Read this first
- This is life-safety guidance — confirm it against current NPS / agency and Guide to Safe Scouting guidance before you rely on it. The bear response below follows the National Park Service; the moose and snake guidance is standard practice.
- Know which bears live where you are. The black-bear and grizzly responses are opposite — mixing them up is dangerous. Find out before your trip.
What to do
If you SEE a bear
- 1Identify yourself — speak calmly so it knows you're human; stand your ground and slowly wave your arms.
- 2Stay calm — most bears want to be left alone; avoid screams and sudden movements.
- 3Don't run — bears sprint faster than racehorses; if followed, stop and hold your ground.
- 4Back away slowly — move sideways (watch the bear, avoid tripping), giving it an escape route.
- 5Make yourself look large, and never approach or feed — especially a mother with cubs.
If a bear ATTACKS
- 1Black bear — do NOT play dead. Escape to a car or building if you can; if trapped, fight back, targeting the face and muzzle.
- 2Brown / grizzly — play dead: flat on your stomach, hands clasped behind your neck, legs spread. Stay still until it leaves; fight back only if the attack persists.
- 3Exception (either bear) — if attacked in your tent, or stalked then attacked, fight back immediately: it may see you as prey.
Moose and snakes
- 1Moose — give lots of space, especially cows with calves and rutting bulls; back away and put a tree or object between you. Unlike with bears, running to cover is appropriate.
- 2Snake — freeze, then back slowly away; don't handle or try to kill it (most bites happen then). Watch where you step and put your hands.
- 3Venomous bite — a medical emergency: keep the person calm and still and get help. (Treatment is on the bites & stings page.)
Remember it as
Black = fight, brown = ground.
When to use it
- Any trip in bear, moose, or snake country — know the response before you need it.
- Teaching prevention — food storage and don't-feed, which keeps encounters from happening.
- High-adventure bases (Philmont, Northern Tier) where these encounters are real.
Common mistakes & safety
- Prevention beats reaction. The vast majority of dangerous encounters come from food and garbage — store them right and keep a clean camp.
- Black bear vs. grizzly response is opposite — don't mix them up. Know which bears live where you are.
- Never run from a bear, never approach any wildlife. Running triggers a chase; approaching for a photo, a look, or to feed is how people and animals get hurt.
- Moose are underestimated. They injure many people — give cows-with-calves and rutting bulls a very wide berth and retreat to cover.
- Most snakebites come from handling. Leave snakes alone; a venomous bite needs prompt medical care.
- Bear spray is a defensive tool. EPA-approved, used only on a charging or attacking bear, carried accessible (chest holster) — never sprayed on people or gear as "repellent."
Going deeper
- Black = fight, brown = ground. The memory aid for the opposite responses — but know your local bears, and both flip to "fight back" if a bear is predatory.
- Don't run, back away sideways. Running says "prey"; a calm sideways retreat says "human leaving" and gives the bear an exit.
- The animal you underestimate is the moose. People fear bears and forget moose — give them room and get behind a tree.
Official source
Staying Safe Around Bears — National Park Service →The bear guidance follows the NPS. Moose and snake response is standard safety practice — confirm against current NPS / state-wildlife and Guide to Safe Scouting guidance. Snakebite treatment is on the bites & stings page.