@theadventureaddicts What I wish we knew sooner 👇🏼 Backpacking and hiking in bear territory is kind of inevitable if you’re planning to spend any time in the mountains. Being freaked out by this is TOTALLY NORMAL!! But, there are so many simple things you can do to prevent any issues at all. The biggest thing I want to reiterate is that bears want less to do with you than you want to do with them. We are spending time in their home, so it’s our responsibility to take the extra precautions to encounter them as little as possible and know how to act when we do. A bear that gets human food becomes a dangerous bear for future hikers, so it’s so important that we do whatever we can to keep them wild. I covered a lot in this video about what you need to know, so I want to focus this caption on: GRIZZLIES VS BLACK BEARS WHERE? First and foremost, know what bears live where you’ll be hiking. Here in CA, we are 100% positive that every bear we run into will be a black bear. If you’re headed to Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Canada, you will need to know how to act around grizzlies and black bears, and be able to tell them apart. HOW TO TELL THEM APART? Black Bears: • can be black, dark brown, cinnamon, and even white • smaller than grizzlies • flatter nose • larger ears • no shoulder hump • smaller claws Grizzlies: • can also range from black to blonde • larger • shoulder hump • concave (dished) face • smaller ears • larger claws ENCOUNTERS: (for any bear) • talk calmly so the bear knows you are a human • slowly wave your arms to make yourself look large • stay calm and continue to talk • move to higher ground • give the bear space if you’re close by still facing the bear but slowly backing away • do not run • be especially cautious around mother and cub BEAR ATTACK: Black bear: escape or fight back!! Kick it’s face and muzzle if possible Grizzly: PLAY DEAD. Lay on your stomach and protect your neck with your hands. Spread your legs so you can’t turn over (fight back if the bear won’t stop) “If it’s black, fight back. If it’s brown, lay down.” Let me know if you have any questions!! #backpacking #camping #hikersoftiktok #backpackinglife #hiking ♬ Dancing In The Moonlight - 苏颜悦