Bear attacks are rare, but when they happen, the stories of survival often involve some truly unusual ways of outsmarting the beast. Below we count down the ten most astonishing tactics that kept people alive, from a well‑timed kick to a daring beacon rescue.
Unusual Ways Survivors Outsmarted Bears
10 Kick The Bear
Virginia mother Laurie Cooksey was out hiking with her three kids when a black bear suddenly appeared on the trail, standing upright on its hind legs. Black bears don’t respect the “play dead” strategy that works on brown bears, so the family’s options were limited.
When the bear lunged and clamped onto Cooksey’s leg, she delivered a powerful kick that sent the animal stumbling backward, buying enough time for her and her son Ellis to scramble down the mountainside and escape. Apparently, leg day paid off!
9 Live To Die Another Day
Wildlife photographer Jim Cole survived not one but two grizzly mauls. The first encounter in Glacier National Park left the beast with a bite on his scalp and arm after a series of “bluff charges.”
Years later, a second grizzly swooped at his face, blinding him in one eye. Cole lived through both attacks but succumbed to heart problems shortly after the second incident, a tragic end to a life devoted to protecting these majestic animals.
8 The Ineffective Shovel
Nic Patrick was working on his property near Cody, Wyoming, when he unintentionally startled a mother grizzly. The bear charged, delivering a brief bite to his face before retreating to protect her cubs.
Armed with a shovel, Patrick tried to fend her off, but the tool proved useless. After a second furious charge, he walked home missing his nose but with a new perspective on wildlife stewardship.
7 Seek Shelter
Two Canadian women, Nikki Latta and Lindsay Jones, found themselves face‑to‑face with a black bear. Latta leapt from a ledge, but refused to abandon her friend.
After a frantic scramble, Jones discovered a hunter’s cabin and busted through a high window. Latta followed, and the pair huddled inside while the bear prowled outside. Their cell phones called 911, and rescuers arrived to pull them to safety.
6 Play Dead Then Run
Todd Orr, a Montana hiker, encountered a grizzly despite his precaution of announcing his presence. The bear ignored his bear spray and struck, forcing Orr to curl into a protective ball.
After the initial assault, Orr scrambled to his truck, only to be attacked again. He survived both blows, drove to the hospital, and learned that even the best preparations can’t guarantee a painless encounter.
5 Pepper Spray
While bow‑hunting, Mark Matheny and Dr. Fred Bahnson crossed paths with a mother grizzly protecting her cubs. Matheny’s shouted warnings only enraged the bear, which lunged for his face.
Bahnson’s quick thinking and a spray of ordinary pepper spray forced the bear to retreat. The harrowing experience inspired Matheny to launch UDAP, a company dedicated to bear‑repellent products.
4 Yell For Help
Father‑daughter duo Johan and Jenna Otter were hiking in Glacier National Park when a grizzly charged. Johan threw himself between his daughter and the bear, then leapt down a steep slope to create distance.
After a terrifying fall that nearly sent him over a cliff, the bear turned its attention to Jenna, who played dead until the animal finally left. Hours of shouting attracted a passing hiker who called for help, saving both of them.
3 Beacons
In 2011, seven young men on an Alaskan survival course were ambushed by a grizzly. Joshua Berg was the first to be mauled; his teammates Sam Gottsegen and Noah Allaire suffered bites as the bear repeatedly attacked.
Equipped with personal distress beacons, the group activated the devices, gathered the injured into a tent, and awaited rescue. Helicopters eventually airlifted them to safety, proving that technology can be a lifesaver even when a bear attacks a whole party.
2 Stick Your Arm Down Its Throat
Elk hunter Chase Dellwo was startled by a sleeping grizzly. After the bear snapped a few bites, Dellwo recalled an article about large animals’ gag reflexes.
He thrust his arm into the bear’s mouth, forcing it to release its grip. Though he required stitches and staples, Dellwo walked away with a story that boosted his confidence—and his swagger.
1 Stab The Bear
On Kodiak Island, veteran hunter Gene Moe was processing a fresh buck when a hungry brown bear lunged at him. Treating the encounter like a boxing match, Moe dodged, ducked, and slashed with his knife.
After stabbing the bear’s neck several times and landing a punch below its eye, the animal staggered away. Moe later shot the bear dead, survived his injuries, and returned to his routine, proving that sheer grit can triumph over a ferocious foe.