Why You Should Never Run From A Bear
We’ve all seen the movies. The hapless victim is being chased by a bear and, in a moment of pure terror and adrenaline, they take off running. What happens next is almost always the same: the bear catches up to them, mauls them, and they become a tasty snack.
But what if we told you that those scenes are total Hollywood fiction? That’s right, in reality, running away from a bear is usually the worst thing you can do.
In this blog post, we’re going to give you five reasons why you should never run from a bear. Trust us, it’s in your best interest to keep reading!
5 reasons why you shouldn’t run from a bear
1. Bears are faster and more agile than you
On average, bears can run 30-35 miles per hour. In comparison, the fastest human alive—Usain Bolt—has only been clocked at 27.33 miles per hour. Even if you’re in top physical condition, you will not outrun a bear.
Bears are also incredibly agile creatures and can pivot quickly to change directions at high speeds. This means that even if you think you’re getting away by zigzagging while you run, there’s a good chance that the bear will be able to adjust its course and catch up to you with ease.
2. Bears have a great sense of smell
Bears have an acute sense of smell and can sniff out food from up to 20 miles away. So, even if you think you’re safe because you can’t see or hear the bear behind you, chances are they can still smell you and they’re coming for dinner!
3. It shows your fear
Bears are predators and, as such, they are attracted to the fear of their prey. When you start running away from a bear, it triggers their natural predatory instincts and makes them want to chase after you.
In other words, by running away from a bear, you’re essentially telling them that you’re scared and that you would make a delicious meal.
4. Bears are more likely to attack if you run
Bears typically only attack humans if they feel threatened or if they’re trying to protect their young. However, if you start running away from a bear, it’s natural for them to take notice of you because they now see you as a threat to be neutralized.
5. When a bear attacks, there’s not much you can do
While it’s true that bears typically avoid humans whenever possible, there are always exceptions to the rule—especially when Mama Bear feels her cubs are threatened or when a male bear is protecting his territory during mating season.
If a bear does attack, there really isn’t much you can do to defend yourself since they’re incredibly strong creatures with razor-sharp claws and teeth.
In most cases, the best thing you can do is play dead to let the bear know you’re not looking for a fight, or use whatever weapon you have on hand to try to fight back. If a bear sees you standing your ground, however hopeless it may seem, they’re more likely to back off and leave you alone.
Conclusion
We hope this blog post has given you some food for thought (pun intended) about what to do if you ever find yourself face-to-face with a bear in the wild.
Remember: running away is usually not your best option since bears are faster, stronger, and more agile than humans—not to mention the fact that they’ll be able to sniff you out wherever you try to hide!
So if you ever find yourself in this situation, our best advice is to just stay calm and try to make yourself as small as possible so you don’t look like a threat. In most cases, the bear will eventually lose interest and wander off.