Bears (Frequent #1 on the Threat Down)

I read this in Backpacker today. Let’s say you encounter a bear in the wild. What should you do? Well, it depends on the bear. One thing you can be sure of – never turn and run. But here’s the kicker:

For Grizzlies:

• Avoid eye contact
• Speak in low tones
• Back away slowly
• If the bear attacks – lie flat on your stomach, cover your neck and play dead (the “take your ball and go home” technique for the wild)

For Black Bears:

• Appear as large as possible
• Shout
• Back away slowly
• If the bear attacks – fight back aggressively

Could these BE any more opposite? Thanks a lot, bears! The trick of course is keeping your head long enough (both literally and metaphorically) to a) identify the bear and b) remember which course of action to take with such a bear. Essentially the only thing you can be sure of is “back away slowly.”