First: Know where you are. Do bears live in this area, what kind and what frequency? Always watch for sign, these being tracks, scat, turned over logs and boulders. These will let you know if bears frequent your area.
Second: Pay attention. If you see their sign, smell a rotting carcass, hear crows or other birds of prey close by, be on high alert. Talk loudly and have your bear spray out and ready to fire. Speaking of spray, this is the weapon to use against bears. Firearms have a sketchy record for stopping angry bears, but spray has proven to work almost every time. Have this spray in its holster on your hip, not in a backpack. You should be able to draw and fire in just a few seconds.
Third: If you encounter a bear, make sure they know you’re a human. Talk loudly, sing, and also appear non-threatening. They will almost always give you the road and flee.
Now….if they don’t. What to do?
If they refuse to give ground, either depart the area or wait for them to do so. Don’t attempt to run them off, particularly with a grizzly. If they charge, have the spray out, aim at a down-angle, and fire when they reach about 20yrds. Don’t stop spraying until they retreat.
If you are caught by surprise and are now actively being attacked, you’re in a world of shit. Although black bears almost never attack humans, when they do it’s to prey on you. Fight for your life. Grizzlies are almost always giving you a manners lesson, which will be worse if you fight. Roll into a ball, covering your neck and head and hope that your hiking partner is spraying him off you.
Overnight tent camping: The best place to be is off the beaten path, away from well-traveled trails and campsites. Bears travel by human trails at night and also love all the scraps of food humans leave behind at heavily-used campsites. Being attacked in a tent is rare, but if it happens, fight for your life. They know you’re a human and have decided to prey on you. Hang your food over a high extended limb at night, and don’t be cooking up red meat and fish over a fire in bear country. The smell travels a long way, and they love it. Eat the dehydrated meals and wait for a succulent steak when you get back.
Summary: Know where you are and a little bit about bear behavior and you’ll be fine. I’ve been hiking in bear country for 30yrs, seen countless black and grizzly bears in the wild, some under very dicey conditions. Never had a problem. Well, maybe a few. But no one got hurt……JJ
Thanks Sir John Jackson for your article
God Bless Sir