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The possibility of a bear attack is one of the number one fears for hunters, hikers and campers. Bears can get very aggressive, but if you know what to do to prevent possible attacks, you can keep yourself and those with you safe.

The main reason a bear will attack a human is if she is startled by a human’s presence. This can be greatly magnified if a female bear is traveling with her young, or if the bear is eating. Bears are very protective of their young and their kills. If a human startles a bear in either of these instances, its instinct may be more likely to attack than to run away.

You can prevent bear attacks by being aware of your surroundings. Watch for bear tracks on the ground, and if you spot any, make some noise so you don’t startle the bear if you come upon it. The bear will likely run away from the noise.

Bears are attracted to odors, so you need to keep your food in air-tight containers when camping and throw away trash in bear-proof trash bins. Most National Parks and other controlled wildlife environments have bear-proof trash bins available to keep bears from lurking around the area.