“Dusty, what should I do if I encounter a bear?”
In most encounters, bears will avoid humans. If you encounter a bear in the field and it does not avoid you, you need to determine if the bear is exhibiting predatory or aggressive/defensive behavior. In most situations, grizzly bears act defensively to protect their personal space, a food source, or their offspring. A defensive bear often displays stress behaviors such as moaning, woofing, jaw popping or paw swatting. Remember, the bear is acting aggressively to defend something and if you are not perceived as a threat, the bear should usually leave the area. If you encounter an aggressive/defensive bear at close range:
Dusty Lassester Bear Wise Community Coordinator
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