No. 027 · mammal · Risk: High

Grizzly / Brown Bear

Ursus arctos horribilis

In season · SeptemberMountain WestAlaska

Field tell: Prominent shoulder hump, dish-shaped face, long claws; larger and more robust than a black bear.
Why it matters: Do not run. Carry bear spray. Play dead for defensive attacks; fight back if the bear treats you as prey.
Habitat: Northern Rockies, Greater Yellowstone, Alaska backcountry.
Season: Active spring through fall; hyperphagia (intense feeding) in late summer and fall.

BEAR ENCOUNTER

If you encounter a bear

Stay calm. Do not run. Do not climb a tree.
Speak in a low, calm voice and slowly back away, keeping the bear in view without staring it down.
If the bear approaches, stand your ground, make yourself large, and ready bear spray (remove the safety).
Black bear attack: fight back with everything you have. Grizzly defensive attack (surprise, cubs, carcass): play dead, face down, hands over neck. If it treats you as prey, fight back.
Carry bear spray in grizzly country and know how to use it before you need it.

Not medical advice. Call 911 or Poison Control 1-800-222-1222.

Mountain Lion — Tan, unspotted coat; long tail with a dark tip. Sightings are usually brief, at a distance, near dawn or dusk.
Gray Wolf — Larger and longer-legged than a coyote, travels in packs, howls rather than yips.
American Black Bear — Straight facial profile, no shoulder hump, short claws; color ranges from black to cinnamon.