Whether you're running, hiking or biking in bear country -- and in Alaska, that covers nearly everywhere -- think of yourself as that needy person at a party who desperately craves the spotlight.
Talk loudly. Gesticulate. Demand attention. Just get all me-me-me.
While such behavior is just sad at a party, it could prevent a bear encounter in the backcountry. And it links to what Grant Hilderbrand, a regional wildlife biologist for the National Park Service, calls the Golden Rule: Do not surprise a bear.
"If we do this, we can avoid about 90 percent-plus of bear encounters,'' Hilderbrand said.
Alaska Dispatch News on Friday morning attended Hilderbrand's talk about bear safety to Park Service employees, some of whom do field work in the backcountry. He covered ways to reduce the risk of a bear encounter, how to spot signs of a stressed, agitated bear and how to deal with a bear encounter.
The best way to avoid bear encounters, Hilderbrand said, is to alert them you are in their neighborhood. He favors carrying a small air horn when he's running on trails along Turnagain Arm -- the sound of an air horn won't get lost in the wind, and the sound carries, which makes it an effective early warning system to a bear. Bear bells and whistles work too, he said. Or you can sing as you go. Or shout, "Hey, bear!'' every minute or so.
Those methods won't guarantee avoiding a bear encounter, but they will greatly improve your odds.
Hilderbrand's analogy: Lightning strikes, but that doesn't mean you have to use an aluminum boat.
It also helps to be hyper-aware of your surroundings. That's especially pivotal in areas of thick vegetation, where sight lines can be minimal but the berries that attract bears are robust, or near rivers or creeks, where bears might be seeking fish.
It should be obvious, but we'll emphasize: Ditch the headphones or ear buds. Yeah, Kings of Leon are great, but nature rocks more. It is much cooler being able to hear a bear rustling in the brush, and subsequently take steps to avoid an encounter, than it is to deafly stumble upon a bear.
Hilderbrand said it is preferable to travel in a group, tightly bunched, and to have deterrents -- such as bear spray or a firearm -- readily accessible.
Signs of an agitated bear include side-to-side head and neck movement, jaw-popping, huffing, stomping and bluff charges.
"They're saying, 'I'm not comfortable, you're too close, give me some space,' '' Hilderbrand said.
If you spot a bear, but don't see any indication it has spotted you, Hilderbrand advised to slowly, quietly leave the area. If it seems the bear has spotted you, do not run. Stand your ground, slowly wave your arms and talk to the bear.
"If we convey calm, they'll pick up on it,'' Hilderbrand said, emphasizing you should not run. "We don't want to create a situation in which it thinks it's a pursuit.''
If the bear appears to lose interest, slowly leave the area while keeping an eye on the bear.
While attacks are rare, what is called a defensive attack occurs primarily with brown bears, which are larger than black bears and immensely powerful. A person attacked should play dead, hitting the ground face down with hands positioned behind the neck. If wearing a backpack, leave it on -- it could furnish protection.
Hilderbrand advised remaining still after the attack and waiting for the bear to leave the area before attempting to leave.
Predatory attacks are more common from black bears. In such an event, make yourself big, get loud and prepare to fight back with any weapon available -- bear spray, firearm, knife, stick, whatever.
When camping, it is best to locate the camp away from a trail. Bears, like humans, use trails -- trails are the path of least resistance, and that's why it is common to see bear scat on trails. Also when camping, keep food in a tree or cache away from the camp, use bear-proof containers to store food, prepare food away from the camp and use a tent rather than sleep in the open.
And should you while in the backcountry get a hit of a ripe, dreadful smell, you likely are near a bear's kill. A torn-up area of earth can indicate the area of a kill and the bear could return. Bears fiercely protect their cuts and food, so bypass such a kill area widely, and immediately, or back away and return the way you came.
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockey-blog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr