The National Park Service has sent out their annual bear aware reminder. The park service is reminding everyone to be safe around the bears in the parks.
They send out the reminders every year during the spring and summer because these seasons are when bear activity is the highest. Bears are coming out of hibernation to get food.
They are reminding us to give space to the animals and keep ourselves safe by not bothering them.
Their primary reminders are to never approach a bear, stay alert and don’t wear headphones on trails, try to hike in groups, make noise near streams, store food, trash and scented items properly, carry bear spray where recommended and allowed, and never run from a bear.
The purpose of this yearly message is to keep visitors safe and make sure that people have fun experiences during their visits. In order to keep everyone safe, it is important that people listen to these reminders.
“[The reminder] gives us safety and tells us the rules,” said sophomore Celeste Ly.
If you come across a bear, the first thing you should do is stop where you are. You should not turn around or make any sudden movements. Remain calm and don’t scream. The main thing to remember is to not run.
If it is a black bear, you should slowly back away and speak in a calm voice until you get away from the bear. If it is a brown bear, you should lie down on the ground and play dead.
After both situations, you should find a park ranger and report the incident to the professional.
In order to know more about what you should do to prepare, it is important to do research about the park you’re visiting beforehand. You should also research about the animals that can be found there.
“Visitors should check current park alerts before their trip and follow park-specific bear safety guidance,” said the National Park Service.
When visiting the parks, make sure to stay safe by being aware of your surroundings and of the rules that the parks have in place.
