06/10/2026
🐻 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿?
Encounters can happen anywhere in Grand Teton. Staying calm and knowing how to respond matters.
𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿 🐻:
🏃♂️ 𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝘂𝗻. Bears can outrun humans.
↪️ If the bear has not noticed you, quietly detour away.
🔙 If it has seen you, 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗹𝘆 while speaking in a calm voice.
👁️ Avoid direct eye contact and keep your pack on.
💨 Be ready with your bear spray.
Bears sometimes stand on their hind legs to get a better look. That is not a sign of aggression but rather a bear curious about something nearby.
Bear attacks are rare. Most incidents happen when a bear is surprised. Signs of escalating agitation can include huffing, jaw popping, or head swaying. A lowered head with the ears back can signal aggression.
𝗜𝗳 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 ⚠️:
🛑 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱. Some charges are bluffs.
💨 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆. Aim just in front of the bear so it runs into the spray cloud.
💥 𝗜𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁, drop to the ground, lie flat on your stomach, cover the back of your neck with your hands, and 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱. Stay still until the bear leaves.
Make noise, stay aware, and give wildlife plenty of space.
Practice safe hiking: https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/bearsafety.htm
𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱. 🐾
📸 NPS Photo/Adams: A black bear peers through the branches.
