Glacier National Park‘s more than 700 miles of trails provide visitors with incredible views of carved valleys, alpine meadows, melting glaciers, and stunning lakes. Nicknamed the “Crown of the Continent”, the park’s historic lodges, chalets, and the incredible Going-to-the-Sun Road offer experiences like no other.
71 species of mammals live inside Glacier National Park, including tiny pygmy shrews, beavers, massive elk, bighorn sheep, and so much more. With over 1 million acres of protected space, the ecosystem has been able to stay intact and rather undisturbed since its designation in 1910.
Arguably the most famous animal spotted within Glacier National Park is the bear. Both black bears and grizzly bears live inside Glacier, but the grizzlies grab the most attention from the public. There are an estimated 300 grizzlies living throughout the park, taking advantage of the abundant food sources from the valleys into the high alpine. It’s not entirely uncommon for visitors to come near face-to-face with one of these predators while hiking on Glacier’s highest alpine trials, as we see in the video below.
With the hundreds of bears present throughout Glacier National Park, it’s important that visitors come with an understanding of bear safety. All bears should be given at least 100 yards of space at all times, and hikers should be prepared with bear spray in case of a negative encounter. If a grizzly bear does approach, you should move out of the way if possible, as the people on the trail in the video above do. Read more on bear safety below.
Glacier National Park Grizzly 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!
For more detailed information, watch our Bear Safety video.
