It's not uncommon for bears to wander into urban areas. Although bear-inflicted injuries are rare, the media tends to sensationalize any encounter. Most attacks are referred to as "maulings," and this further inflames fears many people have.
It's estimated that bears kill an average of one person and injure 10 in North America each year. Other animal attacks (insect stings, dog bites) are responsible for far more human fatalities each year.
Most encounters have been by predacious, human-habituated, food-conditioned bears. The frequency of such encounters is increasing, possibly because there's a greater number of people visiting the wilds. An exception is in Yellowstone National Park, where a bear management program has resulted in a decline in human-bear interactions.
Most bears avoid humans. Most people are probably unaware of bear encounters because the bear has sensed them and left the area. Three types of encounters have been classified: sudden encounters, provocation and predation. Each has a different motivation by the bear and requires a different response by the person involved.
Sudden encounters happen when neither the person nor the bear is aware of each other's presence until they are in close range of each other. A bear's reaction depends upon the bear's species and sex. Black bears of both sexes, including females with cubs, generally run away from humans as soon as humans are detected. Despite folklore, it is highly uncommon for a black bear mother to attack in order to defend her young.
A grizzly bear mother, on the other hand, may attack and will often make physical contact. More than 70 percent of all grizzly bear encounters occur with females with cubs. These attacks are brief (less than two minutes) and usually do not result in death.
Provocation attacks may occur when bear hunters only wound the animal or when humans get too close on purpose.
Predation encounters occur when the bear treats humans as food. Ninety percent of attacks by black bears are of this type. Predation attacks usually involve male bears in remote locations. Grizzly bear attacks are rarely predatory, but if they should attack, the bear is usually used to humans or has been conditioned with food.
Avoiding bear encounters is relatively easy and should be practiced by all who venture into the wilderness. Common-sense principles (keeping campsites clean, hiking with the wind, hiking in parties of three or more and making noise) should be practiced.
If you are attacked, your reaction depends on the bear species. An attacking black bear is usually predacious and often intends to kill. The only chance of surviving this type of attack is to attempt to intimidate the bear or to fight back.
For an aggressive black bear attack, the person should make loud noises by shouting and should raise his or her arms in order to appear larger. Do not run unless a protective dwelling is close and can be reached quickly. Running causes a more aggressive predatory response, and bears are faster than humans. Usually the person should stand still, attempt to intimidate and fight back with any available object.
For a grizzly, most charges are bluffs. If physical contact is made, it is usually a female protecting her cubs. The grizzly bear attack victim should fall to the ground and "play dead." Protect the face and abdomen. Lie still for several minutes after the attack, because a more vigorous attack will occur.
Insufficient data exists about whether capsicum sprays ("bear spray") can deter a bear attack, and firearm use is controversial.
Alton Thygerson, professor of health sciences at BYU, is the National Safety Council's first aid and CPR author and technical consultant.