What Should You Do If a Wild Animal Starts Chasing You?

Never run from a wild animal that’s chasing you. Running triggers the chase instinct in most predators and prey-defense mechanisms in many large animals. Instead, your response depends entirely on which animal is chasing you:

• Bears (Grizzly/Brown): Stand still, speak calmly, back away slowly. If attacked, play dead lying flat on your stomach with hands behind your neck.
• Bears (Black): Stand your ground, make yourself look bigger, yell loudly, throw objects near it. If attacked, fight back aggressively targeting the face.
• Mountain Lions/Cougars: Face the animal, maintain eye contact, make yourself appear larger, back away slowly while making noise. If attacked, fight back with everything you have.
• Dogs: Stay calm, avoid eye contact, don’t run. Use objects as barriers. If bitten, don’t pull away—move with the bite motion to minimize tearing.
• Snakes: Back away slowly without sudden movements. If bitten, keep the wound below heart level, immobilize the limb, and get to a hospital immediately without trying to suck out venom.

Your survival depends on knowing what you’re dealing with before you react.

Understanding Why Animals Chase Humans

Animals don’t wake up planning to attack people. They’re not villains in a horror movie. Most wildlife encounters that turn dangerous happen because the animal feels threatened, protecting territory, guarding young, or defending a food source.

Research shows that wild animal attacks on humans are exceptionally rare. According to studies analyzing Centers for Disease Control data from 2008-2015, most animal-related deaths in the United States aren’t from wild predators at all. Farm animals, dogs, and stinging insects pose far greater statistical risks to humans than bears, mountain lions, or wolves.

When a wild animal does chase you, it’s usually reacting to something you did—whether you meant to or not. You may have surprised it on a trail, gotten between a mother and her babies, or wandered too close to a fresh kill. Understanding this changes everything about how you respond.

The Universal Rules That Apply to Most Wild Animals

Before we get into specific animals, there are principles that work across almost all dangerous wildlife encounters:

Stay calm and don’t panic. Your brain needs to work properly right now. Panic makes you move erratically, which can escalate the situation. Take a breath. Assess what’s happening. You have more control than you think.

Never turn your back and run. This is the hardest rule to follow because every instinct in your body will scream at you to sprint. Resist it. Running activates the predatory chase response in carnivores and the defensive charge in herbivores. You can’t outrun these animals anyway—bears can hit 30 mph, mountain lions can sprint at 50 mph, and even rhinos can charge at 37 mph.

Make yourself as big as possible. Raise your arms, open your jacket, stand on your toes. Animals evaluate threats based on size. A larger presence can convince them you’re not worth the risk.

Use loud, firm verbal commands. Talk to the animal in a strong, calm voice. Not screaming—that sounds like prey in distress. Think more like a confident command: “No, bear. Go away.” This works because it signals you’re a human, not typical prey.

Back away slowly while facing the animal. Give it space to leave. Most animals just want you gone from their territory. Don’t make sudden movements.

Never get between an animal and its young or food. If you spot cubs, fawns, or a carcass, quietly move in the opposite direction before you’re noticed.

What to Do When a Bear Starts Chasing You

Bears represent one of the biggest fears for people who spend time outdoors, but they’re also one of the most misunderstood. The good news: bear attacks are incredibly rare. The challenging news: your response must change based on which type of bear you’re dealing with.

Grizzly Bears and Brown Bears

Grizzlies are the defensive linebackers of the bear world. When they chase you, it’s almost always because they feel threatened—you surprised them, got too close to their cubs, or they’re defending food.

What to do:

• Stop moving immediately. Do not run.
• Speak in a calm, low voice while slowly raising your arms to appear larger.
• If the bear continues approaching, use bear spray when it’s about 30 feet away.
• Back away at an angle (not directly) while keeping the bear in sight.

If a grizzly makes contact and attacks you, this is where things get counterintuitive. Play dead. Research from Yellowstone National Park found that visitors who played dead during grizzly encounters sustained significantly fewer injuries compared to those who fought back.

Playing dead properly:

• Lie flat on your stomach with your legs spread wide (harder to flip you over)
• Clasp your hands behind your neck to protect it
• If you have a backpack, leave it on for protection
• Stay completely still even if the bear swats or bites you
• Remain motionless for at least 20-30 minutes after the bear leaves

The logic is simple: grizzlies are defending themselves or their territory. Once you’re “dead” and no longer a threat, they typically leave. One study documented that this defensive strategy is effective in roughly 75% of grizzly encounters.

Exception: If the attack continues for more than a few minutes or the bear starts eating you (extremely rare predatory behavior), you must fight back with everything you have. Aim for the face and eyes.

Black Bears

Black bears are the more common but less aggressive cousin. They’re generally more afraid of you than you are of them. When a black bear does chase you, it’s often a bluff charge—they run at you but stop or veer away at the last second.

What to do:

• Stand your ground. Do not back away or play dead.
• Make yourself appear as large and intimidating as possible.
• Yell loudly and aggressively. Throw rocks or sticks near the bear (not at it).
• If it keeps approaching, get more aggressive with your noise and movements.

If a black bear attacks, you fight back with absolute fury. Black bears that actually attack (not just bluff charge) are often exhibiting predatory behavior. You need to convince them you’re not worth the trouble.

Fighting back:

• Punch, kick, and hit the bear’s face and snout
• Use any object available—rocks, sticks, trekking poles
• Aim for sensitive areas: eyes, nose, ears
• Don’t stop fighting until the bear retreats

Studies show that people who fought back against attacking black bears had better outcomes than those who played dead. One 2008 research study found bear spray to be 92% effective in deterring bear attacks, with 98% of people carrying bear spray escaping close encounters uninjured.

How to Tell Them Apart

This matters because you’re choosing opposite strategies. Grizzlies have a distinctive shoulder hump, a dished face profile, and small rounded ears. Black bears lack the shoulder hump, have a straight facial profile, and larger pointed ears. Color isn’t reliable—both species can be brown or black.

Surviving a Mountain Lion Attack

Mountain lions (also called cougars, pumas, or panthers) are the stealth hunters of North America. Attacks on humans are extraordinarily rare—fewer than 125 documented cases since the early 20th century. When they do happen, it’s often because you’ve stumbled into their territory or they’ve mistaken you for natural prey.

Mountain lions hunt by ambush. If you see one, that’s actually good news—it means you’re not being hunted. Predatory mountain lions don’t let you see them coming.

If a mountain lion starts approaching you:

• Stop immediately. Do not run, bike, or jog away.
• Face the animal and maintain direct eye contact. This signals you see them.
• Stand tall and make yourself as large as possible. Raise your arms, open your jacket, hold items above your head.
• Speak loudly and firmly. Sound aggressive and confident, not scared.
• If you have children or small pets, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.
• Back away slowly if it’s safe to do so, keeping your eyes on the lion.

If the mountain lion keeps coming closer:

• Get more aggressive. Shout, yell, use profanity—whatever makes you sound intimidating.
• Throw rocks, sticks, or anything you can grab without bending down or turning away.
• Wave your arms and trekking poles.
• If hiking with others, group together to appear as one large entity.

If a mountain lion attacks:

Fight back immediately and with everything you have. Do not play dead. Do not curl up. Mountain lions typically attack by trying to bite the neck and head of prey.

Defense tactics:

• Protect your neck and throat at all costs
• Punch, kick, and strike the animal’s face, eyes, and nose
• Use any weapon available—knives, trekking poles, rocks, water bottles
• Gouge at the eyes if you can
• Make as much noise as possible to attract help
• Stay on your feet if you can—don’t let it pin you down

One remarkable case from 2019 involved a Colorado trail runner who killed an attacking juvenile mountain lion by stepping on its neck and suffocating it. While extraordinary, it demonstrates that fighting back can work. The key is relentless aggression aimed at sensitive areas.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife research shows that mountain lions can reach 50 mph in a sprint and leap up to 40 feet horizontally. You cannot outrun or outclimb them. Standing your ground and appearing intimidating is your best strategy.

What to Do If a Dog Starts Chasing or Attacking You

Dogs represent a much more common threat than wild animals. Research analyzing animal-related fatalities in the United States from 2008-2015 showed that farm animals and dogs cause the vast majority of serious injuries and deaths—far more than wild predators.

The approach for aggressive dogs differs from wildlife because dogs are domesticated and respond to different cues.

Before an attack:

• Stay calm and still. Avoid direct eye contact (it’s threatening to dogs).
• Don’t scream or make sudden movements.
• Keep your hands close to your body in fists to protect your fingers.
• Speak in a firm, calm voice and give commands like “No” or “Go home.”
• Position yourself sideways to the dog rather than facing it directly.

If a dog starts charging:

• Create a barrier. Put a backpack, purse, jacket, or bicycle between you and the dog.
• Find higher ground if possible—climb on a car hood, rock, or low tree branch.
• If you have pepper spray, use it when the dog is about 10 feet away.
• Do not run—this triggers chase instinct.

During an attack:

• Give the dog something to bite that isn’t you—a jacket, backpack, stick, or notebook.
• If bitten, do not pull away. This creates tearing injuries. Instead, move with the direction of the bite.
• Protect your face, neck, and chest at all costs.
• If knocked down and the attack is severe, curl into a fetal position with your hands protecting your neck and head.
• Stay as quiet as possible—screaming can increase the dog’s arousal.

Fighting back:

If you must fight, target the dog’s sensitive areas:

• Eyes and nose
• Throat
• Back of the head and ribs

A former Secret Service K-9 handler who has extensive experience with attack dogs offers critical advice: if you’re alone and a dog has bitten you and won’t let go, grab its collar and twist it to restrict breathing. When the dog can’t breathe, it has to release or pass out.

Once the dog backs off, stand up slowly, face the animal, and back away. Don’t turn and run even then—wait until you’re at a safe distance.

Snake Bites: What Actually Works

Snakes are responsible for approximately 100,000 deaths globally each year, making them statistically the deadliest animals on this list. In the United States, about 8,000 people are bitten by snakes annually, resulting in roughly 5 deaths.

Here’s the critical part: most snake bites happen when people try to kill or handle the snake. The second most common scenario is accidentally stepping on one.

If a snake is near you:

• Freeze. Don’t make sudden movements.
• Back away slowly without turning your back.
• Give the snake space to escape—they want to leave too.
• Stomp your feet if hiking to create vibrations that warn snakes of your approach.

If bitten:

Forget everything you’ve seen in movies. Don’t cut the wound. Don’t try to suck out venom. Don’t apply ice. Don’t use a tourniquet. These old folk remedies cause more harm than good.

Proper snake bite first aid:

1. Call 911 immediately. This is a medical emergency.
2. Move away from the snake to avoid a second bite.
3. Keep the bitten area still and below heart level if possible.
4. Remove rings, watches, or tight clothing near the bite site before swelling begins.
5. Wash the wound with soap and water.
6. Cover with a clean, dry bandage.
7. Mark the time of the bite and the extent of swelling every 15 minutes.
8. Try to remember what the snake looked like (color, patterns, head shape) but don’t try to catch or kill it.

For certain neurotoxic snakes (like those in Australia), pressure immobilization bandaging is recommended, but this technique can worsen tissue damage from viper bites. Know your local snakes or call poison control (1-800-222-1222) for guidance.

The majority of venomous snake bites in North America come from pit vipers (rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths). These have hemotoxic venom that causes pain, swelling, and tissue damage. Coral snakes have neurotoxic venom affecting the nervous system.

Key point: Even if you’re not sure the snake was venomous, seek medical attention. About 20% of venomous snake bites are “dry bites” where no venom is injected, but you can’t know for certain. Modern antivenom is highly effective when administered quickly.

Other Wild Animals: Quick Reference Guide

Moose and Elk

These massive herbivores injure more people in some regions than bears. They’re especially aggressive during mating season (fall) and when protecting calves (spring).

• Keep at least 50 yards distance
• If one charges, get behind a tree or large rock
• Moose can’t kick sideways, so position accordingly
• Run away if you can reach safety—they’re not pursuing prey
• Curl into a ball if knocked down, protecting your head

Wild Boar and Feral Pigs

Surprisingly dangerous with sharp tusks and aggressive temperament.

• Back away slowly if you encounter one
• Climb something—they can’t climb well
• If charged, get to higher ground or behind a tree
• Protect your legs and torso from tusk strikes

Wolves and Coyotes

Attacks are extremely rare but can happen, especially with habituated animals or rabid individuals.

• Make yourself large and loud
• Throw objects near them
• Back away while facing them
• If attacked, fight back targeting eyes and snout
• Seek medical attention for rabies exposure

Alligators and Crocodiles

These reptiles have extremely powerful jaws but are ambush hunters.

• If on land, run in a straight line (zigzagging is a myth)
• Make noise while running
• If grabbed in water, fight back by attacking eyes and throat
• Never swim in waters with warning signs

Prevention: Not Getting Chased in the First Place

The best strategy for surviving a wild animal chase is never experiencing one. Most dangerous encounters result from simple mistakes:

Make noise while hiking. Talk, sing, or use a whistle periodically. This gives animals warning to avoid you. Most wildlife wants nothing to do with humans.

Stay alert. Don’t wear headphones on trails. Watch where you step. Be especially cautious around blind corners, dense vegetation, and near water sources.

Travel in groups. You’re much less likely to be targeted by predators when in groups. There’s also safety in numbers if something does go wrong.

Keep children and pets close. Small, fast-moving targets trigger predatory responses. Don’t let kids run ahead on trails or pets wander off-leash in wild areas.

Store food properly. Use bear canisters, hang food bags, and never keep food in your tent. Food attracts animals to your campsite.

Know the area. Research what animals live where you’re going. Dawn and dusk are prime times for many predators. Adjust your schedule accordingly.

Carry deterrents. Bear spray is proven highly effective—92% effective according to studies—and works on other animals too. Keep it accessible, not buried in your pack.

Respect warning signs. If an animal gives warning signs (growling, huffing, stomping, laying ears back, showing teeth), you’ve gotten too close. Back away immediately.

The Bigger Picture: Putting Risk in Perspective

Here’s something that might surprise you: you’re more likely to die from a bee sting, dog bite, or farm animal kick than from a wild predator. According to research from Stanford University analyzing CDC data, venomous animals account for about 86 deaths annually in the United States, but most are from insects, not large predators.

Between 2018 and 2023, there were only about 26 fatal bear attacks in all of North America. Over the same period, dogs killed hundreds of people, primarily children under 4 years old and adults over 65.

This isn’t meant to make you afraid of dogs or complacent about bears. It’s about understanding actual risk versus perceived risk. The statistics show that:

• You should be more cautious around domestic animals than wildlife
• Your biggest outdoor risks are accidents (falls, drowning, hypothermia) not animal attacks
• Proper preparation and behavior prevent the vast majority of negative wildlife encounters

What to Do Immediately After an Animal Attack

Medical care comes first. Even if injuries seem minor, see a doctor. Animal bites carry serious infection risks. Dog bites can harbor multiple bacteria species. Wild animal encounters may require rabies prophylaxis.

Document everything. Take photos of injuries, write down details of the encounter, note the location and time. If it’s a dog attack, get owner information and vaccination records.

Report the incident. Contact local wildlife authorities for wild animal encounters or animal control for domestic animals. This helps prevent future attacks and tracks animal behavior patterns.

Follow wound care instructions precisely. Infection is a serious risk with any animal bite. Clean wounds as directed, take all prescribed antibiotics, watch for signs of infection (increased redness, swelling, warmth, pus, fever).

The Psychology of Staying Calm

Everything in this guide assumes you can keep your head when adrenaline floods your system. That’s easier said than done. Your body will scream at you to run. Your hands might shake. Time might feel distorted.

Practice mental preparation:

• Visualize encounters before they happen. Play through scenarios in your mind.
• Take deep breaths to slow your heart rate and clear your thinking.
• Focus on what you can control: your voice, your posture, your movements.
• Remember that most encounters end without injury when you respond appropriately.

The people who survive dangerous animal encounters aren’t necessarily the strongest or fastest. They’re the ones who stay calm enough to make good decisions and follow through on the right actions.

Your Survival Depends on Knowledge

Wild animals aren’t monsters. They’re not out to get you. They’re navigating their world trying to survive, just like you are in yours. When those worlds collide, the outcome depends largely on your response.

Running might work in movies. In real life, it’s often the worst possible choice. Standing your ground against a black bear but playing dead for a grizzly seems backward until you understand their different behaviors. Fighting a mountain lion but staying calm with a dog feels contradictory until you learn how each animal processes threats.

The thread running through all of this is simple: knowledge saves lives. Know your animals. Know your terrain. Know what to do before you need to do it. The difference between a great outdoor story and a tragedy often comes down to those few seconds when you choose how to react.