Wildlife Safety Guide

Staying Safe in Bear Country

Montana is home to both grizzly bears and black bears, and encounters, while rare, can happen anywhere in the backcountry. Understanding bear behavior and following safety practices is essential for every visitor.

Bear Spray

Bear spray is the single most effective tool for preventing bear attacks. It's a highly concentrated capsaicin spray with a range of 12–30 feet. Carry it in an easily accessible holster on your hip or chest, not buried in your pack. Practice drawing and deploying it before you need it. Bear spray is available at most outdoor retailers in Montana and at national park visitor centers.

On the Trail

• Make noise, talk, clap, or call out regularly, especially around blind corners and near streams where bears may not hear you coming
• Travel in groups of three or more, the vast majority of bear incidents involve solo hikers or pairs
• Stay on established trails and hike during daylight hours
• Watch for signs of bear activity: tracks, scat, digging, overturned rocks, and claw marks on trees
• Never approach a bear for any reason, including photography
• Keep at least 100 yards from bears and wolves, 25 yards from all other wildlife

If You Encounter a Bear

At a distance: Stay calm. Do not run. Back away slowly while speaking in low, calm tones. Make yourself appear large. Give the bear plenty of room to move away.

If a bear charges: Stand your ground, many charges are bluffs. Deploy bear spray when the bear is within 30 feet, aiming slightly downward to create a cloud the bear must pass through.

Grizzly bear attack: Play dead. Lie flat on your stomach, hands clasped behind your neck, legs spread to make it harder for the bear to flip you. Remain still until the bear leaves the area.

Black bear attack: Fight back. Use any available object, rocks, sticks, bear spray, and aim for the nose and eyes. Do not play dead with a black bear.

Food Storage

Proper food storage prevents bears from becoming habituated to human food, a situation that invariably ends badly for the bear. Store all food, coolers, and scented items (including toiletries) in bear-resistant containers or hanging from bear poles at campgrounds. Never store food in your tent.