CANADA — If you see a black bear or grizzly bear on a hiking trail, STOP, remain calm and do not run. Give the bear plenty of space and an escape route. If it does not know you are there, quietly move away. If it has noticed you, speak calmly, stay in a group, pick up small children and back away slowly. Prepare bear spray if you carry it and know how to use it.
If a bear makes contact, the response depends on its behaviour. Parks Canada distinguishes a defensive attack—often when a surprised bear is protecting itself, cubs or food—from the much rarer predatory attack, in which the bear treats a person as potential prey. Those situations require different responses. This guide focuses on black and grizzly bears in the Canadian parks and regions where they occur; polar bear country requires its own specific local safety guidance.
Do these 12 things now — urgent numbered bear encounter checklist
- Stop and remain calm. Do not run, scream or make abrupt movements that could provoke pursuit.
- Keep your distance. Never approach for a photograph, attempt to feed the bear or move closer to cubs.
- If the bear has not noticed you, leave quietly. Back away without attracting its attention and choose another route.
- If the bear has seen you, speak in a calm, firm voice. Let it identify you as a human, not a prey animal.
- Stay together as a group and pick up small children. Do not scatter or send someone past the bear alone.
- Give the bear a clear exit. Avoid blocking its path or getting between a mother and her cubs or a bear and food.
- Back away slowly when the bear allows it. Never turn and sprint. Wait at a safe distance if a detour is not possible.
- Keep your backpack on. Parks Canada says it may provide protection; dropping it can also leave food or scented items accessible.
- Get bear spray ready if you are carrying it. Use it according to your training, its instructions and local park rules if a bear approaches closely.
- Watch the bear’s behaviour. Growling, jaw snapping or agitated movement may indicate a defensive bear; persistent stalking and intent focus may suggest a non-defensive or predatory threat.
- For a defensive attack with contact, Parks Canada advises playing dead. Lie on your stomach, legs apart, hands protecting the back of your neck; remain still until the bear leaves. If the attack persists, the situation may have changed.
- For a predatory attack, do NOT play dead: fight back. If attacked by a stalking bear or in a rare predatory encounter, use available deterrents and fight to protect yourself; get professional help and report the incident from safety.
If a bear is near you right now, focus on remaining calm and responding to its behaviour rather than reading the rest of this article. Do not assume a web guide can identify the animal’s intent with certainty.
Why the first rule is ‘do not run’
Bears can move quickly on slopes, across open ground and along forest trails. Running may trigger a chase response, even in a bear that initially wanted to avoid people. Parks Canada consistently advises hikers not to run from a bear.
A person may instinctively sprint toward a vehicle or companion after spotting a bear. But that sudden movement can increase danger, particularly if the bear is already close. Stop, assess the distance and behaviour, and move away slowly when safe.
Do not climb a tree as a routine response to a nearby bear. Black bears can climb very well, and a person may not reach a tree or climb fast enough to avoid danger. Parks Canada sometimes lists reaching a vehicle, building or tree among desperate escape possibilities in a predatory attack, but this is not a universal instruction for every encounter.
Most bears are not trying to attack people. They generally prefer to avoid close contact and may stand on hind legs to investigate a smell or sound. The safest outcome is to give the animal room and leave before the interaction escalates.
The bear is far away and has not seen you
This is often the easiest encounter to resolve. Stop, keep a safe distance and quietly leave the area without drawing attention. You may retrace your path or make a wide detour where doing so is safe and permitted.
Do not approach to photograph the bear. A long camera lens is not a reason to shorten the distance, and a bear near a trail is still a wild animal. Do not gather a group of hikers to watch or shout at it if the bear has not noticed you.
If a cub appears, assume its mother may be nearby. Never approach a cub or stand between it and an adult bear. A bear guarding a carcass, berries or another food source may perceive a close approach as a serious threat.
Parks Canada advises maintaining substantial distance from wildlife, with specific rules and recommendations varying by park. The local posted requirement takes priority.
The bear has noticed you but is not approaching
Stay calm and speak softly but firmly so the bear can recognise you as a human. Bears may stand upright, move their nose or turn their head to gather information. This is not automatically a sign that they are about to charge.
Back away slowly while leaving space for the bear to move. If you are in a group, remain together rather than splitting up or making the group look like several smaller targets. Pick up young children and keep their movements controlled.
Keep dogs on a short lead where dogs are permitted. Dogs can provoke a bear and may then run back toward the owner with the animal following. A dog barking at or chasing a bear creates a new hazard; do not release it to distract the animal.
Do not drop a backpack, lunch or food wrappers as an offering. Food rewards can make bears more likely to approach people later and may cause long-term wildlife-management problems. Leave the area without feeding or enticing the animal.
When a bear approaches: defensive versus non-defensive behaviour
Parks Canada’s mountain national parks guidance distinguishes a defensive bear from a non-defensive bear. A defensive bear may have been surprised at close range, may be feeding or may be protecting cubs. It may seem stressed, growl, jaw-snap, woof, lower its head or make a bluff charge.
For a defensive bear, act non-threatening. Speak calmly, do not rush, and back away when the bear allows it. If it keeps advancing, remain composed, stand your ground when necessary and be ready to use bear spray according to the device’s instructions and your training. Do not make the situation worse by charging toward the bear.
A non-defensive bear may approach calmly, follow a person or show intense attention without obvious distress. It may be investigating food, testing the situation or, rarely, behaving as a predator. In that situation, Parks Canada advises firmer behaviour: speak firmly, remain together, do not run, make yourself appear large and use bear spray if it comes close.
It can be difficult even for experienced observers to identify motivation. A bear that appears calm is not necessarily harmless, and a bear that growls is not automatically predatory. Your choices should reflect the actual situation and any guidance from park authorities.
What is a bluff charge?
A bear may rush toward someone and then veer away or stop shortly before contact. This is a bluff charge. The sight can provoke panic, but running may encourage pursuit. Parks Canada advises remaining calm and being prepared to use bear spray when appropriate.
Do not deliberately test whether a bear will bluff charge by stepping closer. A charge can develop into real contact, and there may be no time to decide that you misread the animal.
Avoid sudden aggressive movements when the bear is clearly defensive. Give it space and an exit once it allows retreat. If it continues to close the distance, follow your prepared deterrent procedure.
What to do during a defensive attack
A defensive attack often occurs when a bear is startled at close range or feels that you threaten its food or cubs. When a defensive bear makes contact, Parks Canada’s general mountain national parks advice is to play dead.
Lie on your stomach with legs apart and cross your hands behind your neck to protect the back of the head and neck. Keep your pack on if possible. Remain still and quiet until you are certain the bear has left; if rolled over, try to regain the protective position when safe.
Parks Canada explains that many defensive attacks are relatively brief. Fighting back during a brief defensive attack may make the bear perceive a continuing threat and intensify the aggression.
If the attack continues or the bear begins treating you as prey, the strategy changes: fight back. Do not apply the play-dead rule mechanically for a prolonged or clearly predatory attack.
What to do during a predatory attack
Predatory attacks are rare but especially dangerous. Parks Canada describes warning patterns such as an animal quietly stalking someone along a trail, repeatedly following them, showing intense interest or attacking at night with apparent predatory intent.
In this situation, do not play dead. Try to reach a safe building or vehicle if possible. Stay together, make yourself large, shout firmly and use bear spray when appropriate and available. If the bear attacks, fight back vigorously to show that you are not easy prey.
The same reaction cannot be assumed appropriate for every bear approaching in every context. That is why the earlier steps emphasise recognising whether the animal appears stressed and defensive or focused and persistent. In actual danger, there may be no perfect time to interpret behaviour.
After any attack, seek urgent medical attention and alert park authorities or emergency services from safety. Even injuries that appear minor may need professional assessment because of wounds, infection, fractures or shock.
Bear spray: what it is and what it cannot do
Parks Canada recommends carrying bear spray in bear habitat, making it readily accessible and learning to use it before a trip. It is not helpful if it is buried at the bottom of a tightly packed rucksack.
Bear spray is a deterrent, not a guarantee. Wind direction, distance, heavy rain, freezing temperatures and equipment expiry can affect its performance. Read the product instructions and obtain appropriate training where available. Check the rules of the particular park and transportation arrangements.
Do not spray yourself, your tent or equipment as a preventative scent. Bear spray is intended for use in an encounter according to its instructions, not as a repellent coating. Keep the canister secured and away from children when not needed.
A whistle, loud conversation or making noise on the trail can help prevent surprise encounters, but they do not replace an appropriate bear-encounter plan. Bear spray is an additional tool, not permission to approach wildlife.
If you are hiking with children
Keep children close on trails in bear country and give them a simple rule: “If we see a bear, stop, stay with the adults and do not run.” Children may be tempted to move closer to a cub or call out excitedly, so practise calm behaviour beforehand.
If a bear becomes aware of the group, pick up small children and remain together. Do not send a child sprinting ahead towards a vehicle or campsite. A tightly grouped party is easier to supervise and may appear less vulnerable.
Children should not handle bear spray without appropriate age, training and safety considerations. Adults responsible for the group should know where the spray is, which route returns to safety and how to call for emergency assistance in the region.
Dogs, food and campsites
Dogs can increase the risk of encounters by chasing wildlife or attracting attention through barking. Keep them under control and obey local leash rules. Do not use a pet as a distraction or allow it to approach an animal guarding food or young.
Food, cooking odours, rubbish and scented personal products can draw bears toward campsites. Parks Canada advises careful storage and prompt disposal in designated bear-resistant systems. Keep cooking and storage away from sleeping areas in accordance with the campsite or park’s instructions.
Never leave a cooler, pet food or rubbish unattended where a bear can reach it. Feeding a bear creates danger for future visitors and may result in difficult wildlife-management action. Responsible camping protects both people and wild animals.
Mountain biking, jogging and trail running
Mountain bikers and runners may surprise a bear because they move quickly and quietly, especially around blind corners or through dense vegetation. Parks Canada warns that these activities can create a higher risk of sudden encounters.
Slow down where visibility is poor, make noise at intervals and avoid earphones that prevent you hearing nearby movement. Travel with companions where possible and obey route closures or advisories. A trail that is normally busy can still host bears.
Stop rather than accelerate if you spot a bear. Retreat calmly when safe. Do not race downhill past a mother with cubs or a bear feeding beside the path.
What if you see a bear from your car?
Remain inside the vehicle with windows up, keep an appropriate distance and do not obstruct traffic. Parks Canada advises against stopping and gathering around roadside bears because it can habituate the animals to people and create hazards for other road users.
Do not offer food, lower the window to obtain a photograph or leave the vehicle to approach a cub. If the road is blocked, wait or follow park staff instructions rather than sounding the horn continuously or attempting to force the animal to move.
If an injured animal or a dangerous bear is near a road or picnic site, report the location to park staff using their local dispatch number when safe.
Black bears, grizzly bears and polar bears: an important distinction
This guide concentrates on black and grizzly bears encountered in parks, forests and mountain hiking areas. Parks Canada’s general black/grizzly guidance stresses that motivation—defensive versus predatory—matters greatly to the immediate response.
Polar bears present a different risk and are found in parts of northern Canada. Parks Canada issues separate advice for polar bear country, where predatory behaviour and deterrent planning require special precautions. Do not assume that the defensive black/grizzly play-dead rule is suitable for a polar bear attack.
Before travelling in Nunavut, the high Arctic or other polar bear areas, consult the exact park’s safety briefing and required precautions. Some areas require formal orientation, communications or deterrent arrangements.
How to call for help in Canadian bear country
In a life-threatening emergency, call 911 where service is available or use an appropriate emergency satellite or radio system when in remote areas. Give your position, trail name, park, nearest marker, approximate distance to access and the nature of the injury.
Parks Canada locations have different dispatch and reporting numbers. Save the number for the actual park before departure rather than assuming one park’s hotline covers all of Canada. Park staff may also need reports of close bear interactions without injury so they can assess trail warnings.
Do not travel back into a dangerous encounter area just to improve mobile reception if a safer communication option is available. Know before leaving how to summon help when phone coverage is absent.
Four common hiking scenarios
A black bear is eating berries beside the trail
Stop and give it space. If it has not noticed you, retreat quietly. If it is aware of you, speak calmly and back away. Do not approach for a photograph or try to cross between the bear and its food.
A grizzly bear with cubs appears around a blind bend
Stop, stay calm, keep the group together and do not get between the animals. Speak softly, allow an escape route and back away when safe. Prepare bear spray and follow Parks Canada’s defensive encounter guidance if the bear approaches.
A bear follows your group quietly along the trail
This may be non-defensive behaviour and could be serious. Do not run or separate. Stay grouped, speak firmly, avoid allowing the bear to close the distance, prepare bear spray and follow Parks Canada’s advice for persistent approaches. Seek a safe refuge if possible.
A bear has knocked someone down after being startled
If this is clearly a defensive attack, Parks Canada advises playing dead with hands protecting the neck and legs apart. If the attack persists or becomes predatory, fight back. Seek urgent medical attention as soon as safe.
Mistakes that increase risk
- Do not run from a bear.
- Do not approach for a photograph, selfie or closer view.
- Do not stand between a mother and her cubs.
- Do not leave food or rubbish as a distraction.
- Do not drop your backpack in a confrontation.
- Do not assume a bear standing on hind legs is always aggressive.
- Do not play dead during a predatory attack.
- Do not fight a clearly defensive bear without considering the specialised Parks Canada guidance.
- Do not keep bear spray where it cannot be reached.
- Do not treat polar bear country as identical to black/grizzly bear habitat.
Before you hike: a ten-point prevention plan
- Check the park’s current bear warnings, trail closures and special restrictions.
- Learn where black, grizzly or polar bears may be present in the area.
- Hike in a group where possible and keep children close.
- Make noise on trails, especially beside streams and in dense vegetation.
- Avoid earbuds that reduce awareness of movement and animal sounds.
- Carry appropriate bear spray where advised, keep it accessible and learn its safe operation.
- Give wildlife substantial space and never approach cubs or food sources.
- Store food, rubbish and scented items according to park rules.
- Save the local Parks Canada dispatch number and have an emergency communication plan.
- If a bear blocks the route, take a wide detour or wait; cancelling the hike is safer than forcing an encounter.
Frequently asked questions
Should I run when I see a bear in Canada?
No. Parks Canada says never run from a bear because it can trigger pursuit. Stay calm and back away slowly when safe.
Is a black bear less dangerous than a grizzly?
Behaviour, circumstances and distance matter. Both can injure people. Follow the relevant park’s advice rather than treating colour or species alone as proof of safety.
What if a bear stands on its back legs?
It may be trying to identify your scent or see you better. This is not automatically an attack warning. Stay calm and give it room.
Should I throw my food or backpack to distract the bear?
No. Parks Canada advises not dropping your pack and not feeding bears. Food rewards can increase dangerous behaviour around people.
Do I always play dead if a bear attacks?
No. Parks Canada distinguishes a defensive attack, when playing dead may reduce continued aggression after contact, from a predatory attack, when you must fight back. The type of encounter matters.
Can bear spray guarantee I will be safe?
No. Parks Canada says it can be effective if used properly, but distance, wind, weather, equipment and training affect results.
Should I approach a bear cub if no adult is visible?
No. The mother may be nearby. Keep your distance and leave without separating them.
Who do I call after a dangerous bear encounter?
Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency where available, or use an appropriate remote emergency contact. Report the incident to the park using its official dispatch channel.
The survival rule to remember
See a bear: stop, stay calm, keep the group together, never run and give it room. If approached, assess behaviour and prepare the appropriate deterrent. Defensive contact: play dead under Parks Canada guidance. Predatory attack: fight back.
Related guide: What to Do When You Fall Through Lake Ice in Canada.
Official Parks Canada sources
- Parks Canada — Safe Travel in Bear Country: Mountain National Parks
- Parks Canada — If You Encounter a Bear
- Parks Canada — You Are in Bear Country: Kluane National Park
- Parks Canada — Black Bear Safety in Forillon National Park
- Parks Canada — Polar Bear Encounter Guidance: Auyuittuq National Park
Independent Canadian wilderness-safety guide, reviewed 6 November 2026. Bear behaviour cannot be predicted with certainty; follow the current advice of the specific national park or wildlife authority.