A Wyoming man was hospitalized with serious injuries after he was attacked by a grizzly bear in the Shoshone National Forest, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department announced in a statement on Sunday.
The male victim was conducting survey work in the national forest on Saturday when he had a close range “aggressive defensive” encounter with a single grizzly bear, according to Wyoming Game and Fish Department. The man was caught by surprise and didn’t have time to deploy bear spray and instead dropped to cover his head and neck until the bear left.
“First and foremost, we want to wish the individual a quick and successful recovery. His split-second reaction to this sudden, defensive encounter with a bear was the best possible response to this unfortunate situation,” said Lander Regional Wildlife Supervisor Jason Hunter.
The victim called 911 and was airlifted to the hospital. Game and Fish officials said they weren’t able to locate the bear in the area.
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Although bear encounters where a bear is aggressive toward a human are not common, they do happen, like the one in June in Arizona, where a 66-year-old-man died. Still, there’s a chance that you could cross paths with a bear while hiking or camping, and you want to be aware of what’s going on and know what to do.
Here’s what experts say to do if you encounter a bear:
Carry bear spray, travel in groups
Bear spray, a stronger version of pepper spray, wasn’t deployed in the Wyoming bear attack encounter over the weekend, but wildlife experts say it’s a must and encourage hikers to keep it within reach and ready to use.
If possible, travel and hike in groups of two to five.
“The more human presence there is, the more noise you make, the less likely a bear will engage with you,” said Lisa Upson, the executive director of People and Carnivores, a Montana-based nonprofit focused on preventing human-carnivore conflict.
If you’re in a thick, forested area and can’t see well, sing, clap or shout. Don’t even bother purchasing bear bells − they’re nearly impossible to hear unless you’re within 10 feet, especially if there’s wind. If you see a bear from a distance, detour as much as possible. Do not try to get closer to take a picture; the risk is not worth the Instagram likes.
Keep an eye out for animal carcasses
There’s a helpful, catchy saying worth memorizing: “If it’s black, fight back. If it’s brown, lie down.“
(The last part of that saying is not as commonly known: “If it’s white, say goodnight” − which is to say, if you have some sort of aggressive encounter with a polar bear, you’re probably a goner.)
You need to be aware of your surroundings, Upson said. That means always keeping an eye on the land around you, keeping your dog leashed and being on the lookout for animal carcasses, which a bear could be protecting as a food source.
“Bears’ sense of smell is insane,” Upson said. “What that means is that you should assume bears are around if you’re out in the wilderness.”
Do. Not. Run.
Let’s say the unthinkable happens, and a bear charges you. Do not run. Upson said running can “activate” the bear, making them think you are prey. And even Usain Bolt couldn’t outrun a grizzly, which can run up to 35 mph (Bolt ran the 100 meters at about 27 mph, for comparison).
Bears will sometimes do “bluff charges,” which means they’ll suddenly come to a stop. If a grizzly is about to make contact with you, get on the ground immediately and lie on your stomach. Keep your pack on for extra protection, and fold your arms over your neck and head, keeping your elbows on the ground. You want to keep the bear from rolling you over and exposing your stomach.
Resistance will provoke the bear, so lie still. You’re essentially playing dead. Most likely, the bear will see you’re immobilized and go away.
