Grizzly Bear Photo by: drouu (Stock Exchange)

All campsites should be set up with basic animal safety in mind, but if you’re tent camping in bear country, you need to be aware of some important precautions. Though bears are surprisingly gentle creatures, the American black bear can be six feet long and close to 500 pounds – and they’re the smaller ones. Also, not all bears hibernate, so camping in the winter is no guarantee your camp grounds can’t be visited by a bear.

That said, the danger from bears is often exaggerated and sensationalized. Lucky for us, bears aren’t “looking for trouble” any more than any other forest creature; and many, if not most, dangerous bear encounters are provoked by human behavior. Likewise, bear encounters can be minimized by human behavior. That’s where we come in.

Bear Safety 101

There are a few things you can do right off the bat to make camping in bear habitat safer. Awareness is the name of the game, and with a little forethought, there’s no reason to assume you’ll ever be harassed by a bear. Here are the major things to know.

Be aware that you’re in “bear country.“ Warnings to this effect are fairly abundant in established camp grounds, but of course, if you’re in the backcountry you need to know the terrain and your surroundings. A bear should never be a surprise.

Control your domestic animals. A loose dog is an invitation for your local bear. If you are bringing a dog, cat, or other domesticated animal, be extra certain he or she remains on a leash and under control at all times. If a dog goes wandering, it might easily lead a bear home to you, endangering you, your pet, and the unsuspecting bear.

Be aware of your food and waste. In this situation, it’s even more important to “leave no trace.” The scent of food is just as enticing to bears as it is to people. Don’t leave food out or bury it; any leftovers should be stored safely in bear-proofed containers or kept in vehicles. When cooking, do so a safe distance downwind from your established campsite. Bears may not see well, but they have an exceptional sense of smell.

If confronted, know your options ahead of time. Outrunning a bear over any distance is impossible, and climbing a tree is only advisable if you’re sure you can cover a good vertical distance in only a few seconds. Just as if you were approached by an unfamiliar dog, you don’t want to project fear or provoke the animal’s hunting instincts. Most bears are interested only in your food. If you remain calm and stand pat, the bear is likely to leave on its own. Only if the bear persists in approaching you should you “play dead.”

Know your camp grounds’ rules on weapons. In some parks it’s acceptable to carry firearms for protection or while hunting. As always, guns should only be handled by experienced and responsible marksmen. Once you take the responsibility of bringing a weapon onto a campsite, you have to be just as aware of the other people around you as you are of the bears and other animals who may be close by.

Because of their size and fierce reputation, bears are often misunderstood. Thankfully, when it comes to campers and bears, there’s plenty of room in the wild for the both of us.

Do not approach any bear that you see. If you see a bear and he stops what he is doing, the chances are high that he has also seen you. This means that you are too close. Slowly start to back away from the bear while keeping an eye on him. Put as much distance between you and the bear as possible.

Angry Bear - Photo by Lara Schneider

If the bear starts to follow you, but he isn’t acting aggressive, change your direction by walking backwards. If the bear continues to follow you after you’ve changed your route, stand still. If he continues to come closer, begin shouting at him. Act as aggressive as possible. This has been known to intimidate bears and make them run off. The most important thing you can remember is to never run or turn your back on a bear.

If the bear is still trailing you, make yourself seem as large as possible. You can do this by moving to higher ground, or standing on something such as a large rock. If the bear continues to approach after you have tried to intimidate him with your voice and acting large, begin to throw non-food objects at him. This can include rocks. If possible, find a large stick to hold. It can help you fight off the bear if he should continue to approach.

If the bear begins to act aggressive and you have food on your person, the chances are very high that he smells it. Drop the food, back away, and put as much distance between you and your food as possible. Many times the bear will stop focusing on you, stop at the food, and start investigating it.

If the bear ignores the food and continues to come after you and you are physically attacked, fight back as much as you can. Use anything you can to fight off the bear, like large sticks and rocks. Scream and holler at the bear. Make as much noise as possible. Not only can this scare the bear, it can also alert others to your predicament.

While bear attacks in the Smokies are somewhat rare, they do happen. During the summer of 2008, a child was attacked by a black bear in the Smokies. His father fought him off, the child ran away, and the bear followed and attacked the child again. After taking a severe beating from the father, the bear eventually ran off. The bear was tracked and found by park officials and put down.

Knowing what to do in the event of an attack can help you survive. Remember, never turn your back on a bear, and if it comes down to it, fight the bear with everything in your power. Heeding these two tips can mean the difference between life and death.