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Sustaining one of the highest densities of brown bears in the world, with an estimated 2,200 bears within the 4.2 million acres of the Park and Preserve, visitors should be prepared to encounter bears at anytime while here. The extraordinary annual migration of salmon, and the ecosystems they support, draws bears to the Park’s rivers, lakes and mountainsides.
L. Law Bear encounters Preparing for bear encounters before a visit to Katmai is a must. As a part of this, understanding bear behavior is critical to understanding if a bear is approaching you curiously, aggressively, or just passing by because you are in its way. For those who are not familiar with bear behavior and deterrents hiring a knowledgeable guide can help you stay safe while in bear country.
Hike and Travel in GroupsGroups of four or more people are typically very safe in bear country. Groups of people are usually noisier and smellier than a single person. Therefore, bears often become aware of groups of people at greater distances, and because of their cumulative size groups of people are also passively intimidating to bears. Hiking and traveling in groups is typically the best way to increase your level of safety in bear country.Be AlertKatmai’s bears are mostly diurnal (active during the day) but are also active at night and can be found in all of Katmai’s habitats. Never assume you are in a “bear free” area. Be on the lookout for signs of bears and be especially wary in areas where bears may have trouble detecting you. Sometimes, you might see a bear before it is aware of you. In these situations, back away quietly the same way you came and give the bear space.Make NoiseIn areas where visibility is limited make noise to warn bears of your approach. Brown bears can react defensively if they are surprised. The human voice is the best tool to warn bears of your approach. Bears may not associate other noise makers, such as bells, with people. Please remember that you are not making noise to scare bears away, only to warn them of your approach. Once a bear is aware of your presence it is usually not necessary to make extra noise.Do Not Approach BearsYou should always avoid interfering with bear movement or foraging activities. If a bear reacts to your presence you are too close. Bears are creatures of habit and habitually use the same travel routes. Many close encounters can be avoided if you move out of a bear’s line of travel before it is close. Additionally, people are prohibited from approaching bears within 50 yards or remaining within 50 yards of a bear using a concentrated food source including, but not limited to, animal carcasses, spawning salmon, and other feeding areas.Steer Clear of Places with Food that Attract BearsSalmon streams, mud flats with clams, and sedge meadows are areas that attract bears and consequently people who want to watch them. Anglers are also attracted to streams where salmon are actively spawning.Since most people visit Katmai to either see bears or fish in streams where bear encounters are likely, it can be difficult to stay clear of areas with food that attract bears. However, please consider fishing when bears are not at peak numbers (like on the Brooks River in June and August) and/or viewing bears at a distance, not, for example, from the middle of a sedge meadow or a salmon stream.
Your response during a bear encounter should depend on the bear’s behavior. Curious bears have different motivations than defensive bears. You can find more information on the motivations of a curious bear versus a defensive bear on bearsmart.com. The information below has been gleaned from many sources including books, resource experts, and videos.
Assess the Bear’s BehaviorBear encounters often happen very quickly, but the bear will likely be showing cues that communicate its intentions. When you encounter a bear always stop, remain calm, and assess the situation.
Remain Calm and Do Not RunA bear may approach closely or stand on its hind legs to identify you. Identify yourself as a human by talking to the bear calmly and waving your arms slowly above your head. Back away slowly if you can. If you are traveling in a group, use the group’s size to your advantage and stay close to one another. Don't Run! Running may encourage a bear to chase you. Bears can run faster than 30 miles per hour (50 km/hr). You cannot outrun them.If You are ChargedA defensive bear may approach you or even charge. If a bear charges, it perceives you as threat. Most charges are bluffs, but you must take action to try to appear non-threatening by standing your ground and talking calmly to the bear. Don’t shout or throw anything. Once the bear has stopped its charge, try to move slowly away. If the bear charges again as you are moving away, stop moving and stand your ground again.Use your bear spray if you think the bear will attack. While most charges stop short of contact, there is no way to know and bear spray is a very effective tool to stop a charge. If a Defensive Bear AttacksPlay dead. Fall to the ground face down on your stomach with your legs apart. Lock your hands behind your neck to protect your neck and face. If you do get rolled over, keep rolling until you're face down again. Don’t shout or cry out. Stay quietly in this position until the bear has left the area. Once a defensive bear no longer perceives you as a threat, it will stop attacking. If the attack continues long after you have assumed the protective position, fight back vigorously.If a Non-Defensive Bear ApproachesA non-defensive bear may approach you for are a variety of reasons — it may be conditioned to human food, curious, or want to test its dominance. Non-defensive bears usually don’t show any signs of stress, so you should act assertively. You are trying to dissuade the bear from approaching. As with a defensive bear, stay calm and speak to the bear. Try moving out of its way. If the bear continues to approach, you then want to assert your dominance over the animal — shout, make yourself look large and threatening, throw a rock towards the bear, and prepare to use your bear spray.If a Non-Defensive Bear AttacksIn North America, brown bear attacks are very rare and non-defensive attacks by brown bears are even more rare. Brown bear attacks are almost always defensive, but if it is not then fight back. Non-defensive bears may consider you prey.
The best defense is knowledge, preparation, and prevention. Arm yourself with a knowledge of bear biology, ecology, and behavior. Prepare yourself mentally for bear encounters before you visit Katmai, and take action when you are visiting Katmai to prevent bear encounters.
When you visit Katmai, you have a responsibility to protect the experience, everyone’s safety, and Katmai’s bears. When visiting Katmai’s Wilderness and backcountry areas remain alert and aware of your surroundings, avoid surprising a bear, and carry an appropriate deterrent. With any deterrents, ensure you know how to use them prior to arrival in the field, you don’t want to try to learn when a bear is approaching aggressivly. In some areas of the park, bears are unaccustomed to seeing people and may flee or charge from far away, while in other areas, such as Brooks Camp, bears have become highly habituated to humans and are less likely to have a strong reaction to your presence. Despite this, bears may still exhibit strong fight or flight responses anywhere in the park at any time, so it is important to remain alert and practice good behavior at all times. Follow all park regulations regarding food storage and distance from wildlife, and if you are visiting Brooks Camp make sure you pay attention to and follow all rules or regulations learned in Bear School upon arrival. Food Safety Katmai’s food storage regulations, outlined below, are intended to prevent bears and other wildlife from obtaining food and garbage and becoming conditioned to see people as a source of food. Preventing food conditioning has been shown to be one of the best things you can do to protect wildlife and park visitors alike.
In Brooks Camp, all food must be stored in designated food caches and food can only be consumed in designated picnic areas and hard-sided buildings. It is important to limit where food is stored and consumed to deter bears from gaining a food resource from humans. If you are unsure what needs to be stored or where you can store your food, check in with a ranger in the Brooks Camp Visitor Center.
In the backcountry of Katmai, food must be stored in a Bear Resistant Container (BRC). The lists of approved BRCs can be found on the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee or Alaska Department of Fish and Game sites. While hanging foods is authorized in Katmai, much of this land does not have adequate trees to appropriately keep food from bears and this method is not recommended in many areas of the Park and Preserve. BRC’s aren’t just for food either. Anything with a smell should be kept in a bear resistant container, including things like hand sanitizer, lip balm, or any other scented items. If you are planning on camping in the Katmai backcountry, an electric fence is highly recommended. If you have an electric fence set up, keep your BRC and cooking area within the boundaries of the fence. Even within an electric fence, BRCs must remain closed and locked except when actively removing or returning an item. If you do not have an electric fence then storing your BRC at least 100-yards away from your tent is recommended, with a cooking area 100-yards away from both your tent and the food storage area. This creates a triangle, with tent, food storage, and cooking all occurring at least 100-yards from each other. An electric fence is a stronger deterrent than separation between your BRC, cooking area, and tent. Gear Safety Wherever you are in Katmai, it is important to keep your gear within arm’s reach at all times. Bears are curious animals. If you see a bear approaching and you leave your gear behind, the bear can become interested in the gear. This could lead to the bear gaining a food reward or a play-item. This can be dangerous for many reasons including the loss of gear for you, and potentially more dangerous situations for others if the bears begin to associate humans with food or play rewards.
In Brooks Camp, there is gear storage by the Visitor Center and in the campground to store anything you don't want to carry around all day. If you do have gear you are carrying with you, if you set it down, keep the gear in arm's reach. You may encounter a bear at any time, and being able to reach your gear is important, not only so you can keep your equipment, but also so bears do not start associated human items with rewards
In the backcountry, if you are backpacking or trekking, your gear should remain on your person at all times when actively hiking or moving from location to location. If you stop to take breaks and take your gear off your person, don't leave anything out of arm’s reach in case of any bear encounters. If you are base camping and using an electric fence, it is okay to leave gear within the electric fence, but best to store inside of a tent within the electric fence. Remember: an electric fence is only a deterrent and bears may still get through the fencing to your food or gear. Be sure to follow any instructions for setting up the fence and establish a strong and stable electric current to aid in the security of your food and gear.
It is alwasy best to store gear in a building. In Katmai's backcountry, there is little in the way of permanent structures but if you are near a building like Fure's Cabin or other lodges, it is best store gear in those structures. From the Superintendants Compendium and the Code of Federal Regulations36 CFR 2.10(d) Food storage: designated areas and methods The intent of these designations is to prevent the food conditioning of bears and other wildlife by not allowing bears to associate people with food; thus, protecting wildlife and park visitors alike. We strongly recommend that dishes and cooking equipment be securely stored, but clean and odor free items are not required to be stored in secure containers. Ice chests and coolers, tents, dry bags or stuff sacks, plastic packing boxes (Totes, Action Packers, etc.) and unmodified kayaks are not generally approved as BRC. The park offers bear resistant containers for temporary use to the public. The containers are free of charge and can be picked up at the park’s visitor centers in King Salmon and Brooks Camp. See also CFR 13.1228 for requirements in the Brooks Camp Developed Area (1) Definition: A bear resistant container (BRC) means an item constructed to prevent access by a bear. BRC’s include
Note: This provision does not apply to:
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Last updated: April 1, 2026