The Bear Got Me - Three Times!

A Personal Lesson in Bear Defense

Northern Idaho is grizzly and black bear country. Trail signs here remind hikers of that reality, showing both species: grizzlies with their distinctive shoulder hump and small, powder-puff ears, and black bears with smaller claws and larger, more dog-like ears.

That’s why my husband and I have attended the free Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) course “Recreating in Bear Country,” hosted by the Idaho Master Naturalists at the Waterlife Discovery Center in Sagle ID, three years running. It’s both fun and essential.

The program begins with an informative presentation. An IDFG officer explains how to distinguish grizzlies from black bears (note: it’s not by color—both can be brown) and how to behave around them. If a bear hasn’t seen you, quietly walk away. If it has,
stand your ground, talk calmly, and back away slowly once it disengages. If it approaches, wave your arms, shout, and ready your bear spray. Never run.

Then comes the hands-on excitement. IDFG uses an electronic “charging bear” I’ll call Matilda—a poster on wheels that barrels toward you at 30 mph (close to a real bear’s top speed of 40 mph). Participants practice deploying inert bear spray as Matilda charges.

Matilda Getting Ready to Attack

I’ve faced Matilda each time I’ve taken the course—and each time I’ve fumbled the training canister too slowly. Essentially, the bear “got” me. On our most recent visit, though, the instructor noted that my deployment was good enough that, after some initial mauling, the spray would likely have deterred the bear. In a real encounter, I’d have been injured but probably survived. Progress!

Some people swear by carrying a gun instead. However, research shows bear spray is more effective: it stopped aggressive bear behavior in 92% of cases, compared to 67%
for firearms (Smith et al., 2008). After my first women’s handgun course, which I also took recently, I can confirm I’d fumble far worse under real pressure with a 9mm.

The Real Takeaway: The key to staying safe in bear country is practice. Always carry bear spray in a belt holster or on a chest rig—never buried in a backpack. Drill drawing and deploying it until it becomes muscle memory. As the course emphasizes, a few seconds can make the difference between a close call and a serious incident.

For more details on the science, see: Spray More Effective Than Guns Against Bears.

Smith, T. S., S. Herrero, T. D. DeBruyn, and J. M. Wilder. 2008. Efficacy of bear deterrent spray in Alaska. Journal of Wildlife Management 72(3): 640-645.