Bear Safety 101

By Stio Mountain on June 27

Whether you’re out for a long hike or a casual car camp, it’s best to be educated on what to do when you have an unexpected visitor. Between Grand Teton National Park, Bridger Teton National Forest, and occasionally our Jackson community (!), bears are out and about prowling for food! Although the majority of us who enjoy spending time outside have fortunately never had a bear encounter, it’s wise to be prepared whenever you’re in the wilderness – or even sometimes when you’re just out for an after-work run on the trails.

One of the most important things to realize when developing a bear defense strategy is that although the majority of bears are predictable, there is always about a 5 percent wild card with bear behavior. Also, even though bear populations are most concentrated in rural parts of the American West, the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, there have been sightings in all states except for Hawaii. Making a habit of carrying bear spray as part of your camping, picnicking, and hiking routines minimizes chances of actual bear attacks while you recreate outside!

Read up on six important bear safety tips in this slideshow from SABRE:

This slideshow was created by SABRE.

Bear Safety 101

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