As the warm days of summer shifts into fall, thousands of people across North America will pack up their camping gear and head out into the great outdoors. But for anyone camping in bear country, these adventures come with an extra responsibility: knowing how to stay safe around wildlife. After all, while bear encounters are uncommon, they can become dangerous if people do not know how to respond. That's why we're breaking down what you should do if you have a bear encounter while camping and the number one thing not to do, according to experts.

Because allthough hikers and campers can encounter a bear through sheer happenstance, there are many steps they can take to reduce the chances of a surprise encounter. And if you do come face to face with a bear, knowing what to do—and what not to do—can help you de-escalate the situation and leave safely.

So whether you’re a first-time camper or a seasoned explorer, now’s a good time to brush up on your bear safety knowledge before heading into the wilderness with your friends or family members. With the help of two wildlife experts, below we explain what to do if you encounter a bear while camping, if yelling really scares away a bear, how to avoid attracting bears to your campsite, the biggest mistakes to avoid during a bear encounter and more.

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Where Are You Most Likely to Encounter a Bear?

Bears can be found across many parts of North America, but your chances of encountering one are higher in areas known as bear country. These regions often include forests, mountains, and other habitats where bears have access to food, water, and shelter.

Black bears are the most widely distributed bear species in North America and can be found throughout much of the United States, Canada, and parts of Mexico. Grizzly bears, a type of brown bear, have a more limited range and are primarily found in Alaska, western Canada, and parts of the northwestern United States.

What to Do If You Encounter a Bear While Camping

Running across a bear in the wild can be a very frightening experience, to say the least. However, the last thing you want to do here is panic.

"First and foremost, remain calm and quickly assess the situation," says Dr. Don White Jr., wildlife ecology professor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. "A bear merely passing at a distance is much different from a bear approaching people, tents, or food."

If the bear hasn't noticed you, stand up straight and calmly leave the area at a steady pace without running or losing track of the bear's location. However, if the bear has noticed you, or worse, is actively approaching you, here's what you need to do, accordng to wildlilfe experts.

Make Yourself Look Larger

If you are camping with others, one of the first steps during a bear encounter is to bring everyone together. A group of people appears larger and may help discourage the bear from approaching.

"You want to bring your children close to you, keep your dogs leashed, and gather adults together so the group appears larger," advises Dr. White. This not only helps you put on a more intimidating front, but it also prevents any one person or pet from getting singled out.

Back Away Slowly and Give the Bear Space

When you encounter a bear at your campsite, the safest thing to do is leave the area peacefully, even if that means relinquishing your empty campsite to the bear for a while. However, your departure needs to be slow, attentive, and methodical to prevent the situation from escalating.

"Face the bear and slowly back away while speaking in a firm, calm voice," says Dr. White. "The mere sound of a human voice is usually enough to cause the bear to flee the area quickly. Don’t crowd the bear. Give it ample room to leave."

Avoid sudden movements, running, or approaching the bear. Giving wildlife space is one of the most important parts of bear safety.

Make Lots of Noise

Bears, especially black bears, are generally pretty skittish around people, and in most cases, experts say they're far more likely to try to escape than attack. But if the bear continues to approach you even after you've tried to leave the scene, your next best bet is to stay calm but make yourself as intimidating as possible.

"If the bear continues approaching, stand your ground," directs Dr. White. "Make yourself look large and become more assertive—shout 'Hey bear! Hey bear! Hey bear!', clap, and tell the bear to leave."

Using a firm voice can help communicate that you are not an easy target while still allowing the bear an opportunity to leave.

Report the Encounter

Even if your bear encounter was a non-violent, non-aggressive one, it's important to let park rangers know when, where, and how it happened. Dr. White says that campers should leave the area if the bear remains nearby and report any aggressive, persistent, or food-conditioned behavior to campground personnel or local law enforcement.

What Does It Mean When a Bear Stands on Its Hind Legs?

No matter how big (or little) a bear may be, there is a chance that the bear may stand up when it first notices you. If it does this, however, don't panic, as it's not necessarily a sign that the bear is angry.

"If the bear stands on its hind legs, it is not acting aggressively," assures Spencer Daniels, Bear Program Coordinator with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. "Bears' eyesight is generally poor, and standing on their hind legs provides them with a better vantage point to pick up your scent, see you from a different angle, and figure out what you are. This is usually followed by the bear running in the opposite direction."

What to Do If a Bear Attacks You

It's one thing to see a bear from a distance, but it's another to come in close contact with one. In that case, a million questions is probably going through your mind, including what to do if a bear approaches you.

Should You Fight Back or Play Dead During a Bear Attack?

Bear attacks do happen and what you should do depends largely on the type of bear involved and the circumstances of the encounter. After all, the advice for a black bear attack is different from what experts recommend for a grizzly bear attack, which is why knowing the difference can be critical.

"If the bear attacks, do not play dead and fight back as hard as you can," says Daniels. "Throw rocks and sticks, yell, and stand up straight so you look big as black bears will give up if they feel like you are a threat."

However, Daniels cautions grizzlies are much more aggressive than black bears, and your best bet if you encounter a grizzly bear is to try to convince it that you're not a threat. In fact, the National Park Service actually does recommend playing dead by laying down flat on your stomach, spreading your legs, and covering your head and neck with your hands and arms. If you're wearing a backpack, keep it on to protect your back. Unfortunately, if the grizzly's attack persists even after you've played dead, you may have no choice but to fight for your life.

Both the National Park Service and Bearwise.org offer potentially life-saving advice on what to do in case of a bear attack. Campers should read up on their bear safety advice any time they're planning an excursion into bear country: even though bear attacks are very rare, it's important to know what to do if worst comes to worst.

The #1 Thing Not to Do During a Bear Encounter: Never Run

A campsite can quickly become appealing if a bear smells food, garbage, or other attractants nearby. Because of this, if one approaches your campsite and you end up coming face to face with a bear in the wild, your first instinct may be to turn around and run. However, running from a bear is one of the biggest mistakes you can make during a bear encounter. Knowing how to react when a bear approaches can help you stay calm and avoid escalating the situation.

"Do not run," reiterates Dr. White. "Running can transform an otherwise manageable encounter into a pursuit. Instead, face the bear, remain standing, and back away slowly while allowing the bear an unobstructed escape route. Backing away slowly from a bear allows you to create distance while avoiding sudden movements that could make the encounter more unpredictable."

Dr. White add that there are two other equally important cautions you should keep in mind as well. "You should also never approach a bear, particularly for a photograph, and never intentionally feed one. Feeding teaches bears to associate people and campsites with food. That association is one of the most important precursors to recurring conflict."

Whether you are hiking, camping, or exploring bear country, knowing what to do if a bear approaches, and understanding what not to do during a bear encounter, can help you respond safely and confidently.

How to Keep Bears Away From Your Campsite

Most bears, especially black bears, are known to not approach humans and will generally avoid places where people are gathered. However, bears will have no trouble mustering up the courage to approach a campsite if they think they can score some good food out of it!

"The guiding principle is straightforward: a bear should find neither food nor food odors at a campsite," says Dr. White. "Bears are attracted not only to food but also to garbage, cooking grease, pet food, toiletries, and other scented materials."

To make your campsite less attractive to bears, White and Daniels recommend following these bear safety tips:

Store Food and Bear Attractants Properly

Food is one of the biggest reasons bears visit campsites, but it is not the only thing that can draw them in. Garbage, toiletries, cooking supplies, pet food, and scented items can all attract a curious bear.

Store all food, garbage, cooking equipment, pet food, toiletries, and other attractants in a closed, hard-sided vehicle or an approved bear-proof container. If using a bear-proof container, Daniels recommends hanging it at least 10 feet off the ground where possible.

Keep coolers out of sight as well. According to Dr. White, some food-conditioned bears have learned to recognize coolers as potential food sources.

Never Cook or Store Food Inside Your Tent

Your tent should never be treated as a food storage area. Even small smells from snacks, drinks, toothpaste, deodorant, or other toiletries can attract bears and create a dangerous situation.

Never keep food, drinks, or scented items inside your tent. Ideally, all cooking and food storage should take place at least 100 yards away from where you sleep.

If you bring multiple sets of clothing, Daniels recommends designating one set for cooking and eating, then storing those clothes with your food to prevent lingering odors from attracting wildlife.

Keep Your Campsite Clean and Free of Attractants

A clean campsite is one of the best defenses against unwanted bear visitors. Even small amounts of food residue, grease, or trash can leave behind smells that attract bears.

Clean grills, tables, utensils, and cooking surfaces promptly, including spilled food and grease. Do not burn or bury food scraps, and avoid pouring cooking grease or food wastewater onto the ground.

Garbage should be kept in scent-proof, bear-resistant containers until you leave the campsite, and food should never be left unattended—even for a brief moment.

How to Avoid a Bear Encounter While Hiking

Believe it or not, bears are not looking for a fight with you, and barring exceptional circumstances, they will almost always go out of their way to avoid running into you, even if they are aware that you are nearby. In fact, many bear encounters happen because a person accidentally surprises a bear rather than because the animal is actively seeking out a confrontation.

"Bears will usually notice you and leave before you even know they are there," says Daniels. "However, if the wind is wrong and/or the topography obstructs a bear's view, a surprise encounter is possible. So, be especially vigilant if the wind is blowing in your face, when cresting ridges, or when turning corners."

To help you know how to stay safe and avoid a bear encounter in the wild, here are a few ways safety tips from our experts:

Make Noise While Hiking in Bear Country

Does yelling scare away a bear? It does! In fact, according to wildlife experts, making noise while hiking is one of the simplest ways to let bears know you are in bear country before you get too close. You can make noise by talking with your hiking companions, singing while you're hiking or calling out words occasionally. You especially want to make extra noise when approaching blind corners, dense brush, loud streams, or areas where a bear may have trouble hearing you coming.

The goal of making noise is not to scare bears, it is to avoid surprising them. Most bears would rather avoid people, and giving them time to recognize your presence allows them to move away before an encounter happens.

Keep Your Dog on a Leash At All Times

A lot of people bring their dogs camping with them, so you want to protect them from bears too. If you are bringing your dog with you on a hike during the day where bears roam, make sure you have your pup near you at all times and keep them on a leash. Even though you’re out in the open, that doesn’t mean it’s safe for your pet to walk freely.

An off-leash dog can accidentally approach, chase, or surprise a bear, which may cause the animal to feel threatened and react defensively. Keeping your dog close to you therefore gives you more control over the situation and helps prevent your pet from wandering into areas where wildlife may be nearby.

Carry Bear Spray and Know How to Use It

If you bring one hiking accessory with you, carry bear spray, keep it easily accessible, and know how to use it. Having bear spray with you can provide an added layer of protection in the unlikely event that you have a dangerous encounter with a bear.

However, bear spray is only useful if you can reach it quickly and understand how it works before you need it. Keep it somewhere easy to grab, such as a belt holster or an accessible outside pocket of your pack, rather than stored away where you would have to search for it during an emergency.

How do you use bear spray? To use bear spray, remove the safety clip, aim the nozzle slightly downward toward the bear’s face, and spray in short bursts to create a cloud between you and the animal. If the bear continues approaching, keep spraying while slowly moving away. Note: Always check the instructions on your specific bear spray canister before heading into bear country, as models can vary.

Keep in mind that bear spray is generally used when a bear is close and approaching, not as a general deterrent from a distance. Also remember that the goal is to create a spray barrier/cloud, not to precisely hit the bear like a stream when you use it.

What to Do If You See a Bear Cub or Carcass

If you see a bear cub, an animal carcass, or any food source that may attract bears, leave the area calmly but quickly. These situations can be especially risky because a mother bear may be nearby protecting her cub, or a bear may return to defend a food source.

So as tempting as it may be to stop for a closer look or take a photo, never approach a bear cub or move toward a carcass. A bear’s behavior can change quickly if it feels its young, food, or space is being threatened.

Overall, staying aware of your surroundings and avoiding areas where bears may be feeding can help reduce your chances of a dangerous encounter.

Sources:

• Dr. Don White Jr., Ph.D., James M. White Endowed Chair of Wildlife Ecology, University of Arkansas at Monticello
• Spencer Daniels, Bear Program Coordinator, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
• National Park Service
• Bearwise.org