Safety in Grizzly Bear Country

The current range of the grizzly bear extends from Alaska, south through much of western Canada, and into Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming. The largest numbers are  found in Canada. There are currently about 60,000 wild grizzly bears located throughout North America.

Grizzly bears normally avoid contact with people. In spite of their obvious physical advantages and many opportunities, they almost never view humans as prey. Even so, they can be extremely dangerous animals.

Most grizzly bear attacks result from a bear that has been surprised at very close range, especially if it has a supply of food to protect, or female grizzlies protecting their offspring. In recent years, some grizzly bears appear to have learned to home in on the sound of hunters' gunshots in late fall as a source of potential food, and inattentive hunters have been attacked by bears trying to appropriate their kills.

It is imperative for all campers in areas inhabited by grizzly to maintain a clean campsite. Reports have indicated that something as innocuous as a tube of chapstick can entice a bear to come near a campsite in search of food. Any bear that is conditioned to finding food around campsites, will almost always return and expect the same reward. The bear is then a threat to campers and itself, and park rangers may be forced to kill it.

For backcountry campers, hanging food between trees at a height unreachable to bears is a common procedure, although some grizzlies can climb and reach hanging food in other ways. An alternative to hanging food is to use a bear canister..

Since most grizzlies prefer to avoid people, it is a good idea to make noise when travelling in dense brush or other places where visibility is limited. High pitched shouts or whistles will alert nearby bears and give them a chance to get out of the way. "Bear bells" are generally useless as their sound does not travel far.

Pepper-based bear sprays (containing at least 1% of the active ingredient capsaicin) have proven effective in deterring bears, both grizzly and black, that attacked after being surprised at close range. The spray causes instant irritation of exposed mucous membranes in the eyes, nose and mouth, and in the great majority of cases where it has been used, immediately diverts the bear.

Recent research has shown that bear spray is significantly more effective than guns, which can wound or miss a charging bear. The further advantage of bear spray is that it leaves the bear alive and less likely to attack in the future, an important consideration for an animal like the grizzly that is threatened in most of its range.

In the event of a surprise attack that cannot be repelled, it is important NOT to make eye contact with the bear as eye contact can be seen as aggression. Adopt a submissive posture and remain still; often a charging grizzly will turn away at the last moment. Never run from a bear - uphill, downhill or into water. Grizzlies can outrun humans.

Climbing a tree can be a good defense, if there is time, as the long curved digging claws of a grizzly makes it hard for the bear to grip a tree and climb it. Even so, grizzlies can climb trees if there are enough branches so if you take to a tree, you should get at least two to three times as high as the bear can reach.

Where grizzlies do follow through on a charge and actually attack, they will usually bite at the head. The best defense is to lie prone, face down, legs spread to make it harder for the bear to flip you over, and hands gripped around the neck. Normally, once a grizzly is sure you are no longer a threat, it will leave. This is why most wildlife agencies in grizzly country advise that people play dead if attacked. Struggling or fighting back will almost certainly intensify and prolong the attack.

The grizzly bear is listed as threatened in the contiguous United States, and endangered in parts of Canada. In Alaska and parts of Canada however, the grizzly is still legally shot for sport by hunters. In 2006, the US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to remove Yellowstone grizzlies from the list of threatened and protected species. In March 2007, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service "de-listed"the population, effectively removing Endangered Species Act protections for grizzlies in the Yellowstone National Park area.

All national parks have laws and regulations in place to protect the bears. Even so, grizzlies are not always safe in parks. In Glacier National Park in Montana and Banff National Park in Alberta, grizzlies are regularly killed by trains as they scavenge for grain that has leaked from poorly maintained grain cars. This causes 9% of human-caused grizzlies, together with other human-related causes. In the Central Rockies Ecosystem most bears died within a few hundred metres of roads and trails.