On the drive home last evening, I spotted my first black bear of the spring heading up a steep incline on our mountain road. It’s that time of year.

Whether you live in the mountains and foothills, or plan on hiking any mountain trails this summer, it’s a good time for a quick refresher on how you should react if you encounter a bear.

• First of all, most black bears (the kind we have in Colorado) are afraid of humans, so that gives you a little more power than, say, if you were encountering a mountain lion. (Read about what to do if you encounter a mountain lion here.)
• In most cases, a bear will smell you and leave the area long before you see it.
• If you encounter a bear and it does not seem to notice you, quietly and slowly back away keeping your eyes on the bear to make sure he doesn’t begin to follow you.
• If the bear has spotted you, use your hands and arms to quietly make yourself look as large as you can. Talk in a normal, non-threatening voice as you back away, keeping your eyes on the direction of the animal at all times.
• If possible, back away on a downhill, not uphill, slope.
• If there are a number of people in your group, only one of you should be the bear communicator, as several voices, no matter how monotone, can sound intimidating to a bear.
• Make sure the bear has an escape route away from you, if possible. And avoid direct eye contact with the bear.
• Be especially cautious around a mama bear and a cub. Never, ever approach a cub, as the mother bear is most certainly nearby and will not be happy about your presence.
• Some sources say that the more noise a bear makes in your presence, the less dangerous it is. It’s simply telling you to back away and leave it alone. It doesn’t want to engage you in hand-to-hand combat at the moment. This is a hard fact to remember when a bear is growling in your direction.
• Also, if a bear stands on its back feet, this does not necessarily equal an act of aggression, either. The bear is probably just hoping to get a better look at you or smell you better.
• If a bear approaches you, and you realize he may actually make contact, stop and stand your ground. Now is the time to be aggressive. Wave your arms, throw things at the bear and yell like you mean it.
• Whatever you do, do not run. Bears will chase you. (Of course, there’s always the old adage that it’s okay to run as long as you run faster than the slower person in your group. Not recommended.)
• Climbing trees is also not a good idea, as bears are superb climbers and practice far more than you do, I bet.
• In the rare instance that a black bear does attack you, fight back. Use rocks, sticks, water bottles, your hands, whatever you can. Do not play dead. (Note: The advice of how to respond to an actual attack differs if you are being attacked by a grizzly bear. However, there is no evidence that grizzly bears are present in Colorado.)
• What about bear pepper spray? Experts say it can sometimes work better than a firearm to deter an attacking bear. It can also make the bear angrier if used incorrectly, and it’s certainly not 100 percent effective in warding off an attack. (One study found that it was 92 percent effective on black bears. I, for one, don’t want to see if I’m going to be in that other 8 percent.) If you’re going to use it, wildlife experts recommend you use it when the bear is 25 to 40 feet away.

Remember, black bears are not naturally aggressive wildlife. They would rather you just go on your way, and they will go about their day or night. But they are also an intelligent and strong animal. An encounter with a bear can be peaceful, or it can end in significant injury with one swipe of a bear paw.

Read more about Colorado black bears here.

Sources: Colorado Division of Wildlife, Sierra Club, MountainNature.com, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources