What should you do first if you are being charged by a bear in Yellowstone National Park?

When the bear charges you, hold your ground and stay calm. After the bear charges, slowly retreat while keeping an eye on the bear. Let the bear know that you're a human, and that you aren't a threat. Continue to speak to the bear in a calm voice and make it clear that you are a human.



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If you do any hiking or camping in Yellowstone, you SHOULD bring bear spray. Generally, you don't need bear spray when visiting the popular and crowded geyser areas and villages, such as Old Faithful and Canyon Village.

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If you see a bear, the best course of action for you is to avoid the bear to your best ability. Walk away slowly in the direction from which you came, moving sideways if possible. Do not run away from the bear because this will encourage the bear to chase you.

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What happens if you shoot a bear in self-defense in Yellowstone? Illegally killing or wounding wildlife carries similar penalties on this side of the border. Some illegal, or even accidental killings of grizzlies have recently resulted in fines in the $5,000 range.

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Bear Safety
  1. Keep at least 100 yards (93 m) from bears at all times and never approach a bear to take a photo.
  2. Never feed bears. ...
  3. If a bear approaches or touches your car, honk your horn and drive away to discourage this behavior.


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The most important caveat is that visitors aren't allowed to shoot them. Hunting is strictly forbidden in Yellowstone, as is target practice. And visitors should not use guns as self-defense against large wildlife, but rather carry bear spray and take other safety precautions.

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Recycle your bear spray at park hotels, stores, visitor centers, backcountry offices, and ranger stations, as well as area camping stores, and the Bozeman airport.

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Pocket Knives designated as weapons under 18 U.S. Code § 930: Possession of Firearms and Dangerous Weapons in Federal Facilities are not permitted into the park. A pocket knife is considered a weapon if: The blade is longer than 2.5 inches or 6 centimeters in length.

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It's perfectly possible to spot a bear any time of day in the Park, especially in cooler weather, but mid-summer you are unlikely to see bears out in the heat of the day, when they tend to nap in the forest. You don't need to go hiking into the backcountry to see bears.

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