Going through an area with known bear activity always poses certain risks. Bear attacks on humans don’t happen as often as you think, with the most common attack reports centered around mothers with cubs and provoked bears. While face-to-face encounters are scary, being in a car does not offer you complete protection against a bear attack.
A bear can attack you in a car. Although uncommon, there have been reports of this happening. Bears have been known to open unlocked car doors and break windows when humans are inside. However, you can scare most bears away by honking the vehicle, flashing the lights, and moving the car.
In this article, I’ll discuss what you should and should not do to avoid a bear attack and how to protect yourself when traveling through this predator’s territory. I will also cover critical aspects regarding wild bears and their behavior towards humans to explain the reasons a bear might attack your car.
Reasons a Bear Might Attack You While in a Car
To understand the best course of action in case of an attack, we need to look at its possible causes:
- Your car is close to a bear’s cubs. This is one of the leading causes of bears attacking cars. Making noises will not intimidate the mother and might only aggravate her behavior. In such a scenario, it is best to drive away immediately. The mother bear will not leave her cubs to chase you.
- The bear is used to human presence, or people have fed it multiple times. This is another common cause for a bear attack, as it will not get intimidated by the noise and can become aggressive if not fed. It is best to report such an incident to the district rangers because the bear can be a future threat to hikers and campers.
How To Avoid Bear Attacks When You Are in a Car
Even if bear attacks are rare and cars provide more protection than tents, it is best to employ the recommended practices in bear country. Two of the most common bear encounters while being in a car are when traveling through bear territory or camping. Therefore, keeping your doors locked and your windows rolled up is essential.
When Traveling Through Bear Country
If you are traveling through bear territory and suddenly see one on the road, you should slowly break and let the bear pass. Start flashing the lights and honking if it doesn’t intend to move out of the way. In most cases, this should scare the bear away. If the bear charges at your car, drive away or turn around if there’s no space to pass it safely.
When Sleeping in Your Car in Bear Country
Food is the most critical aspect when camping or sleeping in your car in bear territory. Bears are opportunistic predators and are always attracted by the smell of food. Therefore, most people who encountered bears while sleeping in their vehicles had some food inside.
Most camping spaces in bear territory provide food lockers. These lockers are a safe way to protect your food and yourself from bear attacks. If none are available in your area, you can buy one online to carry with you. You should make a hanging food bag if that’s not an option. The following video explains how to do this easily:
You must make your presence known if you see or hear a bear roaming around your car. The most significant deterrent for bears is noise. The first thing you should do is start the engine and see if the bear leaves the area. If it is still around, flash the lights and honk. You can also rev the engine to make additional noise. If the bear still doesn’t get scared, it is best to leave the area for a few hours and then return to reclaim any possessions left behind.
Species of Bears and How They Respond to Human Presence
Different species of bears have different reactions and behaviors when they meet humans in the wild.
The three bear species living in the United States are:
- Black bear
- Brown bear (which includes grizzly bears)
- Polar bear
The black bear is the most common type, while polar bears are only found in Alaska.
Polar bears are easily distinguished by their color and habitat, but these two characteristics can be similar in brown and black bears. According to Wikipedia.com, black bears are smaller and lack the shoulder hump seen in brown bears. For an easier understanding of what to expect when facing a certain bear species, I created the following table to help you:
| Black bear | Brown bear | Polar bear | |
| Reaction to Humans | Avoids contact | Avoids contact, sometimes curious | Often curious |
| Aggression Towards Humans | Extremely rare | Rarely, mostly mothers with cubs, or when taken by surprise | Sometimes |
| Unprovoked Attacks | Extremely rare | Rare, mostly mothers with cubs, or when taken by surprise | Sometimes, few encounters with humans |
| Hunts Humans? | No | No | Sometimes |
There is still a slim chance that following the advice in this article will come without success, and not only will the bear fail to leave, but it may start acting aggressively toward you. Take caution not to overestimate the level of protection a car offers when facing an angry bear. These predators can easily break windows and rip through doors to get inside and hurt you.
Final Thoughts
While the chances of getting attacked by a bear while in a car are slim, you must follow the safety guidelines if you are in this predator’s backyard.
Avoid keeping food in your vehicle camping in bear country, and do not feed wild bears. Remember that black bears are the least aggressive and get scared quickly, while brown and polar bears are more aggressive toward humans. If a bear starts charging at your vehicle, drive away while making as much noise as possible. Finally, read more about how to survive a bear attack should you end up in a worst-case scenario.
