Untrue. This is a common worry, but most people are afraid near bears and are not attacked. Meeting a black bear close-up can trigger deep, primal fear.
Most types of bears can smell up to 20 miles away. The polar bear has the best sense of smell, reaching up to 40 miles.
Emotional states, including fear, are not typically regarded as capable of generating scent-laden molecules.
Scent Deterrents
A bear's nose is 100 times more sensitive than a human's. If you find bleach or ammonia fumes unpleasant, you can imagine what they smell like to a bear. Bleach or ammonia- based cleaners are good for trash cans and other areas where strong scents could attract bears.
To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans or using an airhorn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.
Bear cubs often fall prey to tigers, wolves, cougars, and coyotes. ©Falade Adewale/Shutterstock.com. Tigers, wolves, cougars, bobcats, coyotes, and humans eat bears, but these predators only focus on bear cubs rather than adult bears.
Here's what the experts say:
Avoid direct eye contact. Walk away slowly, if the bear is not approaching. If the bear charges, stand your ground (you cannot outrun it). Don't scream or yell.
Cosmetics, perfumes, and deodorants are unnecessary and may act as an attractant to bears. Follow food storage regulations and recommendations so you can avoid attracting a bear into your camp with other odors.
The most effective noisemaker in bear country is you. Talking or singing loudly can help prevent surprise encounters with wildlife. With enough warning of your approach, wildlife typically remove themselves and their young from the area.
Way back in 2000, we reported on bear behavior scientists in Alaska who determined that bears were more attracted to their yellow-and-blue tents as compared to their camouflage ones. They also figured out in zoo tests that grizzlies can differentiate between colors.
Stephen Herrero's book Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance, considered the definitive work by many authorities, says “human excrement/urine attracts bears and should not be near your campsite.” The National Park Service promotes that belief as well, adding that the salt in urine attracts wild animals (including ...
If humans can indeed smell fear they wouldn't be unusual in the animal kingdom. Sea anemones, earthworms, minnows, fruit flies, rats, mice, and deer, among others, have all been shown to signal unease through odor. Some responses are even more overt.
Bears are normally wary of people, but if a bear finds food without getting frightened away, he may come back for more. Each time this happens, he can become less fearful—and this habituation can lead to problems.
Never run away from or approach him. Make yourself look as big as possible by spreading your arms or, better yet, a coat. Make as much noise as possible by yelling, banging pots and pans or using other noisemaking devices.
Never approach, crowd, pursue, or displace bears.
For example, Yellowstone National Park requires visitors to keep a distance of at least 100 yards (300 feet); Shenandoah National Park recommends 200 feet or more.
This large nose results in an excellent sense of smell! Even bloodhounds, dogs so famous for their sense of smell that they're used to track missing people, don't smell as well a black bear. It is estimated that black bears' sense of smell is about seven times greater than a bloodhound's.
Do not make any loud noises or screams—the bear may think it's the sound of a prey animal. Slowly wave your arms above your head and tell the bear to back off. Do NOT run or make any sudden movements. Do not make any loud noises or screams—the bear may think it's the sound of a prey animal.
Neither wasp spray nor Tasers are considered proven bear deterrents. (A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles.
There are some smells that bears dislike, including pine-scented cleaning products, citrus, and ammonia. You can fill a bucket with bleach or a pine-scented household cleaner. Cover the bucket with a lid and drill some holes in the lid.
Bears are more likely to approach a solo hiker. Avoid using scented personal care products, like shampoo, deodorant, lotion, etc. Bears have a great sense of smell, so they'll investigate a peculiar scent. Bears are also attracted to the smell of toothpaste, so make sure that's hung at night along with food and trash.
What color do bears not like? Colorless green ideas sleep furiously. Black bears are fast learners when it comes to finding food. If a bear has found food in a yellow tent it will associate that color with food.
All odors of human origin will signal bears that there may be food nearby. Cosmetics, toothpaste, hairspray, other toiletries, and baby goods are all important food cues to bears. Bears are opportunists.
What If I Surprise a Bear? If you surprise a bear, regardless of the species, don't fight it. Unless the bear is acting predatory, do not fight it. This can cause the bear to act more aggressively toward you and trigger an attack.
If a bear attacks or tries to make contact, fight for your life. Do not play dead. Kick, punch or hit the bear with whatever weapon is available. Concentrate on the face, eyes and nose.
And while it's not a sure thing, punching or hitting the bear is certainly going to help you fight it off. Go ahead and clock it in the nose if you need to [source: NPS]. Of course, the animal that's really going to be useful to punch is one that has a crazy sensitive snout.