Bear Behavior
Wow, what a subject to try to explain. Teaching your child how to ride a bike or throw a football is comparatively easy as the consequences are just a bit different. A skinned knee or an incomplete pass sounds somewhat trivial compared to being mauled by a 400 pound fur ball with an attitude. How do you explain keeping someone safe from such a complex animal? First, we have to define the parameters of what our observer wants in his or her encounter with each bear species.
Our observer will be a person that enjoys casual observation of bears and other wildlife, just like you. They want a nice photograph to share with friends and family but have no intention of getting to close. Now, what is that elusive safe viewing range?
The safe viewing range is determined by local wildlife officials that are tasked with establishing this range for each individual species of bear within a given location. What is difficult about this safe range is that different bear species and differently habituated bears require different ranges. Many other factors are also involved when determining these ranges. We will explore some of these issues and how they relate to your safety.
Black Bear Behavior
Black bears are very numerous, with an estimated population of 500,000. They live in most regions of the US and Canada. Even Florida and Louisiana have small populations. Black bears are found in the mountains ranges from Georgia to Maine. The largest concentration of black bears is found in the Upper Midwestern states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, the western mountain states, Canada and Alaska.
Given these high population numbers it is surprising that more people are not killed or injured by black bears each year. Some people seem to think they are fairly harmless. Forest visitors will often approach black bears at much closer ranges because of this untrue fact. If you do not believe this just travel to Yellowstone and watch what some people do! Talk to people about black bears and listen to some amazing misinformation they have about these bears. Completely amazing! In my way of thinking, anything with 3-inch claws and 2-inch teeth is not a party animal.
Black bears have an extremely wide range of behaviors. Some black bears are very curious bears that seem to enjoy being around certain humans. Others are predatory black bears that stalk and will wantonly kill humans and other large game. Black bears are quite strong and exceedingly quick. All but the largest can climb trees as well as you and will outrun you in the forest and on the flats.
Black bear personalities are similar to human personalities. Some are nice and some are not so nice. Black bears that I have worked with run the range from very curious to, “Hey, you look like my dinner, dude.” Through thousands of hours of direct close contact, I have been able to understand what these bears think and remain safe with them. The casual observer seldom gets this familiar with these guys. I can say that the vast majority of black bears are quite tolerant of humans. This includes both front-country and backcountry bears.
About 5% of the black bear population is considered predatory blacks. These bears stalk people as prey. They are every bit as aggressive as brown bears and just as lethal. The problem is that the casual observer seldom realizes he is dealing with this type of bear until it is too late. This is another reason to give all black bears a great deal of space.
So now you can see that a black bear is very lethal in battle, highly intelligent and has a highly variable personality. So how close to get to that large bruin? If you enjoy your scalp, not having extra holes in your body and breathing normally then my recommendation is 50 yards. That is about 150 feet or the length of a large suburban house lot. Never approach closer than 100 feet. A bear in a full charge will cover that small distance in less than 10 seconds. Many forest preserves recommend 100 yards. Always check with the local rangers as to their particular regulations. They know their bears well.
Brown Bear Behavior
Grizzlies, Kodiaks, brownies (and not the Cleveland football types) are all around, oh my! What to do! How about being careful!
There are two kinds of brown bears, coastal and barren ground. Coastal brown bears live near the ocean coasts. Barren ground brown bears live inland. Grizzlies, place names (like Kodiaks) and all the other names for these mammoth animals are nicknames. While cute, they miss a prime way to identify behavior as there is a massive difference between them. One of the most important facts to remember is that all brown bears will carve you up in a heartbeat. That is the awful truth and something you want to always remember and allow not to happen.
Of the two subspecies coastals are the calmest. This difference is slim but it is identifiable. Kodiaks are coastals! These bears can attain weights of 1,600 pounds or more. They are massive, but still incredibly fast and agile. They make the best NFL wide receiver look slow and extremely small. The main reason these bears are so big and less hostile is food. As long as the fish harvest is good, mostly salmon, they seem to want to eat fish rather than tourists. Tim Treadwell lived with these bears for more than 10 years without a major problem. He understood them and they seemed to tolerate him.
Barren ground brown bears are much less predictable. These bears are much smaller in comparison to their coastal cousins. The large males will tip the scales at 1,000 pounds or more depending on their food sources. These bears are much more aggressive and one never needs to approach them. Always stay at least 100 yards from them.
A point of interest in the Treadwell incident is that he worked with coastal bears most of the time. He was killed by a barren ground bear that he was somewhat familiar with on a lake away from the coast during a time when bears were feeding heavily to fatten up for hibernation. His tragic death just reinforces the simple fact that even the very best can have serious encounters with the bears that they love.
Most attacks from browns are done in defense. You surprise them on a trail, disturb their cubs, get close to a kill they are eating or disturb them during mating and you will get you some unwanted attention in a hurry. They attack to neutralize the threat that you pose. Once they believe that the threat is neutralized they will generally cease the attack and move away. Unfortunately by this time massive damage to the person has been done. Remember 100 yards!
Polar Bear Behavior
Polar bears look at us like we are seals that walk upright. These animals are quite aggressive and very predictable. They will attack! That is the most predictable part about them. They fear little. The best and only way for the casual observer to view these bears is with a guide or in a tundra buggy.
Other Behavior Traits
Black bears and brown bears are quite complex. Many other factors must be added into the equation when seeking to understand bear behavior. Factors, such as the season will make huge differences in behavior. Early season bears, just coming out of hibernation, are hungry and are aggressively looking for winter kills and other food sources. Summer bears are calmer if the food sources are plentiful. These bears are fatter and more content. As winter approaches bears feed heavily in September and October making them more aggressive and less predictable. Always stay away from a bear’s kill. Many people are attacked as they interfere with the bear’s food sources.
Never approach when bears are mating. This should be a no-brainer but I will mention this as some might think this a good time to get a great image. In this vein also remember that if a bear notices a mate in estrus it will also notice a human female in estrus. I know of no attacks but there is evidence that it will bring a bear closer to your camp to figure this situation out.
With brown bears, never interfere with cubs. This is a wonderful way to see the mother’s aggressive side. With black bears the usual defense is to tree the cubs while with a brown bear it will be to tree the human. Not a good idea to do this.
The age of the bear is also very important. The younger, juvenile delinquent, bears will always be willing to test the waters more so than the older, more mature bears. Be more cautious around younger bears.
Ultimately, it is your responsibility to remain safe in bear country. Be observant and use your brain power to assess all situations. Remember that space is your greatest friend. If you remain out of the bears comfort zone, he will reward you with great images and the unimpeded ability to breathe.
Always refer to the local requirements of the outdoor agency that has responsibility for the area. They know their animal populations and will have the most up-to-date and safest policies for that particular population.
One other caution, if an area is closed due to aggressive bear behavior, obey this posting. You should always err on the side of caution with these large, incredibly beautiful animals.