05/18/2024
Words to live (or die) by.
Seeing a bear in the wild is a special treat for any visitor to a national park. While it is an exciting moment, it is important to remember that bears in national parks are wild and can be dangerous.
If you do encounter a bear in the woods, stay calm and remember that most bears do not want to attack you; they usually just want to be left alone. Don’t we all? Identify yourself by making noise so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal. We recommend using your voice. Waving and showing off your opposable thumb means nothing to the bear. You could also read aloud the passive aggressive email you wrote to Carol after she wanted to schedule a meeting at 4:30 on a Friday. The bear may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better understanding of Carol’s audacity. However, a standing bear is usually curious, not threatening.
What else should you know?
🐻 Running may trigger a chase response in a bear and you can't outrun a bear. Bears in Yellowstone, for example, chase down elk calves all the time. You do not want to look like a slow elk calf. (Apologies to the elk calf.)
🐻 In most cases, climbing a tree is not your best choice. Many bears can climb trees (especially if there is something up the tree that the bear wants). Also, when was the last time you climbed a tree?
🐻 Running to a tree or frantically climbing a tree may also provoke a bear to chase you. If the former friend you pushed down somehow made it up a tree and is now extending you a hand, there’s a good chance it’s a trap. Karma’s a bear.
Find more bear safety tips at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm
Image: Screenshot of tweet with text, “If you come across a bear, never push a slower friend down…even if you feel the friendship has run its course.”
