Do runners need worry about bear attacks?

A friend and I ran into a grizzly in Glacier NP- terrifying, but amazing after we were safely from it. The general rule is don't run alone in bear country, since you can surprise them by moving relatively quietly and quickly, and suprised bears aren't happy. Groups are probably safer. We thought we were being careful- 2 of us, talking loudly, clapping around corners, etc. Did an out and back, so after turning around were slightly less dilligent with noise-making, figuring we had just been over the trail minutes ago. Less than 1/2 mile after the turn-around we ran right into it, him (her?) walking towards us, us coming down a hill and focusing on footing- only looked up when we were 10 feet away. It wheeled off into the brush, walked around us as we stuck together and made noise, and then loped off in the direction we had just come from. I think glacier has the highest density of Grizzlies in the lower 48, I don't think I'd run alone on trails there. I have in other parks (tetons, yellowstone), and only seen other critters- moose, black bears, etc. Gave them a wide berth, they were happy to leave me alone.

I run a lot up in Boone and Linville, NC and often see Black Bears. I am scared of them but haven't been killed... yet.

There are several hours worth of amazing trails within 10 minutes of my house, but do to bear and cougar sightings I only run on them in a group. It sucks. I've never actually seen a bear or cougar, but a lot of my friends have as well as the coach.

I hate bears wrote:

There are several hours worth of amazing trails within 10 minutes of my house, but do to bear and cougar sightings I only run on them in a group. It sucks. I've never actually seen a bear or cougar, but a lot of my friends have as well as the coach.

If the coach is attacking runners I would think he would be incarcerated by now.

I live just outside of the Eastern Rockies in Alberta and do a lot of climbing/scrambling in the mountains. I've run into grizzlies on a few occasions (always when I've been alone) but, surprisingly, never any black bears. The first time, I was way out in the back-country and had just sprained my ankle jumping across a stream. I followed the trail to where it descended a short, steep embankment and there was a momma grizzly and her cub less than 10m below me digging up roots or grubs. Fortunately, when I surprised her she grunted and moved backwards instead of coming at me. Unfortunately, she was right on the trail and I couldn't go around her because of cliffs. I walked back down the trail towards her, making tons of noise, and she and the cub slowly moseyed on up the trail, taking their sweet time, until they eventually headed off into the bush and I could safely get past. It was a pretty awesome but unsettling experience. I've also seen grizzlies a few times at a safer distance.

Bears are like people, in that they all have their own personalities. You just have to hope that you don't run into a grumpy one, who's having a bad day. Having said that, you're far more likely to die on the highway on your way to the mountains, than you are to die to a bear in the wilderness. Annual deaths to grizzly bears for all of North America averages something like 1 or 2 a year. In most attacks, they're just defending their cubs or their turf. Predatory attacks are extremely rare.

This counter intuitive but if you see any wild animal in the woods ran right at it yelling as loud as you can and waving your arms.

This contraindicates prey behavior and animals that act aggressive like that in the wild usually have some powerful weapons and other animals become fearful of it.

You just can't do it 1/2 way once to commit you have to go all out.

Ths may not work with dogs because they are more familiar with humans.

There is a big difference between black bears and grizzlies. In PA there are black bears and unless you get between mom and her cubs, they are almost always going to run away from you.

Unlike what most people might say, I'd try to outrun the bear. Here is the theory. If I lined up against a black bear in a series of races from 50 meters up, I think the bear would definitely beat me at 100m, it might be a tossup at 200m, and at 400m and beyond I'd have no problem winning. I take that as saying if you have any type of head start, run like crazy. As long as you can keep from getting caught for 10-15 seconds you'll get away.

I live and run in Fl. Just wanted to comment that being "eaten by gators" is not likely unless you run off a bridge into a lake and then have extremely bad luck. They usually stay away from you. I have lived in FL my whole life and run for 15 years. I rarely even see gators. It's not like they are *usually* walking around the trails.

However, one time last year, I did almost step on a *small* gator who could have eaten the lower half of my leg if he wanted to (he was too small to eat anything else). I was running on a gravel trail very close (a few feet) from a small lake where I know 3 gators live. And this was during mating season, so I think that is why he was on the trail. And I have seen other *small* gators on remote biking (asphalt) trails.

But those are really the exception. I have never seen a large gator ever during a run or walk--except far away in the distance in or very near the edge of a lake or river.

Grizzlies are *much* scarier but thankfully not a problem in Fl.

Samuel Adams2 wrote:

This counter intuitive but if you see any wild animal in the woods ran right at it yelling as loud as you can and waving your arms.

This contraindicates prey behavior and animals that act aggressive like that in the wild usually have some powerful weapons and other animals become fearful of it.

You just can't do it 1/2 way once to commit you have to go all out.

Ths may not work with dogs because they are more familiar with humans.

It works with dogs. You turn tal and run from a dog and you will certainly get chased and maybe bitten.

The stupidest thing I have ever done was a 17 miler on Jane's Scenic Drive in Florida. I came within 15 feet of many large gators or crocs, probably 15 of them. I later found out there are also cougars, black bears and many venomous snake species. The crocs/gators never even moved an inch when I went by. Felt like Steve Erwin, but no Kakhi garb.