In the US lives a species that you usually don’t find anywhere close to the civilised Europe – bears. They inhabit almost all places the Americans call backcountry, except the deserts, and these are the places we love to go to for hiking. As a proper german (who freaks out around a wild boar) I had no clue how to behave in a way that would leave me with all my limbs after a trip to Yosemite. So I made a little research that I would like to share with you.

1. There are two kinds of bears found in the american woods. Black bears and Grizzlies (north american brown bear) (Yoggi bear in Yellowstone National Park is a Grizzly). Whatever you do, you wouldn’t like to meet a Grizzly. They are far more aggressive combined with a very strong jaw. According to Wikipedia it was estimated that the bite of a Grizzly can crush a bowling ball. Luckily there are only black bears in Yosemite. Here you can find a nice map of the bear distribution in the US.

2. Usually bears stay away from humans and only attack them, when they were surprised at close distance. So don’t surprise them. Meaning make as much noise as possible while hiking through bear land. Well they suggest to talk – not easy, when you are not a talkative person. Or sing a song – not easy either for 10-12 hours a day. Or put some bells on your shoes – somehow reminded me of a fashion trend when I was 15. We just kept crushing through the woods as clumsy as we could.

3. The bears don’t prey on us but on our delicious food. I can very well understand them, but the issues is they are dammit smart. They can even spot a bag of sweets in a car and force their way to get it. Humans in contrast are so stupid. Their was once a bear entering a family camping in Yosemite indulging in all the food on the table. Because the parents of a little girl found it so cute, they put honey on their daughters fingers for the bear to lick of. Unfortunately the bear misunderstood and bit the whole hand off the little girl. Guess who was punished for that? The only proper way is to store your food unreachable for bears: hung up in the trees or in safe canisters (cars are not safe!) and better check whether the snickers is still in your pocket, otherwise you might get an overnight guest in your tent.

Backpack fitting bear canisters. They are round so bears can’t carry them away ;). And you need a coin to open them, something bears don’t usually carry around.

4. So what, if a bear indeed attacks you? Then you better now, whether it is a black bear or a grizzly. Because the black bear can climb trees, the grizzly can’t. Running is no option in either case, both are a lot faster than you are. The most obvious feature to distinguish the shoulder hump on the grizzly’s back. By the way, black bears are not always black but come in all shades of brown to black. The general recommendation how to handle the appearance of a bear that I found is a six step procedure:

• Make your self as big as you can. Holding up your arms and hiking poles. Stand your ground, but don’t go closer. If you do that anyway, I would let it count as natural selection.
• Make a lot of noise, e.g. strike your hiking poles together and scream at the bear „GO AWAY!“. I am not sure, but most likely the bear understands english.
• If its not leaving start throwing stones at it. But be careful, they can get upset, if you hit them.
• If the bear still comes closer, because it is obviously interested in the snickers bar in your right hand. Step back and give up on the bar.
• So the bear is not interested in the bar, but sees you as a threat the needs to be eliminated and attacks you. Well if it is a grizzly, you might get away by climbing on a tree (I did not see many suitable ones in Yosemite). If it is a black bear it can climb, but usually will be satisfied believing your a dead. So put you hands above your neck and play „dead man“.
• And now comes the one I like the best: If despite all improbability the bear starts eating you, fight with whatever you have and hope for the best.

I am pretty sure that thats the print of a black bear. (There are not supposed to be any grizzlies in Yosemite .)

But if we look at it from a broader perspective the likeliness that you get killed by a bear in the US (0.5 incidents per year) versus that you get murdered is insignificant.