# Should you play dead if a bear is chasing you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 23, 2006, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648 "2006-07-23T00:06:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dead\_Pete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@Dead\_Pete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Pete)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/1 "2006-07-23T00:06:13Z")
I’ve heard that the best thing to do when a bear is chasing you is to lie down and play dead. I’ve also heard, however, that different types of bears (i.e., brown, grizzly, black, polar, etc.) require different strategies to escape them. What do the teeming millions say? ---
**Author:** ![Feces\_Of\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8797f3/32.png) [@Feces\_Of\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feces_Of_Death)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/2 "2006-07-23T00:31:46Z")
I say just wait untl he reaches you, then kick his ass. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/3 "2006-07-23T00:37:55Z")
Wisdom appears to be to play dead (lie down, don’t make eye contact, don’t move), but if that’s not working, make yourself look big (undo your jacket, hold your hands over your head) and make a lot of noise. There appear to be some differences between bear varieties. However, generally speaking, making noise so a bear is alerted to your presence is a good preventive measure, as is traveling closely in a group of 4+ people. Cite: Jans, _The Grizzly Maze_ (about Timothy Treadwell). ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Pete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@Dead\_Pete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Pete)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/4 "2006-07-23T01:11:58Z")
How effective is climbing a tree? I know that some bears are so heavy they couldn’t possibly scale the heights beyond a certain altitude, while others take to climbing like a fish to water. I think climbing would be my first instinct if I saw a grizzly coming at me. It worked for Eddie in _The Waste Lands_! ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/5 "2006-07-23T01:31:10Z")
Jans says not to because bears move faster than you do, and that, as you say, some climb trees. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/6 "2006-07-23T01:53:02Z")
Won’t most bears run away if you just shout and clap your hands? They’ve **learned,** by now, to fear humans, and are not quite intelligent enough to discern the significance of the absence of a visible firearm. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/7 "2006-07-23T01:55:00Z")
[QUOTE=Shoshana] Jans says not to because bears move faster than you do . . . [/QUOTE] _Up a Creek:_ “Let’s run!” “You can’t outrun him!” “I don’t have to outrun him . . . I just have to outrun you!” [runs] ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/8 "2006-07-23T01:57:50Z")
If only there were some way to pose this question to Stephen Colbert . . . ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/9 "2006-07-23T02:00:10Z")
[QUOTE=Feces Of Death] I say just wait untl he reaches you, then kick his ass. [/QUOTE] [Wait, hell!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOpKFPEah3E&search=john%20west%20salmon) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/10 "2006-07-23T02:07:49Z")
Dan Ayckroyd, as a hideously scarred man touting his new book _Mauled_ on a talk show, in a '70s SNL skit: > [@](#): > > . . . And if you find a bear cub, don’t dress it up in clothes and take pictures of it next to the kids . . . It’s cute as hell, but you’re playin’ with fire. And finally, never, ever try to feed a bear a marshmallow like this! [places marshmallow between front teeth] ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Pete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@Dead\_Pete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Pete)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/11 "2006-07-23T03:31:33Z")
Love that bear commercial, LOL! Seriously though, how close is too close for the “play dead” defense to work? Are bears really that stupid, to suppose that someone is actually dead whom they actually saw very much alive a moment before? ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/12 "2006-07-23T05:14:46Z")
I was always taught that when attacked by a black bear, your best bet is _to fight back_. Which I always thought was fucking terrifying. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Pete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@Dead\_Pete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Pete)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/13 "2006-07-23T05:32:15Z")
I hear their noses are very sensitive. Maybe punching them there would be a good strategy, especially if they’re right on top of you and you can’t run, make noise, play dead, or climb trees? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/14 "2006-07-23T05:33:03Z")
[QUOTE=Shoshana] Wisdom appears to be to play dead (lie down, don’t make eye contact, don’t move), but if that’s not working, make yourself look big (undo your jacket, hold your hands over your head) and make a lot of noise. [/QUOTE] Huh? My understanding is that the “play dead” technique is hoped to result in the bear poking you and batting you around a bit, then losing interest and moving on. By the time you realize this isn’t working, A) the bear has already harmed you and B) it’s a bit late to pop up and make yourself look big. The “if that’s not working” part of this advice strikes me as nonsensical. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/15 "2006-07-23T05:54:09Z")
[QUOTE=Gary T] Huh? My understanding is that the “play dead” technique is hoped to result in the bear poking you and batting you around a bit, then losing interest and moving on. By the time you realize this isn’t working, A) the bear has already harmed you and B) it’s a bit late to pop up and make yourself look big. The “if that’s not working” part of this advice strikes me as nonsensical. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I was wondering about that too. I think Shoshana’s idea was that you should play dead once you spot the bear and hope it just goes away without approaching. Then if it approaches you’re supposed to hop back up and act threatening. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/16 "2006-07-23T05:56:30Z")
Here in New Mexico, we have lots of black bears, many fairly small, (150-200 pounds, usually youngsters or females, although adult males can go 400) and every year they encroach into cities and towns, mainly because of our perpetual drought. Some actually even make it from their Sandia Mountains home to Albuquerque’s West Side, maybe 20 miles or more through town, and across the river. The consensus (and From NM Game and Fish) here is to yell, scream, look scary and fight back if attacked. They will generally run off. As for brown bears (Grizzlies and Kodiaks are brown bears), the play dead scenario seems to be recommended. Just remember, when camping and a bear comes around, you don’t have to outrun the bear, just your buddy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/17 "2006-07-23T06:39:39Z")
> [@](#): > > Keep a cool head - Try to stay calm, do not yell or scream. > > • Some bears, even grizzlies, will climb trees after you. Also a grizzly can reach 10 feet up a tree while standing on the ground. > > • Right before a grizzly bear makes contact in a surprise attack at close range (and you don’t have pepper spray), roll into a ball or lie face down, try to protect your neck an face, and pray. Don’t stick your arm out, kick, scream, or fight. Try to protect the vulnerable parts of your body while remaining as still as possible, this will actively be helping the bear remove the perceived threat… > > • If the bear mauls you continuously, despite yourself being passive, you may have to fight back. Try using any available weapon - a knife, rock, fist - and concentrate on hitting the bear’s head, eyes and nostrils. [Bear Safety Tips](http://www.udap.com/safety.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/18 "2006-07-23T12:25:09Z")
[QUOTE=Dead Pete] Seriously though, how close is too close for the “play dead” defense to work? Are bears really that stupid, to suppose that someone is actually dead whom they actually saw very much alive a moment before? [/QUOTE] It worked for [this guy](http://peninsulaclarion.com/stories/053106/news_0531new001.shtml), and the bear was already biting him: > [@](#): > > “It was so fast, I don’t remember,” he said. > > He thought he took a step back. He remembers falling on his back and the bear snapping at him — head, shoulders, side. > > “I remember at one point thinking, ‘This isn’t the way I want to go,’” Mungoven said. > > Mungoven rolled onto his belly, curled up and played dead — the classic defensive technique bear experts advise for a brown bear attack. > > “I lay real still,” he said. “Curling up worked. That’s pretty much the only thing you can do. It had its last little bite and went away.” ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/19 "2006-07-23T15:21:44Z")
This may be a thread about bears, but it is a bit like all those “why is my cat acting like this” threads. Nobody knows why cats jump on the lap of the one person in the room who doesnt like them. And nobody knows why bears act the way they do. Sometimes, you can scare them off by flapping your arms, and sometimes you can fool them by playing dead, (and sometimes you just have to outrun your partner 🙂 ) It’s a wild animal. (and so is my cat… 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648/20 "2006-07-23T15:33:03Z")
[QUOTE=Dead Pete] I’ve heard that the best thing to do when a bear is chasing you is to lie down and play dead. I’ve also heard, however, that different types of bears (i.e., brown, grizzly, black, polar, etc.) require different strategies to escape them. What do the teeming millions say? [/QUOTE] Bill Bryson, in his hilarious “A Walk in the Woods,” did a lot of research into this and found that the simple truth of the matter is that nobody really knows and anyone who says they do is full of it. He found many documented cases where playing dead worked, and many where fighting back worked, for the same type of bear. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-play-dead-if-a-bear-is-chasing-you/365648.md?page=2)