From what I’ve heard you should play dead if it a grizzly and try to become big and scary if it is a black bear in the US. What response you think you would instinctively use with an European brown bear?

37 comments

  1. I’d see how it acts and base my response on that. Instinct would say to try and be scary/make noise.

  2. Grizzly and brown bears are the same species. And I believe the recommendation is to back up slowly while avoiding eye contact.

    I actually encounter black bears a few times a year where I live. They usually run away as soon as they see you.

  3. North American and European brown bears are the same species. I would assume the advice is identical.

  4. I’d ask his name, and buy him a drink, same as any bear in the US. Black and brown bears welcome, I’m not prejudiced. Bears are like any other guy, there’s just more to love.

  5. As a default prevention, I would make noise when hiking in the forest, either by talking to people I’m hiking with or occasionally singing to myself or attaching a bell to my pack if alone.

    I would also try to carry bear spray if possible.

    The grizzly is a type of brown bear, so if I see a European brown bear, I’m defaulting to American brown bear survival techniques and playing dead.

  7. Here we try to maintain about 30 yards’ distance from a bear.

    In Europe, I would give them 28 meters.

  8. If it’s brown, lay down

    If it’s black, fight back

    If it’s grizzly, make peace with your God

  9. I think a lot of typical strategy about bears is universal. “How to survive a bear attack” is a tiny, unimportant footnote at the end of dealing with bears. I’d still keep all smelly objects in a bear safe container, I’d still make noise while walking around, I’d still back away slowly and calmly if I saw a bear. If I had to deal with an attack, I’d probably just go between the brown/black strategy based on size. Smaller creatures are generally less likely to keep attacking because they’re more likely to be threatened by a person.

    Are European brown bears even different from American ones? I don’t think I’ve heard of European brown bears as a species.

  11. Depends on the nature of the bear encounter.

    If the bear appears unaware of me I would back away slowly while facing the bear.

    If the bear appears aware of me but has not been spooked and/or is not exhibit aggressive/charge behavior, I would raise my voice (not yelling, just loud and monotone “hey bear, go away bear”) and lift my arms above my head while I back away slowly (still facing the bear).

    If the bear appears ready to charge or is huffing etc. I would do the above (with an even louder voice) while also throwing my belongings, rocks etc. In the direction of the bear (If I had bear spray or a bear-horn, ready and on my person, I would opt for these instead).

    Regardless of bear species, in no circumstance with a bear at distance would I completely play dead. Assuming a protective motionless posture as only a last resort.

  13. I’d be really surprised one got out of captivity.

    I’d probably ask if it needed directions to the train.

  14. Make lots of noise, try to look big. If it attacks, spray it with bear spray or shoot it.

  15. I want to qualify the ryhme “brown lie down, black attack, white blah blah.” everyone is using here; please don’t follow this in an intial bear encounter, this is for when you are under attack being mauled.

    In the event that a bear spots you, for both Brown Bears (Eurasian , Grizzly and Kodiak) and Black Bears, try to become “big and scary” first and back away slowly while speaking in an elevated voice NEVER turn your back and/or run.

    In the event that a bear charges, response depends on the bear species and individual. Black Bears don’t bluff often, Grizzlies do but not always. Hold your ground both can outrun you….so don’t run.

    If you live in bear country, or work there, I suggest bear spray…it works really really well for a charging bear I know a few people who have been saved by it. I also hike with a bell in grizzly country especially when alone. Most Bears are very afraid of people and you can scare them away easily just by making some noise and making yourself appear larger.

    This is what I have learned to do from living my in Wyoming and Colorado.

  18. It’s usually best to travel with a friend. The buddy system is a great safety measure. It gives you someone to enjoy nature with. And if a bear attacks you can trip them so the bear goes for them instead of you.

  20. I live in the smokey mountains and black bears are always passing through my yard to eat apples. They scare easily and I just give them space and they will move along. Momma bears with cubs will bluff charge if you get too close.

  21. Get big, if it’s night use a flashlight in both hands and raise your arms up. The bear should run away

  24. is there any bears left in Europe?

    i was under the impression that Europeans had killed off most wildlife and that there really wasn’t any “wilderness” there.

    spouting of stereotypes is fun lol i see why all the Europeans do it now.

  25. I personally probably would have a gun on me in America, so I can’t exactly just shoot it if necessary in Europe

  26. I have encountered several Black bears, one charged me, I just stood my ground and made lots of noise and then it walked away.

  27. A woman was killed here in Montana, just a few days ago, by a grizzly. The bear was with cubs and was probably just being protective, not predatory. So sad. But the woman chose to hike alone in grizzly country, with no bear spray.

  28. I’d do what I learned from hiking in the Northwest: Black, fight back. Brown, lie down. White, say good-night.

  29. I would not play dead unless I was already on the ground. Brown bears, including grizzleys, see you as a rival, and the proper submission is to avert your eyes and back away. He’ll see that as conceding the territory to him, and will *probably* leave you alone.

    Black bears see you as a threat, and they’ll run unless they’re starving or protecting cubs.

    Polar bears see you as food. Shoot your buddy in the leg and run.

  31. European bears are about as tame as the Germans. Don’t make the bear feel threatened and you’ll be fine.

  32. They look exactly like grizzlies because they’re the same species so I would treat them like grizzlies (which I’ve never actually encountered in person. We only have black bears where I live). So I would wave my arms to show I am human, speak to it in a soft voice, and back away slowly, avoiding eye contact. And I would fervently hope it isn’t a mama bear trying to protect her cubs.

    North American bears tend to avoid humans, and I believe grizzlies do better away from populated areas. Do European brown bears go into populated areas?

  33. I saw a documentary about a European bear. He liked Orange marmalade. Not something I would give to an American bear. So I would make sure to keep some handy while in London. Or just avoid it like we do in America.

  34. I wouldn’t go hiking in bear country without bear spray, for starters

  36. Christ, looking at the current range I wouldnt even worry about running into one.

  37. Stand up, feint right overhand and then shoot for an ankle pick. Try to achieve mount when on the ground. If he stays on his back sink in a kimora, if he scrambles to his feet then take the back and sink in a RNC. Most bear jujitsu is going to be lackluster at the best of times so I believe this will be highly effective again most bears unless you come across an anomaly

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