When I was younger, my family and I decided to go camping in New Jersey. My mom, dad, and two older brothers gathered in the car with our tents, food, and bags for a weekend away. At that age, I was a rather fearful kid. I remember asking my parents, “What if we see a black bear while camping?” They reassured me that this likely wouldn’t happen, and even if it did, it certainly wouldn’t harm us.
So we continued with the drive, and I began to feel excited about the trip. While I wasn’t necessarily the “outdoorsy” type of kid (I had crippling anxiety being away from the comfort of my own home), I was excited to spend time with my brothers and parents. Not only that, but the promise of s’mores was on the horizon.
When we arrived at the campsite, we set up our tents before heading to the water for a day of fishing. After a full day in the sun, we cleaned up, started a fire, and prepared dinner, laughing about the day (including how I accidentally reeled in a turtle instead of a fish while fishing).
I remember making s’mores before heading off to bed for the night. My parents were in one tent, and my brothers and I were in another. The entire night, my brothers were jokingly making comments about how a black bear could possibly come into our tent and eat me. Being the youngest and only girl, I was very used to this sort of torment from my older siblings. However, I was pretty scared to fall asleep. In fact, it took me hours of lying awake and staring at the top of the tent before finally shutting my eyes and getting some rest. Until…
A Black Bear Tried Breaking Into My Tent While Camping
As my dad recalls the story, he remains impressed that I stayed fast asleep through all of this. In fact, my entire family — aside from my father — was sleeping at first. I’m thankful I wasn’t awake to witness the terrifying break-in attempt by this huge black bear, as I likely would have panicked and caused even further commotion.
Nevertheless, as my dad wrestled with rest, he heard rustling outside of his tent. It must have been past midnight, the only light around us being the moon and stars. Unsure whether it was a person or a wild animal, he immediately sprung into protective father mode. Carefully and quietly unzipping his tent, my dad found a huge black bear lurking around the area.
Black bears often search through garbage cans for convenient meals.
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Now, my dad is a tough man. He could handle a potential thief or even a strange man creeping through the woods. But a wild animal that could maul you and your family to death? Not as simple.
The huge adult bear stepped slowly toward my and my brothers’ tent, pressing his snout against the opening, which thankfully was zipped close. It sniffed the perimeter of the tent, taking its time while it perused.
Knowing his beloved children were asleep in the tent, my dad‘s survival instincts kicked in immediately. His heart pounding in his ears, he made himself as large as the bear and screamed at the top of his lungs, which frightened the bear so intensely that it immediately ran off. My dad breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he saved us from a potentially traumatizing — or even deadly — encounter.
Apparently, I am the only one who slept through this entire event. My brothers woke up and my mom jumped out of her tent to see what was going on. At that point, we were safe and the bear was gone, and I was still sound asleep dreaming.
What Attracted a Bear to My Campsite?
Most likely, the bear was attracted to our campsite because of the food we brought. Bears are easily attracted to human food and scents. Even though we did our job at cleaning up and didn’t leave any food out for the bear, the nearby trashcans are sometimes enough to entice a bear to a campsite. Additionally, even the most lightly scented products, like lotion or lip balm, can attract a bear to a campground.
Thankfully, the bear wasn’t looking for a fight, nor was it looking to attack an innocent family. Rather it was simply looking for food and wandering its home. If anything, we were the ones in the bear’s territory — not the other way around.
Still, the idea of a black bear encounter while camping can be disconcerting. While fast asleep in a tent in the middle of the woods, we are in a vulnerable position. Perhaps this is why my dad could barely sleep all night before the bear even visited.
Are Black Bears Dangerous?
Black bears are rarely aggressive toward humans, but they can be dangerous if set off. More often than not, they are likely more afraid of us than we are of them. That being said, if threatened, they will sometimes attack to protect themselves or their cubs. Even so, most likely, they will flee the scene immediately if they feel scared. This is exactly what the bear at my campsite did when my dad made himself appear large and threatening.
Black bears often stand on their hind legs to get a better view of their surroundings.
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Black bears don’t typically go around looking for altercations, especially not with humans. However, it is common to feel a bit alarmed if you find yourself face-to-face with a black bear. This is because they can be extremely large (weighing 220 pounds to 594 pounds with a height of 4.25 feet to 6.5 feet) and powerful. Not only that, but if you actually had to fight a black bear, the odds aren’t exactly in your favor. Nevertheless, the likeliness of a black bear attacking you is extremely rare. However, that does not mean that I was especially comforted to know that a black bear was attempting to break into my tent.
Are Black Bears Curious?
Yes, black bears are curious creatures by nature. They will often sniff around and seek a full view of their surroundings. Funnily enough, black bears can even open doors and windows of cars and homes, often letting themselves in. I recently published a piece about how a black bear sat on top of my car while staying in a cabin. (My family figured we would upgrade to a cabin after this tent incident, but bears simply can’t get enough of us!) While the bear couldn’t get into my car, he had no problem making the vehicle his temporary playground.
This mischievous behavior stems from often from boredom or curiosity and isn’t usually done with aggressiveness. Black bears are actually playful creatures that sometimes simply come too close for comfort. But again, they are often simply roaming their own territory while we actually invade theirs.
How to Handle a Black Bear Encounter
If you ever find yourself face-to-face with a large black bear, especially while camping, don’t panic. Many people’s first thought is to flee the scene, but running from a bear might trigger its instinct to chase. Additionally, do not climb any trees, as bears are excellent climbers and can trap you high up, putting you in an even more vulnerable position.
Instead, first, try making your presence known by speaking calmly but firmly to the bear. If it still won’t budge, do what my dad did and make yourself appear large, then yell as loudly as you can. This should scare the bear off, as most are timid creatures that aren’t seeking a fight.
