Bear Safety Tips!

This guide is packed with essential bear safety tips to help you feel confident and prepared before your next adventure. Whether you’re planning a hike in bear country or heading out to one of the many national parks with active bear populations, knowing how to stay safe is key!

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

Podcast Episode Overview

Afraid of bears while exploring the national parks? You’re not alone! In this episode, we are diving headfirst into the hairy topic of bears in the parks. 

From preventing negative encounters to understanding how to react during a bear sighting, this post will walk you through the most important things you need to know for safe and responsible wildlife viewing.

If you only remember one thing from this post, let it be this: do not run from a bear. Not if you see one, not if it charges, and definitely not if you’re trying to outrun a baby seal (more on that later). In this guide, we’re diving deep into everything you need to know about bears in the national parks, so you can feel informed, prepared, and ready to hit the trail with confidence.

From close encounters to bear spray strategies, we’re tackling all your burning questions. Join us as we help you learn how to keep yourself (and your snack-sized children) safe in bear country! 

Join us as we discuss:

• Our heart-pounding close encounters with bears, and what we did (or almost did!) to avoid becoming a bear’s snack
• Why your voice is the best bear deterrent, and why bear bells aren’t nearly as helpful as you might think
• Repeat after us: “Do not run, do not run, do not run!” Why this is the ultimate survival tip.
• How to keep the furry residents of national parks healthy by mastering the art of food storage
• Pro tips for spotting the difference between different types of bears
• The surprising reason why leaving food in your car is a recipe for disaster (and a bear-y inconvenient problem)
• The parks to visit if you really WANT to see a bear
• The power of bear spray and how it can save you from a close encounter of the furry kind
• Our tips for navigating bear country with kids, and why keeping them close is key
• The dos and don’ts of using bear spray safely and effectively

We hope you find these tips helpful while you’re out and exploring the national parks. Trust us, the trails and the views are absolutely worth getting your black belt in bear skills. 

Don’t forget your task for today! We want to hear your bear stories! Bonus points if you include a picture. Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and share!

Why We’re Talking Bears

Bears are one of the most iconic wild animals in the national parks, but they can also stir up quite a bit of fear for visitors. I get it. It can be nerve-wracking to hike in places where you know bears live. But instead of letting that fear keep you from the trail, I want to help you prepare. With the right knowledge and a little bear know-how, you can confidently enjoy parks with active bear populations.

Black bears live in many national parks across North America, but only four parks in the lower 48 have grizzly bears: Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Teton, and North Cascades. Up in Alaska, you’ll find brown bears in a lot of places, and some of the more remote parks even have polar bears. But we’re sticking to the species of bears you’re most likely to meet while hiking in the continental United States.

We’ve had our fair share of bear sightings while hiking and backpacking in places like Grand Teton, Glacier Bay, and Denali. Sometimes, a bear is right on the trail, and we have to step aside. Other times, we quietly watch as a bear snacks on berries (from a safe distance, of course).

Even with our children in tow, we’ve safely navigated these moments by staying calm, sticking together, and following a few simple bear safety best practices.

What to Do When You See a Bear

If you see a bear while hiking, the most important thing is to stay calm. Don’t run! Back away slowly, speak in a firm voice, and raise your arms to look bigger. 

Get your bear spray ready, but only use it if the bear actually charges. Healthy wild black bears and grizzly bears usually want nothing to do with people. In fact, they are afraid of human voices and will often run if you start speaking.

Bears are most dangerous when they’re startled. If you’ve been quiet your entire hike, you might surprise a bear coming around a hidden bend.  A surprise encounter can lead to aggressive behavior. Make plenty of noise while you hike. I always say “hey bear” out loud every few minutes, and we sometimes sing songs just to keep things lively. 

Bear bells aren’t as effective as your voice, so I don’t use them. Loud noises and conversation are better ways to stay safe. Keep your kids close, especially in thick brush or dense vegetation, and stay alert.

Spotting the Difference Between Bear Types

If you want to tell the difference between a black bear and a grizzly bear, look at a few key features. 

Grizzlies tend to have a shoulder hump, a dished-in face profile, and short, round ears. Black bears usually have a straight nose and taller ears. Their tracks also look different, but unless you’re in one of the four national parks or states that have grizzlies (Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, North Cascades, or Alaska), you’re probably looking at a black bear!

What If a Bear Charges?

This is incredibly rare, but it’s good to be prepared. If it’s a grizzly and it attacks, lie flat on your stomach and play dead. If it keeps attacking, then fight back. If it’s a black bear, don’t play dead – fight back immediately! 

If a bear stalks you or enters your tent, you should always fight back. That’s a sign of an aggressive bear or a predatory bear, which requires a different response than a defensive one. Don’t pull your punches if you need to attack. Go straight for the bear’s face.

Bear Spray Basics and How to Travel with Bear Spray

Bear spray is a strong pepper spray designed just for bear safety. It’s not a deterrent like bug spray. Don’t spray it around your tent or on yourself. It actually smells interesting to bears after it’s been used. Only use it if a bear charges you. Bear pepper spray is considered the most effective way to stop an aggressive bear at a short distance.

Hold the can with two hands, aim low, and spray short bursts when the bear is about 10 to 15 feet away. Keep it somewhere easy to grab, like in a side pocket or in a holster strapped to your pack. 

I never hike without mine, and I recommend everyone in a small group carry bear spray if you’re hiking in black bear country or grizzly territory.

If you’re flying, you can’t bring bear spray on a plane. You’ll need to rent or buy it when you arrive. Yellowstone and Grand Teton have easy rental programs, and Glacier has a sharing shack. Many local outfitters also rent or sell spray.

Some parks in California, including Yosemite and Sequoia, don’t allow bear spray at all. Always check ahead.

And yes, bear spray does expire! It’s the pressure that goes bad, not the spray itself. Some fire departments and landfills will take expired cans, and a few parks, like Yellowstone, offer recycling programs.

Hiking With Kids in Bear Country

You can absolutely hike safely with kids in bear country. I keep my kids close, and they never run ahead on the trail. If we see a bear and one of them is small enough, I pick them up right away.

Staying calm and working together as a family is key. You want to avoid sudden movements and give yourself enough time to respond if a bear appears at close contact.

Snacks on the Trail and Food Safety

We always hike with snacks. Always. Just keep your food close, don’t leave your pack behind, and be smart about storage. 

If you’re backpacking overnight, most parks that require bear canisters offer them for rent or loan. It’s one of the most important things you can do to stay safe and protect the bear’s home.

A fed bear is a dead bear. A bear that gets human food becomes a food-conditioned bear, and that creates major bear conflicts in national parks. It’s not just dangerous for you, it’s dangerous for the bear. When hiking, keep snacks in your pack and never leave it unattended. 

Store food properly at your campsite and always keep personal items like toiletries and food scraps secure. In campgrounds, use designated food storage lockers or a bear canister if they’re required. Lock your vehicle and don’t leave food or anything scented out in the open.

Best Places to See Bears in the Wild

There are a few parks where bear sightings are common and exciting. Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, and North Cascades are top spots for both black and grizzly bears. We have an entire podcast episode dedicated to spotting wildlife in Yellowstone!

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is packed with black bears, too; we’ve seen them often in Cades Cove. Other parks like Yosemite, Sequoia, Lassen, and Rocky Mountain also have black bears, and Olympic does too, although the forests make them harder to spot.

You’re Officially Bear Prepared!

You did it! You now have the bear skills to hike safely and confidently in bear country. Seeing a bear in the wild is one of the most exciting moments you can have in the national parks, and being prepared makes the experience even better.

If you have a black bear encounter or fun bear story, come share it on the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page. We love hearing your stories, and who knows, your bear sighting might just inspire someone else to hit the trail. Don’t forget to carry bear spray!

---

Links mentioned in this podcast episode:

• NPS Guidelines for Storing Food
• NPS Bear Spray Overview
• NPS Bear Safety for Visitors
• Step-by-Step Guide to Using Bear Spray
• Yellowstone National Park
• Glacier National Park
• Grand Teton National Park
• North Cascades National Park
• Glacier Bay National Park
• Alaska Region of the National Park Service
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Yosemite National Park
• Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
• Lassen Volcanic National Park
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Olympic National Park

Are you hoping to visit all of the national parks? Sign up for your FREE NATIONAL PARKS CHECKLIST so you can easily see where you’ve been and where you still need to go!