Black bear encounters and safety

Common questions about bear encounters in the Adirondacks

What should I do if I see a bear?
How likely is it that I will see a bear while hiking or camping?
How likely is it that I will lose food to a bear while camping in the Adirondacks?
How can I avoid encountering a bear while hiking or camping?
How can I avoid encountering a bear near my home or camp? 
Where can I report a bear encounter? 

What should I do if I see a bear?

If you have a surprise encounter with a black bear in the Adirondacks remain calm. The bear is usually just as surprised and will normally run the other way.

If a bear does not run from you immediately, it may be temporarily distracted, unaware of your presence or unable to identify you.

• Stand where you are or back away slowly.
• Speaking to the bear in a calm voice and waving your arms may help it identify you.
• The bear may stand up on its hind legs for a better look or to catch your scent before leaving the area. 
• Never run from a bear and don’t try to climb a tree to escape! Bears may have a tendency to chase you when they would not otherwise and they climb trees very quickly and much better than you. Both situations will put you at a disadvantage.
• If the bear does not leave, remain calm. Stand you ground if the bear begins to approach. 
• Black bears are generally timid and shouting or clapping will generally be enough to deter an approach.
• If a bear approaches you, your tent, or your camping area, make noise to alert it to your presence and encourage it to leave.
• If it persists or follows you, aggressively defend yourself. Raising your arms may help you appear larger to the bear. 
• Do not throw a pack or any food to a bear as a distraction. This will only encourage a bear to approach other people for food or packs. If possible, quickly gather any food left out and store it securely in a canister or back away with it.  Leaving food for the bears will only encourage them to repeat the cycle.
• If a bear does get into your food do not attempt to drive it away. Bears can aggressively defend their food sources. Back away, warn others in the area and report the incident to a ranger as soon as possible.

How likely is it that I will see a bear while hiking or camping?

Bears are naturally shy and will typically avoid humans.  However, your chances of seeing a bear while hiking in the Adirondacks are pretty good if you are camping in high use areas where bears have learned to forage for human food.  The Adirondacks are home to the largest bear population in the state of New York. An estimated four to five thousand black bears roam through the Adirondacks while about 500-600 live in the Catskills and 100 - 200 in the mountains of SW New York, near the PA border. Black bears densities are higher where they can find abundant food and cover.  However, abundant cover does not necessarily mean abundant food. The higher elevations of the Adirondack Mountains, which are cloaked in spruce and fir forests, actually provide limited food for bears. However, bears do forage and travel through the lower elevations and they may have un-naturally high populations in some areas because of the availability of backpackers’ food.  You can minimize the chances of having a negative run-in with a bear while camping by ensuring that you store your food adequately.  Using bear-resistant food canisters is the best way to protect your food.  Visit our solutions page for more information about safe backcountry travel.

Even where bears are abundant they typically pose little physical threat to humans and can normally be discouraged with loud noises such as shouting or banging of pots and pans. 

How likely is it that I will lose food to a bear while camping in the Adirondacks?

In 2004 the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation recorded more than 400 incidents between campers and bears in the High Peaks Wilderness. These problems were due to poor or improper food storage techniques such as hanging food with ropes or improper use of food cables. Canoeists and kayakers must also be careful about food storage. Bears are rapidly learning to visit lakeshore and island campsites for poorly stored food and trash. Bears are excellent swimmers and will visit islands in their search for food.

Regardless of whether you are canoeing or backpacking, it is easy to take precautions to avoid losing food to bears.  Using bear-resistant food canisters is the best way to protect your food.  Visit our solutions page for more information about safe backcountry travel.

How can I avoid encountering a bear while hiking or camping?

• Learn to be aware of bear habitat and the tracks and other signs that bears might leave in their passing.  By staying alert while camping in bear country you can avoid nearly all bear encounters.
• Store your food properly in the backcountry.  Most bears in the Adirondacks will avoid humans and are not often active during the day. However some bears have learned that it is easier to fill their bellies with backpackers’ poorly stored food. These bears often lose their natural fear of humans and will approach campsites and food storage areas even during the day if they expect to find a meal.   
• Using bear-resistant food canisters is the best way to protect your food.  Visit our solutions page for more information about safe backcountry travel. 
• Many state-run campgrounds offer bear proof lockers and secured recycling centers.  Check with the campground manager for specific food storage guidelines.  Visit our solutions page for more information on avoiding bears at road-side campgrounds.

How can I avoid encountering a bear near my home or camp?

The key to keeping bears out of your yard or away from your camp or business is to remove the attractant that is drawing bears in.  An attractant is any food or odor that attracts bears: for example, things like garbage, birdfeeders, outside grills, pet foods, etc.  By preventing bear encounters, you will avoid rewarding the bear with food and help break the cycle of associating that reward with humans.  Visit our solutions page for tips on avoiding attracting bears to your home, camp, or business. 

Where can I report a bear encounter?

If you see or have a negative encounter with a bear in the High Peaks Wilderness Area, please report your sighting to the DEC via their sighting form.  

If you have a bear nuisance complaint, contact your local DEC office.  

You can also report your bear sighting to us via the Wildlife Watch form within our website.  This information will be used to help us better understand the Adirondack bear population so that we can plan better for conservation actions.    

More BBEAR resources  

BBEAR  BBEAR home
Black Learn about black bear natural history
Bear Learn about black bear encounters and safety (top of page)
Education Find out more about the causes of human - bear conflict
Awareness Ways you can be part of the solution
Research Learn more about WCS research efforts  on bears

Go straight to information about bear-resistant food canisters or locations where you can rent canisters.

Other resources:

The Department of Environmental Conservation maintains pages on black bears.