Bikers and bears: Stay cool or get eaten?

This article was first published on 20.05.2023. We have now revised it.

Bears? Maybe in Canada, but not here, you might think. Not at all! Encounters with bears are becoming more frequent - even here. This happened to a biker on Lake Garda. The biker kept his nerve, retreated and the bear also left. A 26-year-old jogger in Val di Sole was less fortunate. He died from the bite wounds. In Slovakia, a female bear attacked two hikers who had come across their cub. The bear inflicted serious bite wounds on the hikers. The bears are brown bears, a European grizzly species. 17,000 wild bears live in Europe. That sounds like a lot, but most of them are found in Scandinavia and the Carpathians. According to estimates, there are 80 to 100 bears in the Alps, most of them in Slovenia and Italy.

>> Bikers and wild animals - Part 2: What you should bear in mind when encountering wild boar

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Problem bears and the protection of animals

The bear that recently killed a jogger in Trentino, Italy, is a brown bear named "JJ4" (sister of the then problem bear Bruno JJ1, who appeared in Bavaria in 2006). The bear JJ4 was released into the wild in a special protected area in Trentino after being captured in Austria. There, JJ4 had been spotted several times in populated areas. The authorities categorised the bear as a potential danger to humans. In short: JJ4 is also a problem bear. The bear was fitted with a transmitter to monitor its movements and ensure that it did not enter populated areas. However, the transmitter failed and now the bear recently attacked and killed a jogger in a wooded area of Val di Sole.

This has led to controversy over the treatment of bears living in specially designated protected areas, especially as the bears have a very large radius of action, as we know from the problem bear JJ1. He wandered from Italy to Bavaria. JJ1 was a brown bear that caused a stir in the Alps in Austria and Germany between 2006 and 2008 because it entered inhabited areas several times and caused damage. In 2008, JJ1 was finally captured by the Austrian authorities and taken to the Abruzzo National Park in Italy to keep it away from inhabited areas. JJ1 was also fitted with a transmitter to monitor his movements and ensure he did not enter populated areas. JJ1 was found dead in 2009 after being illegally shot by a hunter.

The incident led to outrage and debate about how to deal with so-called "problem bears" and the need to harmonise human interests and the protection of wildlife. In contrast to the self-proclaimed bear conservationists, experts agree: problem bears should be killed because their behaviour is unpredictable and endangers the entire "Life Ursus" brown bear reintroduction programme in the Alps.

So what should you do if you encounter a bear?

"Keep calm, talk to the bear in a calming manner and retreat slowly," advises Reno Sommerhalder. The Swiss-Canadian is a bear expert and has already had 15,000 bear encounters - all without a dangerous outcome. "A bear doesn't want to eat us - not even a grizzly. We don't fit into their prey scheme at all. Most accidents with bears happen because people have behaved incorrectly," says Sommerhalder. All wrong: panic and flight, even on a bike. Because that only fuels the bear's hunting instinct. We bikers are a problem case anyway, because we are fast and quiet - this harbours the risk of bikers surprising and frightening a bear. "Nevertheless, a bear, even a grizzly, will flee in 9 out of 10 cases," says Sommerhalder.

Because the bear itself is afraid and shies away from conflict. The right behaviour here too: Dismount, raise the bike for protection, pull back without taking your eyes off the bear and speak calmly to it. If a mock attack nevertheless occurs, i.e. the bear charges towards the biker but brakes a metre in front of the person, you should continue the behaviour described above and remain as unimpressed as possible. "9 out of 10 fake attacks have no consequences," says Sommerhalder. Extremely unlikely: a real attack. Here, the chances of survival increase if you lie on your stomach and clasp your hands behind your neck. This signals to the bear that there is no danger. So much for the theory, because even Sommerhalder has never had to experience this in 30 years of living among bears. If you want to know more about bears and the bear man Sommerhalder, you can find exciting clips on YouTube.

Admittedly, the tips sound sensible, but you definitely have to activate your inner "Chuck Norris" if you want to stay calm and soothe a charging bear. Check out the strategy these outdoor sports enthusiasts have adopted.

Four behavioural tips for a bear encounter at a distance

However, it is questionable whether the tips will also help with problem bears.

1. Stay calm and do not try to run away. Running away can tempt a bear to follow and possibly attack. It triggers the bear's hunting instinct. Instead, walk slowly and calmly backwards and watch the bear.
   
2. Make yourself known. If the bear has not yet seen you, speak in a calm tone or clap your hands to warn it that you are there. If the bear has already noticed you, stay calm and do not make any sudden movements.
   
3. Avoid eye contact. Direct eye contact can be seen as a threat and make the bear feel threatened. Look at the bear, but avoid direct eye contact.
   
4. Make yourself big. Slowly raise your arms and stretch them over your head to look taller and more threatening.

Four tips for behaviour in the event of direct contact with a bear

As hard as this may be, it's important not to drop to the ground before the bear is practically on top of you. If you lie down too soon, he might get curious. Stay standing for as long as possible. If the bear comes towards you anyway, do the following:

1. Lie flat on your stomach (preferably with a rucksack) and clasp your hands behind your neck.
   
2. Spread your legs and support yourself with your elbows and toes to prevent the bear from turning you over. If it does turn you over, keep rolling until you are lying on your stomach again.
   
3. As difficult as it may be, stay as calm and quiet as possible until the attack stops. If you fight back, the attack of a (grizzly) bear usually becomes more violent.
   
4. Do NOT try to fight! A grizzly bear will usually leave as soon as it thinks the threat has passed. Wait until you are absolutely sure that the animal has left the area before you get up and get help.