Glacier National Park, nicknamed the “Crown of the Continent”, is home to an estimated 300 grizzly bears. Their diets change throughout the year, ranging from grasses, rodents, and carrion in the spring to berries and pine nuts in the fall. They will also occasionally prey on larger animals or scavenge human food if the opportunity presents itself.
To help keep grizzly bears wild, Glacier National Park requires visitors to properly manage food and garbage. Campsites should be kept clean, with all food properly stored and never left unattended. Food containers, cookware, trash, and any other attractants must be secured in a vehicle, designated food locker, or properly hung when not in use, no matter the time of day. Failure to follow these guidelines can attract bears to campsites and developed areas, leading to potentially dangerous situations for both grizzlies and people.
The following footage was filmed at a campsite along Glacier National Park’s North Circle Loop. When these hikers picked up their permits the park rangers warned them that grizzly bears were in the area and one had ripped a toilet seat out of a bathroom the day before. With full acknowledgement of the inherent danger the hikers decided to continue their trip.
A few days into the trip the men heard the telltale sign there was a grizzly in the area as calls of “HEY BEAR” rang out from the direction of the camp kitchen. Upon investigation they found a grizzly bear had found its way into their cooking area. The curious grizzly sniffed around and chomped a backpack before the group lined up shoulder to shoulder to make them appear as large as possible and effectively scared the bear away.
While the crew was able to scare the grizzly away, they should have given the apex predator much more space. Glacier National Park requires that visitors give both bears and wolves at least 100 yards (300 feet) of space at all time. If you encounter a bear within that distance, you should try to move away slowly and calmly, avoiding any actions that could agitate it. Read more about bear safety below.
Glacier National Park Bear Encounter Guidelines:
If you encounter a bear inside the minimum recommended safe distance (100 yards; 91 m), you can decrease your risk by following these guidelines:
- If a bear or other animal is moving in your direction on a trail, get out of its way and let it pass.
- If you can move away, do so. If moving away appears to agitate the bear, stop. In general, bears show agitation by swaying their heads, huffing, and clacking their teeth. Lowered head and laid-back ears also indicate aggression. Bears may stand on their hind legs or approach to get a better view, but these actions are not necessarily signs of aggression. The bear may not have identified you as a person and may be unable to smell or hear you from a distance. Help the bear recognize you as a friendly human.
- Talk quietly.
- Do not run! Back away slowly. Stop if it seems to agitate the bear.
- Use your peripheral vision. Bears may interpret direct eye contact as threatening.
- Continue to move away as the situation allows.
- If a bear appears intent on approaching you, your group, or your campsite in a non-defensive manner (not showing signs of agitation), gather your group together, make noise, and try to discourage the bear from further approaching. Prepare to deploy your bear spray. If you are preparing or consuming food, secure it. DO NOT LET THE BEAR GET YOUR FOOD!
- If a bear approaches in a defensive manner (appears agitated and/or charges), stop. Do not run. Talk quietly to the bear. Prepare to deploy your bear spray. If contact appears imminent and you do not have bear spray, protect your chest and abdomen by falling to the ground on your stomach, clasp your hands around the back of your neck, and leave your pack on for protection. If the bear attempts to roll you over, try to stay on your stomach. If the attack is defensive, the bear will leave once it recognizes you are not a threat. If the attack is prolonged, FIGHT BACK!