Avoid actions that interfere with bear movement or foraging activities. Be satisfied with a distant photograph, or use a telephoto lense. Many fatalities and injuries have been related to photography. Do not corner an animal. Allow them plenty of space and an escape route.
Bears are typically solitary animals.
Much of their communication at feeding aggregations, such as occur on Brooks River in Alaska, serves to maintain spacing and avoid conflict. Bears appear to have only a limited repertoire for this purpose. Descriptions of some behavior and a general interpretation of meaning follow to help you understand what a bear may be trying to tell you. Remember, each bear is an individual and each encounter is unique. Bears generally stand on their hind legs to gain more information, both olfactory and visual.