear begins to follow you, stop and do not move.
3. Do not scream, and do not throw anything at the bear, protecting yourself from it. This can provoke him to attack.
4. Do not run! You cannot escape from the bear.
Human behavior in a direct attack of a brown bear.
Being face to face with a defending bear can be a terrible test. Despite the fact that in most such cases, bears do not dare to attack, it happens and vice versa.
1. If the bear came too close - not a step back! Keep talking in a calm voice. If the beast stops approaching you, try again to increase the distance between you. At this stage of the development of events, any bear will most likely refuse to continue the clash and leave if it is not aggressive.
2. Attacks are of two main types - defensive or predatory. Your first reaction in both cases should be the same: not a step back! If you fail to scare the bear away in advance, and he nevertheless rushes at you, your reaction to the attack should be twofold: if the bear defends, pretend to be dead, if the bear attacks you, try to resist him!
3. If it is a predatory attack, it’s your turn to act aggressively. Let the bear know that you will fight if he attacks. The more persistently the bear behaves, the more aggressive you must respond. Raise your voice, knock on trees. Use loud instruments. Never imitate the growling of a bear and do not shout piercingly.
4. Look bear directly in the eye. Challenge him. Try to look bigger than you really are. Stomp your foot, taking a step or two towards the bear. Slowly rise higher. Stand on a log or stone. Threaten the bear with any object that turns up under the arm. Remember: most attacks stop abruptly.
5. If this is an attack with a defensive purpose, then at the very last moment, fall to the ground. Lie on your stomach, legs spread a little, or curl up in a ball. Cover your head with your fingers locked in the lock on the back of your head. In this position, you protect your face and neck. Bears often try to get into the face if it is not protected. If the bear flips you onto your back, continue to roll on the ground until you are again in the face down position to protect your stomach and vital organs. If you are wearing a backpack, this will help to somehow protect your back and neck. Do not fight or scream. Stay still for as long as possible. If you move and the bear sees or hears you, he may return and resume the attack.
When hiking in the forest where the bears live, it is advisable to have a special balloon for scaring away. The funds available in the Russian assortment are not very suitable for this. FRONTIERSMAN Bear Spray is working properly from abroad. Another suitable 12-gauge short gun with expansive stopper bullets.
Make a noise
The first rule is when you go on a hike to the places where the bears live: more noise. Most attacks occur when tourists unexpectedly stumble upon a surprised animal, often a bear with cubs. Do not think that they are so easy to notice: even a huge male can hide in a bush or in tall grass.
Forget running away
If you see a bear, do not give in to the desire to run away. Remember that he will always catch up with you. At short distances, these animals reach speeds under 60 km / h! And do not think that you can be saved by climbing a tree. This will only help if you have enough time to climb ten meters. Our native bears are good at climbing trees; American grizzlies are also able to climb at least half the height of the trunk. And if there is a pond or a river nearby, do not try to sail away. They love to swim too.
Calm him down
Keep calm and slowly back down. If you are standing on the leeward side and the bear has not seen you yet, try not to make noise, backing away. If he already noticed you, say something to him in a calm but firm voice. This will help him to understand that you are a person. Try not to look him in the eye, this can be perceived as a manifestation of aggression. It is better to look away and turn your head to the side: this is a pose of submission. If possible, staying away from the bear, stay on the windward side - it is important that he knows that you are a man. If there are several of you, stick together, so you will appear larger, and this can stop the beast.
Never rush
Often the bear’s attack turns out to be a bluff - the beast rushes at you, but then stops nearby. This is a warning: go away! We repeat: depart slowly. But if the worst happens and the animal attacks, grab a pepper spray against the bears. It should lie so that it can be quickly reached - in a backpack from a spray can be of little use.
Sit down and cover yourself
Sometimes one sound of pepper spray can stop a bear. But if he continues to approach and there is no other way, fall to the ground and pretend to be dead. Either lie on your stomach, protecting your neck with your hands, or “curl up” with your legs to your chest and your head bent. Leave the backpack - it can serve as a shield. You need to somehow protect the most vulnerable parts of the body from a huge beast. The main thing - do not get up and do not move until you make sure that the bear is gone. One tourist reached for a pepper spray, while the animal was still nearby, which provoked him to attack.
Clean products
As every tourist knows, food on a trip should be stored either in the trunk of a car, or in containers specially protected from bears. If there is neither one nor the other, hang the bag in groceries and utensils no closer than 60 meters from the campsite. Food, cooking equipment and clothes are put in the bag, in which you cook food, then they hang it on a strong bitch - no lower than three meters from the ground, and no closer than 1.5 m from a tree trunk. Be sure to put there all the items related to cooking, and the clothes that were on you when you cooked. Sleeping in such clothes is like giving animals an invitation to dinner, in which you are the main dish.
- October 12, 2018
- Man in the wild
- Natalya Bardo
The bear is one of the largest and most dangerous inhabitants of the forest. As practice shows, when visiting forests, the probability of meeting this dangerous predator is quite high. What needs to be done in this situation? What should be the behavior when meeting a bear? Next, we consider the main features of such a situation and how to get out of it safe and sound.
When a bear meets people
As practice shows, a meeting with a bear in the forest at the initiative of a predator is a rarity. However, any tourist should be aware that bears are very interesting creatures. As practice shows, they can smell the delicious food or, smelling the aroma of sweets. As a rule, these animals approach the village or camp of tourists with great caution and rather slowly, trying to remain invisible.
If a bear lives close to a human settlement, then, having met a person in the forest, he will show much less aggression than the one who usually spends all his time in the depths of the forest. A resident of the forest, who quite often meets people, can even quite close them up without committing attacks and without displaying aggressive behaviors. Of course, you should not show excessive friendliness to such an animal, because, in spite of everything, he is a predator and can attack at any time. As experts in a certain field note, each predator has a certain permissible rapprochement zone. In the event that a person crosses it, the bear may suddenly attack the intruder, spotting the aggressor in it.
When can a bear attack?
As a rule, the considered predators attack a person only when they feel the danger emanating from him. As practice shows, most of the predator's attacks occur when a person crosses the permissible border of rapprochement, which was mentioned above.
The animal in question also becomes especially aggressive at the moment when it has offspring. Having noticed a bear cub in the forest more often, a tourist should leave this place as soon as possible, since at least one adult and furious bear will certainly be in the neighborhood with him.
In summer, bears behave most calmly. This is due to the fact that in the forest they can find enough food for themselves, which is why they do not feel hunger. Moreover, in this period, predators have long moved away from hibernation and are not experiencing aggression, which cannot be said about the period that occurs after winter, as well as during rutting. This animal becomes very angry at the moment when it is awakened during hibernation.
Bears very often attack at night. That is why tourists who plan to go to the taiga for a few days are advised to bring a sufficient number of the most powerful lighting devices with them - they will certainly scare away an aggressive predator.
Is it possible to scare off a predator with my actions? Of course, yes, since bears are, by their nature, rather cowardly creatures. In order to avoid the attack of the predator in question, the visitor to the taiga must strictly observe the prescribed memo. For a person, a meeting with a bear may be accompanied by adverse consequences if he violates the rules provided for by him.
How to avoid meeting an angry forest resident? It should be remembered that a bear is a creature that is afraid of all noise. In order to avoid an unexpected meeting with him, the tourist is not recommended to take quiet forest walks: he can sing songs, listen to music, talk loudly or make any other sounds. Some experienced visitors to the forest recommend tying a small bell to their backpack, which will beep every time a tourist moves. If there is such an opportunity, it is advisable to go camping in a group. If the bear sees a mass congestion of people, then most likely it will bypass the crowd, afraid of the attack. On the road, you can also take a large dog with you, which can show a malicious reaction by spotting a predator - there is a high probability that the bear will be scared of it. Hunters categorically forbid taking small animals with them to the forest - they can become a kind of bait for the beast.
Experienced visitors to the forest do not recommend looking into dense thickets, and they also say that it is necessary to get around windbreaks if possible. As practice shows, most lethal attacks of predators occur exactly where there is a thicket. It should be noted that the bear’s den can hide perfectly even behind several large shrubs growing next to each other. A bear with offspring can also quietly hide behind them, the escape from which will certainly be inconclusive - at times when the cubs are in danger, this predator becomes a real killer who sees obstacles in front of it. In this situation, her main goal is killing.
Tourists who have decided to live in the forest for some time are strongly discouraged from organizing food waste depots near their home or tent. The peculiarity of the bearish scent is that it is able to recognize the aroma of all goodies at a great distance. Burying waste into the ground is also not an option, because the bear will certainly smell their scent at any depth and will begin to tear if necessary. If there is waste, you should try to dispose of it, and then having previously moved a long distance from the settlement.
Having been in the forest, do not get too close to the found remains of animals. These corpses can be the prey of a forest predator, which, most likely, he will protect, being located nearby. The bear will most likely approach them as an attack and will certainly attack a curious tourist.
Moving through the forest, you can notice the bear trails. They can be recognized by characteristic parallel dents located at a distance of about 20 cm from each other. You should not move along them, since such paths necessarily lead to the bear’s den, where there will be more than one beast. In the worst situation, a female with offspring who will spare no one will be in her.
About bear behavior
Tourists who do not know how to behave when meeting a bear should understand one thing: their further behavior depends on the mood of the predator. In nature, there are four different behaviors of bears: defensive and offensive, as well as less dangerous, expressed by curiosity towards tourists, and a simple friendly neighborhood. How to recognize exactly what mood is inherent in the meeting bear? Let's consider it further.
Speaking about the defensive behavior model of a predator, it should be noted that it can be encountered only if the tourist frightened the animal with something or invaded his possessions. As practice shows, such a model of reactions is especially characteristic of the dipper, which are engaged in the protection of their offspring. Defensive behavior can be expressed in many different ways: from light excitement to a swift attack on the source of the threat.
The reaction, expressed in the form of an attack, is quite rare. It can only be manifested when the bear sees the person as potential prey. More experienced hunters and guests of the forest note that this type of reaction is usually the result of curiosity expressed in the tourist's address. An attack can be made only if a person fails to timely repulse the animal. The fact that the behavior of the predator has changed from curiosity to the attack process is evidenced by a change in its position: the predator sharply raises its head up and, guarding its ears, begins to slowly approach its target. In some cases, an upcoming attack is indicated by an unexpected meeting with a bear. As a rule, this animal, if it is not interested in humans as prey, simply bypasses it. It should be noted that bears go out to people infrequently, as a result, the attack of this animal on humans is also a rarity.
Speaking of neighborly behavior, it should be noted that it is quite safe for humans. As a rule, it appears in those bears that live near settlements and are used to seeing people quite often. They often let people close to themselves and do not show any particular excitement. However, in this situation, a person should still observe a certain distance with a predator, since, having crossed it, you can encounter his protective reaction.
And finally, the last type of bear behavior is curiosity. As a rule, it is caused by the aromas of food, as well as sweets that a person carries with him. Bears often appear at camp sites. They approach rather slowly, alerting the ears in advance. It should be noted that when a curious bear appears, tourists should be especially careful, as the mood of a predator in this situation, as a rule, changes dramatically, and then it goes on the attack.
How to avoid danger when approaching the beast
How to behave when meeting a bear? If a tourist, walking through the forest, suddenly noticed a predatory animal within walking distance from himself, then you need to get up and very quickly, but soberly assess the current situation. In the event that the animal has not yet managed to notice the person, there is a high probability of hiding from him. To do this, quietly leave your place of stay in the opposite direction. In order to avoid the danger that has arisen, it is recommended that a person make a small detour through the forest and return along the old route.
In that case, if the bear managed to notice a tourist, then in the first place panic should be discarded. In this situation, you need to feel as confident as possible and look at the predator all the time, avoiding eye contact with it. You must immediately speak with the bear in a confident voice - that is, he will understand what he is dealing with and will most likely retreat. If this does not happen, in the process of conversation you must begin to slowly step back yourself. In such a situation, the animal often approaches the person and begins to sniff him, studying the object. As practice shows, in this situation, the bear is driven solely by curiosity, but if the dropped paws suddenly become raised, it should be understood that the animal is preparing for an attack. What should be done in this case?
How to behave during an attack
If, when meeting a person, the bear begins to show reactions that characterize its attack, then you must immediately stop and do not make any movements. If the predator is suddenly distracted, you can step aside, but so that he does not notice it.
In the event that the animal begins the process of active and aggressive attack, it is necessary to correctly reflect such actions. This must be done so that the beast understands that there is a creature opposite him, ready to fight and able to fend for itself. In this case, it is best to start screaming and banging trees with sticks. Hunters do not recommend making sounds like a bear's roar - they will definitely enrage the predator, after which it will no longer retreat under any circumstances. A shrill scream will not help in this situation either. If the beast began to attack, you need to turn your eyes into his eyes and with all his appearance to show his superiority over the animal. The bear should only see that he plans a battle with a confident and strong enough opponent. For persuasiveness, you can even knock a couple of times with your foot or come closer to him. If there is such an opportunity, you can stand on something higher.
Bears are pretty shy creatures. Practice shows that they can stop their offensive if they suddenly hear a harsh sound. A tourist who knows this fact can suddenly open an umbrella or open his raincoat - this will undoubtedly scare the predator, and he will most likely stop the process of attack.
What if a bear attacks defensively?
How to behave when meeting a bear that shows a defensive reaction? Practice shows that in this situation it is necessary to suddenly lie down on the ground and cover your head with your hands, as well as your face - this is the only way to protect vital parts of the body. Experts note that such a gesture is important, because, as practice shows, the main goal of a forest predator is precisely the face of prey. Most likely, in this situation, the beast will try to turn a person over, but it is important not to let him do this by curling up a lump and assuming the initial position, rolling back. In this situation, it is strictly forbidden to make any sounds, try to fight a predator, or move - immobility and silence are the key to success in this situation. If everything is done correctly, then, most likely, the beast will recede and will soon disappear.
There will be no escape ...
Any tourist should understand that in the event of a meeting with a big bear, escape is a meaningless activity. This is due to the fact that this animal is perfectly adapted to living in the forest and taiga. It is very important to know that the running speed of a big bear is about 60 km / h. Moreover, a tourist should say goodbye to attempts to climb a tree forever - predators living in Russian forests can perfectly climb trunks, and Canadian grizzlies are no less dexterous. Of course, this escape method can help if there is an opportunity to climb a tree at a time when the animal does not see this, only it is worth remembering that the rise height should be at least 10 meters.
You need to know and remember that Russian bears can swim well, so running away from the water is likely to be not the best idea either.
Do not rush!
How to behave when meeting a bear? Even following the prescribed instructions exactly, any person. when faced with a predator, it must be understood that in a dangerous situation it is necessary to act accurately and confidently, but not at all quickly. It is imperative to move away from it slowly, without turning your back. Talking with him is also not necessary quickly.
The only case when in contact with a predator it is necessary to make quick movements is to remove a pepper spray against bears. It must also be sprayed immediately. In this situation, while the beast hesitates, you need to leave quite quickly, continuing to control the situation, but in no case run. The sound made when spraying a product is what bears are afraid of when they meet a person. Also, this animal can be scared away by any other sudden noise.
How to survive when meeting a bear? Many hunters suggest relying on a lucky chance. As practice shows, most bears, having noticed in a person’s risk zone, start to run at him, but then stop abruptly. This their behavior suggests that the predator gives the person the opportunity to leave. With this opportunity you need to move away very slowly, but surely. In this situation, it is better to look away and turn your head slightly - this is a sign of humility.
Lucky case
As you know, bears come to people quite rarely, but if this happens, then, as a rule, without any negative consequences. This is due to the fact that this animal, despite the fact that it belongs to the category of carnivores, does not even have the slightest desire to contact a person in any form. In this situation, even if the bear begins to molest, it can be scared away quite simply.
A different situation may arise if the bear is already "fed" in a certain place. In this case, these animals begin to behave very impudently, but also without causing special harm to people, if you do not take into account damaged property. As a rule, such bears know those places where you can make good money, and come to the settlements just for food.
Can a bear attack a person? Of course. This is especially true in cases where people do not follow the instructions when meeting a bear, which clearly prescribes a list of actions that must be performed, and what should be refrained from crossing with such a predator. Particular attention should be paid to the fact that it does not spell out a complete instruction of actions in case the animal is hungry or wounded. As practice shows, in this situation it is not afraid of anything, and it will be rather difficult to frighten it with fire, smoke, noise or any other actions provided for in it. Practice shows that in such a situation it is imperative to use a special pepper spray, which the forester must have with him, or a weapon, if any.
If a hunter meets a bear, then in this situation a person needs to act most actively, otherwise the animal, sensing danger, may lose control and suddenly go on the attack. You must understand that under the adrenaline wave, even a mortally wounded animal threatens the life and health of a hunter very strongly, therefore, even with a weapon, you need to be especially careful in your actions. Experienced hunters claim that the best weapon against such a large animal is a 12-caliber rifle loaded with stop-bullets.
Counting on a happy occasion when meeting a bear guarding its cubs is simply pointless. This is due to the fact that in this situation the animal perceives a person who has appeared in his field of vision as a potential threat to offspring. In this situation, the aim of the beast is to kill, not to obtain prey. It should be understood that in such a situation the bear will not stop at nothing.