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bear safety

Grizzly bear Grizz 399 stands on two legs in a meadow, surrounded by her four cubs.

Meet Grizzly Bear 399, the Most Famous Bears in the World

by Mary Cochenour May 19, 2023

written by Mary Cochenour

The Queen of the Tetons has emerged from hibernation—with a cub! At 27 years old, Grizzly Bear 399 now holds the record for oldest bear to reproduce, and she’s the oldest mother bear in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.

Every year, hundreds of fans stake out in Grand Teton National Park awaiting her return from her winter slumber. She had last been spotted in mid September. That left many of her fans worried. So when Griz 399 and her cub emerged on the evening of May 16, onlookers including Jill Hall cried, the Jackson Hole News & Guide reports.

The cub in tow this week is Griz 399’s 18th, over the course of eight litters. For more than a decade, Griz 399 has been living her best bear life in the front country of Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. Thousands of tourists, wildlife watchers, and photographers flock to the park’s Pilgrim Creek area to catch a glimpse of Griz 399 and her cubs feeding on an elk carcass, scrounging for berries, and taking naps in the sun, all before the public’s eye.

Griz 399’s fame exploded in 2020 when she crawled out of her winter den with four tiny cubs in tow. Wildlife watcher Maureen Matsen has been scouting wildlife in Grand Teton National Park for 40 years. Viewing animals in their natural habitat helps Matsen de-stress from her high-stakes job as an ICU nurse. She says the feeling when Griz 399 comes into view is palpable.

“The adrenaline is super high; the excitement is super high,” Matsen says on episode 16 of the Out and Back podcast

. “And the minute she appears or one of those cubs pokes up its head, you just hear the ‘click, click, click, click, click, click, click’ of all the cameras going off. It’s just such a funny thing. I almost thought I’d just start filming these photographers because of the joy on their faces.”

Grizz 399 and her four cubs walk down the side of the road away from the camera in Grand Teton National Park. — Griz 399 on high alert as she shepherds her four cubs down the side of the road in Grand Teton National Park. Photo credit: Maureen Matsen

For many, Griz 399 embodies resilience and hope. Matsen is among them.

“It’s just giving people a lot of hope during a year where we’ve all dealt with a lot of really hard things,” Matsen says. “I think it’s been just this uplifting good news that this bear exists and that you have a chance of seeing her if you go up there.”

Griz 399 and her four cubs making their way through the sagebrush. Photo credit: Tom Mangelsen

Wildlife photographer and conservationist Thomas Mangelsen has been documenting Griz 399’s life for almost 15 years. Tune into episode 16 of the Out and Back podcast, in which he sheds light on how this majestic and wild bear mastered navigating crowds of tourists who come to the park just to see her.

“She will outfox most of us,” Mangelsen says. “We’ll be looking down the road, but she’ll just go through the willows and say ‘I don’t want to go through the crowd. I’ll just take the kids across the road down by the creek.’ We just laugh at it, because she’s so damn smart.”

Tom Mangelsen looks towards the camera as he sits in a field with his long-lens camera set up on a tripod. Snowy Tetons loom into the cloudy sky in the distance. — Mangelsen waits for wildlife to appear in Grand Teton National Park. Photo credit: Tom Mangelsen

Mangelsen says Griz 399 is a special bear because she appeals to human emotion. He recalls Griz 399 mourning her cub after it was hit by a car and killed. Mangelsen saw the distraught Griz 399 “sobbing” on the roadside near the body of her cub, grieving much like a human mother would.

But as cuddly and adorable as Griz 399 and her cubs appear, they are not domesticated animals. Grand Teton and its neighboring Yellowstone National Park are not zoos by any stretch of the imagination. These parks are home to wild animals that can attack if provoked. Park officials remind wildlife watchers to keep a safe distance of 100 yards or more, watch animals from the safety of a vehicle, and use binoculars to view animals from far away. Never approach wildlife.

Grizzly bears can be dangerous if people get too close for comfort. That’s what happened in 2007, when Dennis Van Denbos unknowingly walked into Griz 399’s space during an early morning outing at the Jackson Lake Lodge. The bear charged at Van Denbos. He hit the deck and suffered several bites from 399 and her three yearling cubs before people intervened.

“They’re just going to eat me,” Van Denbos thought. “There’s nothing I could do. There’s no way I could fight off four grizzlies.”

In this episode of Out and Back, Van Denbos gives a blow-by-blow account of the encounter. Though his injuries took months to heal, he explains that he felt no animosity for the mother bear and was relieved that wildlife officials spared her life following the attack.

Montana based journalist Todd Wilkinson says this decision to let Griz 399 and her cubs live proved to be a pivotal moment in grizzly bear recovery in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Since then, Griz 399 has expanded her ever-growing family tree, producing multiple sets of healthy and vibrant cubs.

Todd Wilkinson smiles for the camera while sitting in a sunny field at the base of the Tetons. — Wilkinson enjoys a sunny day in the Tetons.

“She’s been this amazingly fertile bear, and the cub production comes from a mother that’s getting good nutrition,” Wilkinson told us in 2020. “The number that’s been used is seven litters, including three sets of triplets, plus one quadruplet.”

At 27 years old, Griz 399 has become a grandmother bear many times over. Everyone was surprised when she woke from hibernation in 2020 with four cubs — a highly unusual event in bear reproduction. Now that she’s long in the tooth, her fans are wondering how long she’ll live.

Don’t miss this episode as Wilkinson and Mangelsen discuss the many dangers grizzly bears face in the lower 48. They dive into Griz 399’s ability to adapt, crediting her intelligence for her long life and survival against the odds. Tune in to hear the details of why Griz 399 sticks so close to the road, what kind of mother she has become, and how you may or may not see this famous bruin if you visit the park.

Learn more about Griz 399 by visiting her Instagram page. Read her Wikipedia page and Mangelsen and Wilkinson’s glossy-paged book: Grizzlies of Pilgrim Creek. See Mangelsen’s photography by visiting his gallery in Jackson, Wyoming, or follow him on Instagram. Read Wilkinson’s non-profit Mountain Journal to discover public interest issues facing the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem and for a greater understanding of the inter-relationships between people and nature in the American West. Follow Maureen’s beautiful wildlife and landscape photography on Instagram.

Special thanks to Maureen Matsen, Dennis VanDenbos, Thomas Mangelsen and Todd Wilkinson for contributing to this show.

The cover of "Grizzlies of Pilgrim Creek: An Intimate Portrait of 399" shoes Grizz with three of her cubs walking down a beach. — Cover of “Grizzlies of Pilgrim Creek.” Photo credit: Tom Mangelsen

Episode Highlights

4:00: Wildlife watcher and amateur photographer Maureen Matsen grew up looking for wildlife when she was on long road to Grand Teton National Park. To keep them entertained, Maureen’s dad would pay her and her siblings cash if they spotted an animal.
5:15: Maureen seeks out wildlife as a way to download the stress of her job an an ICU nurse.
5:45: Maureen seeks out all kinds of wildlife in the park but bears, because they are not an every day sighting, are the piece de resistance.
6:10: Grizzly Bear 399 has very distinct markings: a heart-shaped face with blonde coloring down her snout.
7:05: Grizzly Bear 399 lives along the roadside in the Pilgrim Creek area of Grand Teton National Park.
7:20: Hundreds of people line the roads just to get a glimpse of 399. But on Maureen’s first outing this year, she missed the chance to see 399 and her cubs.
8:30: The pandemic has been heavy and these animals have brought so much hope and joy in such trying times.
9:20: Maureen went back a few weeks later and Grizzly Bear 399 popped out of the sagebrush trailing four little cubs behind her. And the crowd goes wild.
11:28: This bear is being stalked by hundreds of tourists and professional photographers just trying to get a glimpse of 399’s glory. The joy when she appears is palpable.
12:50: Professional Wildlife Photographer Tom Mangelsen describes the return of grizzly bears to Grand Teton National Park. A grizzly bear showed up on his back porch in 2006. That was his introduction to Grizzly Bear 399.
14:30: Tom recalls that last year, Grizzly Bear 399 was fatter than ever before. He speculated she would have triplets.
14:45: Griz 399 surprised everyone when she came out of hibernation with four tiny cubs.
16:50: Todd Wilkinson has written about Grizzly Bear 399 for National Geographic magazine and then collaborated with Tom Mangelsen to publish a book: Grizzlies of Pilgrim Creek.
17:25: Grizzly Bear 399’s life has been more dramatic to watch as the years go on.
18:00: Bears are not fearsome creatures; they only want to protect her young.
18:50: 399 lives along the road because it’s safer for her babies, and she does all of her bear business with a grandstand of people around her.
20:20: The front country has turned out to be the perfect habitat for Griz 399, who has raised seven litters along the roadside over the years.
21:43: Griz 399 has exuded amazing tolerance for human beings; she can navigate cars and hundreds of people without “losing her cool.” Tom says Grizzly Bear 399 has become a master at navigating crowds.
23:45: But not so fast. Grizzly bears are dangerous and wildlife officials advise to keep your distance, stay in your car, and never feed a bear.
25:00: Dennis Van Denbos was at the wrong place at the wrong time in 2007. He was mauled by Grizzly Bear 399 and her then yearling triplets. He lived to tell us about it.
28:21: Griz 399 jumped out of the bushes about 20 feet away and charged at Dennis. Three “teddy bear shapes” stood in the background.
29:25: Dennis saw this striking image with the sun shining on her — a sight Dennis will never forget. Dennis started to back away but stumbled off the road.
31:10: Dennis is face-to-face, eye level with Griz 399. And she charges.
31:50: Dennis hits the deck and Griz 399 and her three cubs bite him in the back and backside.
32:50: “They’re just going to eat me.” Dennis contemplates the end of his life.
33:00: People intervened and Dennis survived. Dennis understood why she attacked, she was feeding on a carcass and was stressed. He would have been very disappointed if the park had decide to kill Griz 399 because of the attack.
37:30: The decision to let Grizzly Bear 399 live after the mauling of Dennis turns out to be a pivotal moment in Grizzly Bear recovery in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Griz 399 went on to have multiple sets of cubs.
38:40: Grizzly Bear 399 displays emotions humans can relate to.
40:00: After the death of her cub “Snowy,” Grizzly Bear 399 “balled” and grieved her baby’s death. Tom describes how distraught the bear was.
41:00: Grizzly Bear 399 is 24 years old, and that makes her a grandmother bear who isn’t expected to live much longer.
41:50: Todd explains how grizzly bears face many dangers in the world: human encounters and traffic.
42:00: We have this homegrown nature safari in the Yellowstone ecosystem.
42: 15: Todd describes how the story of Griz 399 brings us all together.

Next Episode: The Year of the Fastest Known Time with Buzz Burrell

The pandemic canceled nearly all the running races this year, but that only fueled the fire for pent-up athletes to take down the “fastest known times” on many classic and iconic routes around the world. Next time on the Out and Back podcast, Shanty and Mary catch up with Buzz Burrell, well-known “father of the fastest known time,” about everything FKT. Buzz takes us through the rise of the FKT objective, what makes a solid FKT route, and how his popular Website fastestknowntime.com documents new records. With a 30 percent increase over last year’s records, Buzz describes the allure of the solitary push for a fastest known time.

Buzz Burrell runs down a snowfield on Mt. Rainier in a white-out. He's carrying an ice axe and shouldering a cord of rope. — Buzz Burrell runs down Mount Rainier.

Buzz has championed many FKT’s of his own, including the first John Muir Trail and Colorado Trail speed records. He set records on Yosemite’s signature and scary Half Dome route, the 100km “O” Circuit in Chile’s Torres Del Paine National Park, and Zion’s Angel’s Landing. A trail running legend, Buzz was the visionary of some of the most sought after and iconic lines in Colorado, including the L.A. Freeway and Milner to Berthoud Pass, sometimes known as the “Pfiffner Traverse.“

In this episode, 68-year-old Buzz breaks down the realities of aging, reminding us that no one can stop the clock. Buzz implores us to keep moving even as the years creep up. You won’t want to miss this down-to-earth chat as Buzz delivers his tips to keep moving and gives us this year’s round-up of robust FKT activity. Plus, you’ll never guess what indoor activity Burrell has mastered.

Learn more about FKT at fastestknowntime.com. Listen every Friday to the Fastest Known Time podcast with host Buzz Burrell and featuring some of the fastest athletes on the planet.

Last Episode: Trails, Trials, and The Trek with Zach “Badger” Davis

In case you missed it, check out the last episode of Out and Back where Shanty and the Real Hiking Viking team up to interview Viking’s good friend and hiking legend Zach “Badger” Davis. Thru-hikers may know Badger as the founder of the popular backpacking resource, The Trek. Badger has also written Appalachian Trials and Pacific Crest Trials, psychological guides to tackling the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails.

In this episode, Badger reveals the path from thru-hiker to the creation of community on the Trek and his popular podcast Backpacker Radio. Shanty, Viking, and Badger rifle through the different skillsets needed to thru-hike the AT, PCT, and CDT. They discuss how thru-hiking has evolved over the past decade. And all three of them share how the trail serves as therapy, including the inexplicable catharsis of accomplishing the seemingly impossible. Listen through to the end to learn Badger’s favorite off-the-beaten-path backpacking trip. Seasoned and aspiring thru-hikers alike won’t want to miss this episode to learn how to find the light at the end of the dark, green tunnel.

Learn more about Badger on theTrek.co. Follow Badger’s adventures on Instagram, and tune into his podcast, Backpacker Radio. You can also hear more hilarity from Viking on his first Out and Back appearance from earlier this season.

Meet the Hosts

the host of the podcast Andrew Baldwin wearing an orange hat and blue jacket with a frosty beard, smiling

Andrew “Shanty” Baldwin

In 2019, host Andrew Baldwin completed a southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. After five months on the trail, Baldwin returned home to pursue a career in voice acting. A friend of the Gaia GPS company, Baldwin was a natural choice for hosting the Out and Back podcast.

In each Out and Back episode, Shanty strives to bring you conversations with people who spend an extraordinary amount of time outdoors. Listen in as Shanty taps into each backcountry expert’s superpower so that you can take their knowledge and experience with you on your next adventure.

Mary smiles while lying down and resting her head on a rock. She's wearing a purple jacket, gloves, and a black buff around her ears.

Mary Cochenour

Mary is the Out and Back podcast producer and a writer and editor at Gaia GPS. Before joining Gaia GPS, Mary worked as a lawyer, newspaper journalist, ski patroller, Grand Canyon river guide, and USFS wilderness ranger. Mary holds degrees in journalism and business as well as a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Montana. Mary is licensed to practice law in Montana and Nevada.

When she is not in the office, Mary works as a guide for Andrew Skurka Adventures in wild places around the west, like Rocky Mountain National Park, Yosemite, and the Brooks Range in Alaska. Learn more about Mary on Instagram. Also, read her tips on how to plan your first solo backpacking trip.

May 19, 2023

Gaia GPS How-To

Bear Safety Tips for the Backcountry

by Michael Charboneau June 24, 2021

written by Michael Charboneau

Bear populations are on the rise in America. More bears means more bear-human encounters. While grizzly and black bear attacks remain infrequent, they can prove fatal. Most negative bear encounters can be avoided if humans take the time to learn about bears and practice a few bear safety tips.

This article covers some basic information about the bears that live in North America (black bears and grizzly bears) and provides guidance on bear safety from wildlife experts Jennifer Fortin-Noreus, a wildlife biologist with USFWS Grizzly Bear Recovery Program, and Greg Lemon, Communication & Education Division administrator for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Some of the information gathered here comes from the U.S. Forest Service, the National Parks Service, and other trusted resources. Read on to learn more about bears, how to avoid them in the backcountry, and how to handle an encounter so you can prepare yourself and minimize risk.

Black Bears and Grizzly Bears

There are two species of bear native to North America: the black bear and the grizzly bear, also known as the brown bear. Black bears are more widely distributed than grizzlies, with populations spread across wooded areas in the United States and Canada—even as far south as Florida and Mexico. Grizzlies are found in Alaska, Canada, and parts of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington.

A map of North America shows where black, grizzly, and polar bears live. Polar bears occupy the North Pole and the most northern tips of Canada and Alaska. Grizzlies live in Alaska, north west Canadian provinces, and parts of north west America. Black bears reside in areas dispersed throughout Canada, America, and Mexico.

The two species can look similar, says Fortin-Noreus, but they do have some key distinctions.

Black Bears

As the name implies, black bears usually have black fur, but they can also have brown, blue-gray, and even white coats as well. Look for the black bear’s straight face profile and relatively tall, straight ears that can look quite prominent on the head. Their rumps reach higher into the sky than their front shoulders. According to the NPS, black bears measure about three feet high at the shoulder and weigh up to 600 pounds.

Black bears have short, curved claws that are less than two inches long. Their toes are separated and claw marks are not always visible in their tracks.

Grizzly Bears

A grizzly stares at the camera. It's defined by it's rounded ears, dish-shaped snout, and hump between its front shoulders.

Grizzlies, on the other hand, have black, brown, or even blonde fur, measure three to five feet high at the shoulder, and can weigh up to 1,000 pounds. Compared to black bears, grizzlies also have much longer claws, a “dish-shaped” face, and a notable hump between their shoulders.

Grizzlies’ front claws are slightly curved and two to four inches long. Their toes are close together in a straight line. Claw marks often appear in their tracks.

A chart shows key identifying features between grizzlies and black bears. Grizzlies have a rump lower than shoulders; shoulder hump; long claws. Black bears have a rump higher than shoulders; no shoulder hump; and short, curved claws. — Illustration courtesy of Yellowstone National Park.

General Characteristics

Despite their size, bears are surprisingly agile, and they’re highly adapted to their environments. Both species can charge at speeds of 30 miles per hour or more, are excellent swimmers, and can climb trees. They also have a strong sense of smell, which makes proper food storage critical when spending time in bear country (see below).

Bears have an omnivorous diet, and their food sources vary widely depending on the season and what’s available, says Fortin-Noreus. In early spring, they feed on tender grasses and the carcasses of animals that didn’t survive the winter. Later in the year, ripe berries become another important food source. Bears will also feed on insects, fish, plant roots, and elk and deer calves.

Hibernation forms another key bear trait. Although hibernation happens in the winter, bears go dormant in response to low food availability, not cold weather, says Fortin-Noreus. Generally, grizzlies and black bears hibernate for up to six months, though the exact hibernation period will vary depending on conditions and the individual bear. Hibernation season begins around October and can last as late as May for some bears, she says. Yet hibernation isn’t necessarily a months-long block of inactivity, says Greg Lemon. Hibernating bears do occasionally leave their dens.

“Just because it’s winter time doesn’t mean bears aren’t going to be out,” Lemon says.

A grizzly stands in a body of water looking towards the camera.

Avoiding Bear Encounters While on the Trail

When traveling through bear country, give bears plenty of warning and watch out for signs of their presence. First, make a lot of noise—clapping and loud talking work best. Bear bells usually aren’t loud enough. Second, travel in groups whenever possible. One recent study found that between 2000 and 2015, 63 percent of worldwide bear attacks happened to people who were alone. Bottom line: if a bear hears you coming, it will likely move away from the area.

“Bears are really good at avoiding people,” says Fortin-Noreus. “They don’t want to encounter you any more than you want to encounter them.”

Some recreational activities carry additional risks in bear country. Fortin-Noreus points out that trail running and mountain biking increase your risk because you move more quickly and quietly than you would while hiking, and that gives bears less time to react. Fishing and hunting add risks because the smell of entrails can attract bears, among other potential issues. Hiking with a dog off-leash also brings added complications. In that scenario, the dog could run off and surprise a bear.

“If the dog gets chased and runs back to you, you’ve got problems,” Lemon says.

If you bring your dog along, make sure you keep them under control and close to you (or on a leash).

No matter how you spend time in the backcountry, always stay aware of your surroundings. That includes watching for signs of bears’ presence. Common indicators include bear scat, paw prints, trees with scratched bark, turned over logs, and dug up anthills. Lemon says that if you see fresh signs of a bear, you should turn around and move away from the area immediately.

In addition, consider how wind direction, visibility, and ambient noise level will affect bears’ ability to detect you—and vice versa. Hiking into a headwind will make it harder for bears farther up the trail to smell you, for example, and the sound of a nearby creek can drown out your footsteps and voice.

“If there’s a particular area that has poor visibility or a lot of ambient sounds,” says Fortin-Noreus, “slow down so that you have more reaction time.”

It’s also a good idea to know what kind of bears you might encounter in your area. Bear ranges are expanding, so Fortin-Noreus recommends talking with a local park ranger to get the latest information on bear activity. That way you can avoid places the animals frequent.

A mama and baby black bear stand in a field during a snowstorm.

Camping in Bear Country

Camping in bear country mainly requires handling food, waste, and scented items carefully. Always maintain a clean camp, and keep food, cooking supplies, and garbage at least 100 yards away from your sleeping area. Pack your food in a bear-resistant container (the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee has helpful guidelines on packing a canister) and avoid especially smelly foods like bacon or tuna. Remember that anything with a smell—shampoo, toothpaste, cookware—can attract bears. Never leave these items in your tent or sleeping area.

“You want to do all of your cooking, eating, brushing your teeth, dishwashing—all of that stuff around where your food storage is,” Lemon says. “You don’t want to have anything in your tent but you and maybe a bottle of water.”

If your campsite has them, use food lockers to store your food and immediately dispose of your waste in recycling and trash bins. If you don’t have access to lockers, you’ll need to hang your food and garbage 10 feet off the ground and four feet away from the tree or pole it’s attached to (again, follow local guidelines). That way, you’ll discourage bears from searching your campsite.

Check with rangers to learn about food storage regulations in the area you plan to visit. Each area maintains specific food storage requirements that address its unique bear population. For example, in many places in the Sierra, where black bears have become quite sophisticated around humans, food must be stored in hard-sided containers like a bear canister or a metal bear box. In some forests, land managers allow food to be stored in a bear-resistant bag, like an UrSack. Some parks provide a place to hang food from a high pole or beam with a metal cable. Check with land managers to make sure you’re in compliance with regulations.

What to Do if You Encounter a Bear

By following the guidelines above, you’ll lower your chances of a surprise bear encounter. If you do see a bear, however, you need to respond carefully. First, make sure you give bears at least 100 yards of space, especially if you see a mother and cubs. If the animal doesn’t notice you, or sees you and ignores you, calmly move away from the area, Fortin-Noreus says. If the bear does pay attention to you, the NPS recommends speaking calmly to identify yourself as a human. Immediately pick up any small children in your group, and make your group look as big as possible by slowly waving your arms.

A bear might stand up on its hind legs to get a better look at you—this is usually not a sign of aggression. According to Fortin-Noreus, an aggressive or agitated bear might hop, sway its head, pop its jaws, or paw at the ground. Regardless, if a bear watches you, make sure you have your bear spray ready and slowly move away from the area. If the bear follows, stop. Running, yelling, or making sudden movements can provoke a bear to attack.

If a bear charges, use bear spray (see below). If the bear makes contact with you, the traditional advice varies based on the species of bear.

Black Bear Attacks

Attacking black bears are more likely to be predatory, says Fortin-Noreus. If a black bear attacks, you should vigorously fight back.

Grizzly Bear Attacks

If a grizzly makes contact with you, however, you should play dead. Keep your pack on, cover your head and neck, and spread your legs to make it more difficult for the bear to turn you over. If the attack persists, fight back.

If possible, Fortin-Noreus recommends assessing the bear’s behavior and differentiating between predatory and defensive actions. If you notice a bear following you from a distance in the woods, for example, it’s most likely acting out of curiosity or predation. If you stumble on a bear eating berries and the animal charges, it’s likely acting defensively to protect its food source. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has some good advice on how to respond to defensive and predatory bears.

How to Use Bear Spray

When used correctly, bear spray allows you to stop a charging bear without causing lasting damage. It works in much the same way that pepper spray does with humans, Lemon says. Bear spray irritates mucus membranes, causing pain and discomfort around the bear’s eyes, nose, and mouth. This sends a strong signal to the bear to stay away, but it doesn’t cause any lasting damage (unlike a firearm, which will kill a bear or injure it, making it even more aggressive). In addition, Lemon notes that pepper spray could have a lasting deterrent effect on bears who encounter it.

“The bear that gets hosed with pepper spray probably will forever associate humans with that experience,” he says.

Always keep your bear spray accessible—don’t bury it in your pack—and if you see signs of a bear, carry it in your hand. If do encounter a bear and it charges, remove the safety clip from the canister and aim toward the bear, adjusting for the wind direction. Begin spraying when the bear is about 30 to 60 feet away, and create a cloud of spray in between you and the animal (this how-to video from Yellowstone National Park provides a good overview of the process). Lemon recommends spraying in a sweeping “z” pattern to create an effective cloud.

Continue spraying until the bear turns around or changes direction. If it doesn’t, spray into the bear’s face. Once the bear runs away, slowly leave the area. Most bears will react immediately to the bear spray, Lemon says.

“It has a very dramatic effect,” he says. “It’s very effective in protecting someone from an attack.”

Remember to only use EPA-approved bear spray and check the expiration date on your canister before you head out. Some national parks, like Yellowstone, encourage the use of bear spray and even have it available for rent. Others, notably Yosemite, don’t allow visitors to carry bear spray, so always check local regulations before you pack it.

A grizzly mama and baby sit in a field in Alaska with snowcapped peaks looming behind.

Keeping Yourself and Bears Safe

Of course, bears aren’t just a nuisance to avoid. They form a critical part of the ecosystems they inhabit, and by keeping yourself safe, you protect the animals, too. Bears that overcome their natural fear of humans (either through unsecured food or people getting too close) can become aggressive toward people, and wildlife officials may have to remove them from the area or kill them—an unnecessary tragedy, especially for a threatened species like grizzlies.

If you follow the correct bear safety guidelines and practice awareness, you likely won’t have any issues with bears, and they won’t have any issues with you.

“If you take the responsibility to educate yourself,” Lemon says, “you’re very likely to have the magical trip that you are dreaming of, and not have any problems with bears.”

June 24, 2021

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