Advice for running in bear country

Always run with someone slower than you.

I usually just bathe in meat sauce and pheromones right before I go out and initiate one of the greatest tempo runs in history.

Where in Alaska are you going? You won't need to be too cautious as encountering aggressive bears is extremely rare. If you're lucky to see one, they'll be more afraid of you. But if you really want to, you can easily run with a can a bear spray.

I lived and worked in Grand Teton National Park one summer and came across bears (and a dozen other varieties of animals) here and there, but I imagine Alaska is on a whole 'nother level depending on where you are. Bears really are not out to harm humans in general. They're not something you should be terrified of (not saying you are, but a lot of people are overly cautious). Never run with headphones in, never go into the woods with a girl on her period, never go into the woods with odorous food or after just having eaten smelly meat (people have been mauled to death in their tents after getting hamburger grease on their shirts, etc). Make noises when you're in the woods if you don't want to be bothered (you can buy bear bells or the like), pay attention, and keep your distance if you ever do see a bear (or a moose, bison, mountain lion, etc). I came up on a young black bear one time and was within about six feet of it. It was as startled and scared as I was and we both took off in opposite directions.

I never ran with bear spray but probably would if I were to do it again. Just get a canister, know how to use it, and get a holster for it or something.

Any other questions? I'm kind of jealous. Alaska in the summertime sounds great to me. Spending some time there in the country is on my bucket list.

I will be working at Wrangell St. Elias National Park near McCarthy, so pretty far from any kind of major metropolitan area. I figured I would carry some bear spray just in case, maybe even bear bells so I make noise the whole time. I never run with headphones so that isn't an issue. I'm looking forward to enjoying the area when I run, I just do not want to get in any bad situations with bears.

Thanks for the advice so far though! Slower running partner is genius.

Run on paved roads if possible. Carry a rifle with you if you are truly scared.

don't pet the cubs, run the other way

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furryfriend wrote:

Where in Alaska are you going? You won't need to be too cautious as encountering aggressive bears is extremely rare. If you're lucky to see one, they'll be more afraid of you. But if you really want to, you can easily run with a can a bear spray.

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Be alert to which way the wind is blowing when you are running. Ideally, it is blowing so that it carries your scent forward giving a bear time to smell you if one is in the vicinity. Poster above is correct - surprising a bear often leads to a poor outcome. Thick underbrush, poor sight lines, wind blowing wrong direction and a grumpy bear = undesirable encounter.

In addition to the spray, bring a big bear spear, the traditional Nordic anti-bear weapon.

Bear spray is good advice, and know how to use it. You will get training from the NPS.

I have run near McCarthy no problem. But did have a bear encounter at the next town over (which in Alaska is like 2 hr away), but that was at night on a bike. Long story, but we went our separate ways--me rather quickly. Yes be aware and careful.

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Alaskan wrote:

Bear spray is good advice, and know how to use it. You will get training from the NPS.

I have run near McCarthy no problem. But did have a bear encounter at the next town over (which in Alaska is like 2 hr away), but that was at night on a bike. Long story, but we went our separate ways--me rather quickly. Yes be aware and careful.

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cover yourself in blueberries...they hate the smell of blueberries

Have fun in McCarthy. I won the 1/2 marathon there one summer. Just run with an obedient dog and make lots of noise. You will be fine.

Black bears aren't a big deal. Just yell and act aggressive and they'll bugger off. Or you can enjoy their presence from afar. Stand your ground on the off chance a black bear were to rush you, it's almost guaranteed to be a bluff. If they attack, fight back as it's probably predatory. Grizzly bears are a different story. If one attacks, after the initial blow drop and play dead. Don't move for a long time afterwards, grizzlies will often walk away and view the kill from afar and if it sees movement they'll come back to finish the job. Attacks usually are not predatory in nature so they'll leave alive and scared shitless if you wait it out. I think I read the wait time is 20 minutes ... the worst 20 minutes of your life.


Watch the Warner Herzog documentary, Grizzly Man.

I lived in Alaska for awhile. Grizzly bears are something to be afraid of -- many of the above posters may have had encounters with black bears, but grizzlies are a different story. Black bears rarely attack people, and even if they do it's normally a bluff charge. The best advice with black bears is to stand your ground, look big, and fight back if attacked.

With a grizzly, play dead, curl up, and cover your neck with your hands if attacked.

I did quite a bit of running up there, and my advice would be to yell "hey bear!" periodically and alter the pitch of your voice. This prevents you from surprising/stumbling upon a grizzly, and the pitch change spooks them (it's a sign of intelligence in nature). Also, run along roads with wide shoulders so you can see for a distance. This will prevent stumbling upon bears. There are a lot of cool trails up there, but there is too much potential for coming around a corner and surprising a grizzly. I came within 50 ft. of one once, and it's not something I ever want to do again. Roads are your best bet.

I ran on the main road (not paved and quite remote by lower 48 standards)--same one you'll be on but the other end by the Copper River. I did some one hour runs in the morning and never saw anything. Friends in Glenallen said there are bear sometimes encounters by the dump there. So find out from the locals about areas to avoid.

I lived in Yellowstone for ~9 months over the course of 2 years, the grizzlies really freaked me out. Never saw one - but I stuck to the well traveled horse trails, main roads, campgrounds and trails that were well traveled. I had a bad encounter with a bull elk in Gardiner, MT during rut - I thought that I was a goner. Be aware of your surroundings, check with the locals, stick to the main roads and let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.

Oh yeah, and one more thing: moose may seem cute and all, but more people are mauled by moose than by bears. If you startle them they go into a blind rage. Watch out in the early summer when they are with calves, and in the fall when they are mating. (Watch out for any bear with cubs too).

If you come across one and it starts grunting, stomping feet and throwing it's head around it might charge. Slowly back away while facing it. If it charges, try to get behind a tree or rock. They bluff charge too, but if it actually attacks curl up like with a grizzly.

Moose hang out in tall brush, by streams, and low lying bogs, so if you're on narrow trails you might not see one until it's too late. They'll probably tell you all of this stuff in your training. Have fun up there! I need to head back up there sometime soon.