You can do your part and also reduce your risk by taking the measures described in this page. Please report all bear sightings to a park ranger. Note the location of the sighting, length of observation, distance from the bear, and description of the bear and its activity or behavior. Most trails in wildland parks are in bear habitat. You could encounter a bear even on a short hike.
Bears are individuals, each behaving differently in different circumstances.
There are no precise rules about what to do if you encounter a bear, but there are generally effective measures to be followed. Avoid startling a bear. Where sight distance is limited or flowing water is muffling sounds, make noise by talking, singing, shouting, or clapping your hands. Do not make shrill or high pitch noises as these may attract bears. Some hikers use bells for noise.