Don’t Try to Outrun a Brown Bear or Play Dead with a Black Bear

Bear attacks only happen to about 40 individuals year, which is hardly a significant threat compared to the majority of issues we confront. Each year, lightning claims more lives in the US alone. A bear attack sounds dramatic, though, so when one occurs, it makes headlines, and survivalists may make a lot of money by instructing you how to survive one. Despite the rarity of bear attacks, the majority of individuals presumably know what to do in such a situation.

According to conventional wisdom, you should either flee from a bear or pretend to be dead. Again, Bear Grylls is to responsible for the first point because he advocated it in an episode of his program. There are some circumstances where playing dead is advised, and if done incorrectly, it can make matters much worse.

When you come across a grizzly bear, you should prepare to play dead. A grizzly bear is a dangerous, aggressive, and territorial foe. It almost always attacks in order to get rid of you as a threat. You put it and perhaps its offspring in peril. It desires your demise. You therefore give it what it wants by acting dead. Is it simply going to leave? No. It's going to look awful. You'll likely endure severe stomping, clawing, and roughhousing. Nevertheless, if you prey on death, it will probably finish much more quickly and the bear may go away content that you are no longer a danger.

Black bears typically avoid interacting with people, so any assault on you would likely be predation rather than defense. In other words, if you pretend to be dead, you're just making it easier for it to eat you.

Is fleeing the problem the answer? Never. Running from a bear nearly often results in death or serious injury. It's a prey reflex to run. So, you are demonstrating to any bear that you are a worthy target for a hunt. When you consider that you cannot outrun a bear, this situation becomes worse. Despite their size, they move far more quickly than people. A black bear is capable of traveling at 35 mph. The world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, reached a speed of 27 mph. You won't succeed.

For what it's worth, you should, if at all feasible, back carefully away from a stationary black bear. Be towering and imposing. If the bear strikes, defend yourself by using sticks as weapons and swinging for the bear's face. They will generally back off because they are easily intimidated.