Bear Safety For Bikers
Biking in bear and moose habitat is risky business! Bears use trails to get to berries, fish, moose calves, and other food sources. Here are some tips to help avoid a close encounter with a bear while riding on single track as well as other trails that you share with wildlife.
- Know your risk! Biking on narrow, winding trails increases your chance of unexpectedly encountering bears at close range. These types of encounters often result in human injury.
- Choose your route wisely; avoid areas with poor visibility, including areas with thick vegetation or trails with short sight distance and blind corners.
- Do not wear earbuds while riding – you may hear a bear before you see it.
- Use extra caution riding at night and in poor light conditions.
- Leave your pets at home.
- Bike with others and stay together.
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Look for signs that bears may be in the area.
Black Bear
- Carry a deterrent that you are familiar with and can access easily. To ensure that you don’t become separated from your deterrent carry it on you where you have immediate access to it (not in a backpack or bike panniers).
- Never throw objects to try to move bears off a trail. This is wildlife harassment, and aggravating wildlife creates a serious risk to other trail users.
- Make noise especially when traveling at high speeds. Bears don’t like surprises. Equip your bike with a noise maker. Shout a warning as you approach blind curves.
- Certain times of the year are more dangerous than others. Bears frequent streams searching for food (June to October).
- If you encounter a bear, at a distance, be flexible! Go back the way you came. You can always ride that route another day.
- If you encounter a bear at close range, DO NOT FLEE! Bears may chase you if you run or bike away. Group up, look big, stand your ground, and make noise. Slowly back away if the bear does not approach you. Deploy your deterrent if necessary.
Here are links to some videos on what to do when you encounter a bear:
How to use bear spray
Watch Tom Griffin, Wildlife Specialist for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, give a quick bear spray demonstration. Please click on the link to get more detailed information on using bear spray. https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/species/livingwithwildlife/bears/pdfs/bear_spray_what_you_should_know.pdf
Safety tips on how to be prepared while recreating in bear country
Tom Griffin, Wildlife Specialist for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, offers safety tips on how to be prepared while recreating in bear country.
What to do if you encounter a bear
Tom Griffin, Wildlife Specialist for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, offers safety tips on what to do if you encounter a bear.
Tips to follow when you use single track trails that you share with moose.