9 Bear Safety Tips From a Bear Biologist

In more than two decades of studying human/bear encounters, Tom Smith estimates he’s seen hundreds of bruins of each species in the field. The former National Park Service research biologist in Alaska and current associate professor at Brigham Young University has published groundbreaking academic papers, like a seminal report comparing bear spray to guns. His studies have helped biologists—and backpackers—better understand bears. Here’s his advice for hikers, straight from the source:

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