How to Survive a Grizzly Bear Attack
Chelsea Banks

A day in the great outdoors is breathtaking, with rustic mountains, majestic trees, crystal clear waters and…a giant grizzly bear running straight toward you! At this instant, only one question can be running through your mind: "What's the best way to defend yourself if you run into a grizzly while hunting--or if a grizzly tries to run into you?" These are some basic steps you may want to consider upon a bear encounter.

1.) Remain calm if you spot a bear; avoid sudden movements.
2.) Back away slowly, avoid eye contact, and speak to the bear in a calm, quiet
voice. Running might trigger a chase response, and you're not going to
outrun a bear.
3.) Throw something onto the ground (for example, a camera) if the bear
pursues you, as this may distract the bear and allow you to escape.
4.) Keep your backpack on; it may protect your body if you're attacked.
5.) Don't climb a tree. Trees found in grizzly country generally have weak trunks and
lack low branches.
6.) Drop to the ground in the fetal position with your hands behind your neck if
attacked. Stay silent and don't move.
7.) Roll with the bear's blows and return to your motionless fetal position.
8.) Stay quiet and motionless for at least 20 minutes once the bear leaves.
Bears will often watch from a distance and return at the first sign of
movement.
9.) Fight back only as a last resort if the bear persists. If you can get to your feet, strike
it in the eyes or on the snout as you slowly back away. If you are carrying a gun, or
any other type of weapon, use it as self-defense.

With these simple steps, it is possible to come out of a bear attack alive or at least with intact limbs. However, these steps cannot guarantee success depending on the severity of the bear encounter. What if these steps are not enough? What if they do not work?
Nearly all authorities on the subject of bear attacks agree that the first two words to think about in this situation are "pepper spray." I am fully aware that some hunters associate pepper spray with politically correct, granola-eating, New Age, tree-hugger crapola. For example, my father is a diligent hunter and simply proclaims "Just give me my gun," and brag, "I'll drop any charging griz like a sack of rocks."
Other hunters are less fanatical on the subject, but simply have serious (and understandable) doubts about the effectiveness of a spray can to stop one of the largest and most dangerous animals in North America. Doesn't it just make sense that a high-caliber bullet is more forceful, and more effective in a life-or-death situation?
It’s a reasonable question, and by no means should hunters dismiss the power and value of their firearms. However, it is so often the case when it comes to bears, the answer is more complex than it first appears.
Studies by biologist Stephen Herrero and others indicate that pepper spray works on charging bears about 90 to 96 percent of the time. Mark Matheny, a hunter who was seriously mauled by a grizzly several years ago while deer hunting north of Yellowstone Park, and who subsequently began a career devoted to bear self-defense and the manufacture of UDAP pepper spray, explains how a mere blast of cayenne aerosol can stop an angry grizzly bear:

"First, with a charging bear the loud hissing and billowing cloud startles them, lessening or turning their aggressive intentions into a state of surprise or even defensive evasion. When a bear hits the wall of fog and breathes it in, his sense of smell is instantly shut down, which confuses any animal. In many cases, they go off hacking and coughing."

For those who believe a gun is still a better bet to stop a bear, Matheny adds:

"Some people think a .44 magnum or large-caliber rifle is going to have the 'power' to stop a bear. But you're talking about a bullet not much wider than a writing pen hitting a vital area. That's assuming you even get a bullet off. You've got to get the gun up, aim, and fire. With pepper spray, you can fire right from the holster, putting up a wide stream, even a fog, of deterrent. You can respond instantly and the likelihood of hitting the bear is much greater."

Another compelling reason for the use of pepper spray instead is that many grizzly charges are not full "attacks," but are only attempts by the bear to discourage and intimidate human intruders. For instance, if you surprise a grizzly feeding on an elk carcass, the bear might charge without intending actual contact. Its purpose is simply to drive you away.
Of course, for those who are not experts at reading bear behavior, it's fair to ask, "How am I supposed to know whether the bear means business or is just bluffing?" This is precisely why pepper spray is a better alternative to gunfire in most situations. With the spray, you can very likely discourage the bear without worsening the situation or elevating it to an irreversibly deadlier level. If the bear breaks through the spray blast, and you're an armed hunter, that is when you resort to self-defense. You still have your gun as a last resort. But if a sprayed bear runs off, the encounter is over. No one is hurt. Conversely, if your first line of defense is a gunshot, and you shoot at the bear, the results will almost always be more severe. If the bear was only bluffing, you have now either killed or wounded a bear unnecessarily. Also possible is that by wounding it you've turned a bluffing bear into a seriously enraged one, intent on killing you! Another scenario: You shoot at an attacking bear and--because they come so fast, unbelievably fast if you've never experienced it, often catching you in utter surprise--you simply miss. The bear is on you. What you missed with bullets you could have easily hit with pepper spray.
In the end, the ideal is to protect yourself while sparing the bears, whenever that's possible.