Grizzly bears, on the other hand, are not as easily spooked, so you'll want to do the opposite.
"You don't want to be aggressive [towards a brown bear] at all," Ransom says. "Wave your arms, speak firmly."
Brown bears are especially ferocious when they do attack, so fighting back is not a good strategy.
"Play dead to show the bear you're not a threat and roll into the fetal position to protect your vulnerable stomach, crossing your arms over the back of your head and neck," Mizejewski says.
Moose are a bigger threat to people than large carnivores like bears.
When black bears charge, it's usually just to scare away the perceived threat. In rare instances, a mother black bear will actually attack to protect her cubs.
"Like with brown bears, a mother black bear would attack defensively rather than in a predatory way," Mizejewski says. "By playing dead and removing the sense of threat, you might get the bear to leave you alone."
Mountain Lions and/or Cougars
These "stealth predators" are known to attack prey from behind, but cougar attacks on humans are very rare. Still, you should avoid mountain lion territory or avoid running alone.
Make a lot of noise if you see one of these big cats, and slowly back away. Again, do not run. Keep a steady gaze on the cat as you retreat.
"If it knows you can see it, it likely won't attack," Mizejewski says.
Moose
Moose are a bigger threat to people than large carnivores like bears.
"They are huge, powerful animals that will aggressively attack if startled, surprised or in any way threatened," Mizejewski says. "They will kick and stomp any perceived threat, especially a mother trying to protect her calf."
Give them plenty of space, and they will likely leave you alone. But be prepared to sprint if you wind up close to one.
"Moose are the prey so they aren't as hard-wired to chase their food," Ransom says, "But they are really good at being a protective mom or a hormonal bull that wants to fight. It's best just to run."
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