>>541147OK, serious answer time.
>I hear a lot of stories about solo hikers being attacked or killed by mountain lions and bears.And those stories are actually pretty easy to corroborate. Do your homework and you'll realize that even in a crowded park like Glacier, animal attacks are still the minority.
Exercise prevention. Keep a clean campsite, cook away from where you sleep, make noise on the trail (especially around corners or over hills), some kind of constant noise is better so animals can hear you coming from a distance and will be less startled.
Carry bear spray, it works. The biggest downside to guns is user error, most people simply don't have the nerves/skill to effectively use a gun in a tense situation. Bear spray is more idiot-resistant (but not completely idiot-resistant) in these situations.
If you see a bear, the first rule is DO. NOT. RUN.
Running may trigger the bear's predator instinct.
If you come across a bear on the trail, first take a quick look around and see if you can spot any cubs. If there are cubs, slowly back away until you're no longer in the bear's line of sight and then GTFO of there.
If there are no cubs and the bear seems to be curious about you, stand up straight, wave your arms, yell, throw rocks, make it clear to the bear that you not worth the trouble.
A curious bear acts a lot differently than an aggressive bear, and a quick googling will help you understand those differences. If a bear is aggressive and you have to use your bear spray, don't hang around or try and carry on through your journey. Turn around and briskly but calmly go back the way you came.
