The following, while not offered as a "complete survival strategy," is excerpted from an article entitled "Grizzlies had excellent 1996, and this year looks like it may even be better." By John Glover and Shelli Johnson. The complete article can be viewed on line at the YELLOWSTONE JOURNAL ON LINE.

...accidentally - or intentionally - sneaking up on a grizzly bear is the worst scenario and one all... should try to avoid, says Gunther. Provoking a grizzly bear for whatever reason is highly discouraged .... should particularly avoid sneaking up on a sow with her cubs, or areas where there may lie a carcass. ...situations place [you] in extreme danger .... Both of these encounter-situations "threaten" the grizzly and he or she [grizzly bears] will act quickly and defensively, to protect its cubs, its food, or its territory...

...Though Gunther may de-emphasize the grizzly's aggressiveness, he still emphasizes the animal's danger. ..Very rarely does a grizzly attack a human out of will. Most likely, they attack out of defense and protection of their cubs or their habitat...

...A basic circumstance associated with many bear-inflicted injuries is people and grizzly bears getting too close to one another. People should not approach within 100 yards of a bear...

...According to Stephen Herrero, author of BEAR ATTACKS, and considered a leading authority on bear ecology, behavior and attacks, there have been several recorded encounter cases where people have successfully dodged attack by first dropping a hat or something and then quickly climbing a tree or by keeping trees between themselves and the bear. Herrero has also found that the active person in a hiking group usually draws the brunt of an attack. Ira companion is being severely mauled, the active individual should wave his arms and shout and then draw the attack his way, whereupon he should quickly play dead. One should play dead by either lying flat on the ground, face down, with hands locked behind your head and arms protecting your face and side of head, or, curl into a ball, lying on your side with your head buried into your knees and arms around your legs with wrists locked together...

..Gunther says some experts recommend dropping your backpack. however, this bear expert recommends keeping your pack on your back. "The grizzly is not alter the food on your back," he says. By leaving your pack on, it will help protect your back, according to Gunther. It takes courage to lie still and quiet while a bear is investigating you and possibly "nibbling"on you, but trying to fight the bear with resistance will most likely prove futile and possibly fatal. Keep silent and still until you're certain the bear is done investigating and is out of sight. Be sure the bear is gone before moving again...

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