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Doright36 t1_j4u6k3y wrote

Reply to comment by immalittlepiggy in Polar Bear Enters Remote Alaska Village, Fatally Mauls Woman, Boy by MinimumMonitor7

Black Bears are not as aggressive as Polar Bears. If they attack you it's most likely either starving to death or protecting cubs. Not saying you should feel safe dancing in your knickers in front of one but you are much more likely to have a polar bear rip your face off if it sees you than a Black Bear which will most likely just waddle off into the woods giving you passive aggressive looks over it's shoulder.

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CryptidGrimnoir t1_j4umrrq wrote

Attacks in defense of their cubs are actually fairly rare--black bears are more apt to chase their cubs up a tree and then stand their ground.

Black bear attacks tend to be predation or defending a food source--which is why if attacked by a black bear, you must fight back with everything you've got.

Grizzly bears are more aggressive, so they do tend to attack for defensive reasons, but in that case, the best defensive action is to play dead.

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bird1979 t1_j4upb73 wrote

I've heard if the bear is Black, attack. if Brown, lay down. White, goodnight.

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Jbow89 t1_j4wh0z5 wrote

I think the saying is "if black fight back". You should never attack a black bear minding it's own business lol.

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bird1979 t1_j4y09ve wrote

I knew I would get something wrong in there but yes, unprovoked attacks on bears are certainly a bad for everyone involved.

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