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.
In encounters with human, it has usually been interpreted as a demonstration of size. Stationary frontal orientation - If a bear is standing and facing you, it is certainly not being submissive. This is an aggressive position and may signal a charge. It is likely waiting for you to withdraw. When a bear is tense, it may forcibly exhale a series of several sharp, rasping huffs.