Black Bear Dossier
Color: Black bears exhibit a variety of colors ranging from black to light blond.
Body shape: Black bears don’t have the hump that Grizzlies have
- Carry bear pepper spray. As with the grizzly bear, bear pepper spray should be your first line of defense in a bear attack.
- Stand your ground and make lots of noise. Black bears often bluff when attacking. If you show them you mean business, they may just lose interest.
- Don’t climb a tree. Black bears are excellent climbers. Climbing up a tree won’t help you out here.
- Fight back. If the black bear actually attacks, fight back. Use anything and everything as a weapon- rocks, sticks, fists, and your teeth. Aim your blows on the bears face- particularly the eyes and snout. When a black bear sees that their victim is willing to fight to the death, they’ll usually just give up.
