What to Do If You See a Black Bear in Your Neighborhood

With approximately 300,000 black bears in the United States, this species is the country’s most abundant bear, and their numbers are only increasing. Having suffered from severe overhunting in the past, the black bear has been extirpated, or locally extinct, in much of its range. But where it has been able to hang on, conservation efforts protecting habitat and establishing hunting bans or bag limits have paid off, and successfully brought black bear population numbers up. 

With an increase in population, black bears are starting to reclaim their range outside of protected areas, but much of their habitat has greatly changed from what it used to be. The human population has also grown in the United States, and development has turned many natural areas into neighborhoods. Black bears are intelligent animals; some have adapted to urban environments and are attracted to human food found in dumpsters, bird feeders, and food left out for pets. All of this means that in some areas of the country, finding a black bear in your city or town is not as uncommon as it once was, and may even be a regular occurrence. 

Although rare, encounters with black bears, as with any wild animal, can be dangerous, and in some cases even fatal. Recently, the state of Florida confirmed its first-ever fatality of an 89-year-old man from a black bear. While it’s unclear how the events unfolded, investigators found evidence that a bear had entered the man’s home and that there were indications that a physical encounter between a person and a bear took place near the residence. 

If you live in or are traveling to an area frequented by black bears, it’s important to know about black bears and how to stay safe so that you can coexist peacefully with them, as well as know how to protect yourself if you feel threatened. 

All About Black Bears 

Black bears are large-bodied mammals from the order Carnivora that can weigh as much as 800+ lbs for the largest males. Despite their taxonomic classification, black bears primarily eat vegetation such as fruits, roots, tubers, seeds, and grains and do not actively prey upon animals outside of fish. When black bears do consume animals, it is mostly insects or opportunistically, such as finding carrion or coming across a fawn. They do not typically hunt, but in some areas, they may prey upon fish.

Where Do Black Bears Live?

Black bears are mostly found in forested areas, but also in shrublands, grasslands, wetlands, and deserts, and are increasingly living close to and even within human-developed landscapes. Historically, black bears were found throughout the United States except for the Southwest, where there is insufficient forested habitat. Today, their range is mainly in the eastern, western, north-central, and south-central regions, with North Carolina having the highest black bear density in the world. Young males may occasionally be found outside of this typical range, even in states that don’t usually have black bears, as they disperse to establish territories for themselves.

Are Black Bears Dangerous? 

Because black bears are mostly herbivorous and not active hunters, they do not pose a predatory threat to humans. However, any wild animal has the potential to be dangerous when it feels threatened, especially one as large as the black bear, and conflict with black bears is most likely to occur when they are fed and become habituated to people. 

When bears forage on human food, either directly from being fed by people intentionally or indirectly through scavenging trash cans, pet food left outside, or visiting regularly filled bird feeders, they can become accustomed to these food sources and lose their fear of humans in favor of accessing a reliable resource. Some bears can become completely dependent on human food, which is why the saying ‘a fed bear is a dead bear’ exists; these bears stop seeking natural food sources and may not survive in the wild.

Additionally, when bears go after human food, they become less fearful of people, which increases the probability of conflict. Encounters with humans become more frequent, and the bear may suddenly feel threatened and act unpredictably. Therefore, when bears are regularly seen feeding on human food sources, they are much more likely to be euthanized by wildlife officials to prevent conflicts, making the phrase ‘a fed bear is a dead bear’ true in more than one sense.

Conflict is more likely to occur with female bears when they have cubs or when bears are in the presence of dogs. As young bear cubs are not yet independent and therefore highly vulnerable, mother bears will defend them and act aggressively when they perceive a threat, such as a person who is too physically close. If dogs are present around bears, they may bark at, lunge at, or chase the bears. Bears are likely to perceive this as a threat and attempt to defend themselves, causing aggressive behavior. 

What Should You Do If You See a Black Bear? 

Even though black bears can be much larger and are stronger and faster than people, they are typically shy and scared of humans. A bear that is not habituated to human food should run off upon seeing a person. It’s important not to panic and recognize that it is likely just passing through the area and will leave on its own. Always ensure that there is plenty of space between you and a black bear, and that the bear has an escape route so that it never feels cornered. 

If you come across a bear and realize that you are too close, it is important to remain calm. Slowly back away while still facing the bear and speak to the bear in a loud, firm voice. Do not turn your back on the bear, and never run. Although bears are not predators, running can trigger a chase response from the bear, and since black bears are faster than humans, they will outrun even the fastest person.

Arjun Dheer, the Statewide Black Bear Coordinator at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, says, “If you see a black bear in your neighborhood, don’t panic, don’t run, and don’t climb a tree.” In addition to being fast runners, black bears are excellent climbers. Instead, Dheer says, “Stay calm, stand your ground, raise your arms to look larger, and speak in a firm voice. Most black bears want nothing to do with people.” 

What Should You Do If You Feel Threatened by a Black Bear?

If a black bear follows you or the tactics above do not result in the bear leaving, you’ll need to escalate your actions and become even more assertive. Jaimie Simmons, a former field technician for black bear research and management at the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, gives the following advice: “Be loud! Clap your hands, yell at the bear.”

If you have access to such items, she also recommends, “Blow an air horn and bang pots and pans. If you can, throw things at it, like golf balls or rocks—just try not to aim for the face! You want to make the bear feel uncomfortable and associate your location with an unpleasant experience, so it doesn’t come back (especially if it’s near your house).”

In the rare event that a bear tries to attack you, it is essential to fight back and not “play dead.” The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife recommends that you “kick, punch, or hit the bear,” focusing on the face, eyes, and nose, and invoke weapons or bear spray if they are available. 

How to Prevent and Reduce Conflict

As scientists have learned more about bear behavior and work to educate the public about coexisting with black bears, most sightings do not escalate to the point where the above precautions are necessary. Almost always, serious situations involve bears that have become habituated to human-developed areas due to feeding. Dheer states, “Encounters are almost always driven by human-provided food like unsecured trash or pet food. 

Therefore, prevention is key. Never feed black bears or any wildlife directly. This means securing garbage cans, making bird feeders inaccessible to bears or removing them entirely, and keeping food out of reach when camping. Pets should be fed indoors. 

Education is critical, and cooperation with neighbors is necessary to eliminate opportunities for black bears to find food in your area. According to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, just one person can attract a bear to the neighborhood by providing birdseed, and black bears can smell it from up to two miles away. Dheer adds, “What often gets missed in the headlines is that prevention starts long before a black bear shows up. It only takes one person in a neighborhood to ruin it for everyone else.” 

While Florida did experience its first-ever fatality from a black bear earlier this year, it is important to note that prior to this event, since the 1970s, when records were first established, there have been only 42 incidents between black bears and people where physical contact was made. Based on these statistics, even if you do encounter a bear, it is highly unlikely that the situation will escalate into a life-threatening one. Arjun Dheer, the Statewide Black Bear Coordinator at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, says, “While rare incidents like the recent fatal encounter in Florida are tragic and grab headlines, they are the exception, not the rule.”