Humans and bears - Wild encounters

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Nature's Deadliest, The Grizzly Bear by Lisa Owings.

The grizzly bear, one of the most feared animals in North America, is a type of brown bear. It is one of the largest predators on Earth. Male grizzly bears can weigh more than 1,000 pounds ( 450 kg ). Some grizzlies tower up to 10 feet ( 3 m ) tall when standing on their hind legs. A grizzly's large size doesn't slow it down. Some female grizzlies have been recorded at speeds of 40 mph ( 64 km ). A person has no hope of outrunning an angry grizzly.

Grizzly bears are omnivores. They eat plants, berries, insects, and fish. They also eat carrion. The bears can find food from miles away with their sharp sense of smell. Grizzlies can also smell nuts that squirrels have hidden deep underground. They dig up the nuts with their long claws. Grizzly bear often steal food from other animals. A single grizzly can scare off an entire pack of wolves and take their kill for itself. Some bears also kill live prey. Any animal that disturbs a hungry grizzly is in danger.

A grizzly bear's sense of smell is about seven times better than a bloodhound's.

Male grizzly bears are ferocious. They battle one another over favorite feeding and fishing areas. They also compete for female bears. The bears roar and slash each other with their front claws. They clamp their jaws around each other's necks and muzzles. In some cases, it is a fight to the death.

Though the male grizzly is strong and powerful, the mother grizzly is even deadlier. Female grizzly bears with cubs are responsible for about 8 out of every 10 violent attacks on humans. Grizzly mothers will do anything to protect their cubs. They will take down humans, male bears, or anything else that poses a threat.

If you encounter a grizzly bear, try to get out of the way without being noticed. If the bear sees you, stay where you are. Do not run! Avoid eye contact and look off to one side. This imitates submissive grizzly body language. The bear may leave you alone if it doesn't think you are a threat.

However, if the grizzly comes toward you with its head and ears lowered, it may charge. Back away slowly. Do not look the bear in the eyes. If the bear attacks, protect your head with your arms and play dead. You will not win a fight with a bear!

ATTACK FACTS: There have been approximately 80 deaths by grizzly bear attacks in the last 100 years. More than 50 of the deaths were by females defending their cubs.

Two hikers were killed by grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park in the summer of 2011. These were the first fatal bear attacks in the park since 1986.

Yellowstone National Park reports about one bear-caused injury for every 3 million visitors. Reply