A black bear stands tall amidst park visitors at Yellowstone National Park. While black bears are generally less aggressive than grizzlies, their larger numbers and scavenging habits may lead to closer encounters with humans.

In the heart of the wilderness, a recent viral video captured a unique moment - a woman standing still as a black bear sniffed her hair. The incident, while seemingly harmless, serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between humans and wildlife in national parks.

The National Park Service (NPS) has a long history of managing this balance. Waller, an NPS wildlife manager, is tasked with teaching bears to associate humans with discomfort. This is achieved through aversive conditioning methods, such as using sirens, bean bags, or even paintballs.

However, the early years of the National Park Service were not always so cautious. Visitors often took advantage of lax rules and laxer enforcement, deliberately dumping food waste and climbing onto chalet roofs to wait for bears to appear. For about 50 years after the 1916 inception of the National Park Service, this laxity led to numerous close encounters between humans and bears.

Thankfully, the situation has improved significantly since the 1990s. Bear-related injuries and fatalities in national parks have plummeted, and you are more likely to be killed by an asteroid than injured by a Yellowstone grizzly.

To maintain this balance, it's crucial to follow certain guidelines. Storing food in bear-safe containers, disposing of trash properly, making noise, and not feeding any wildlife are all important ways to prevent incidents with bears. Overcrowding, however, is bringing people into closer contact with wildlife, posing a potential risk.

Unfortunately, lax adherence to face mask and social distancing policies is another problem in national parks. Recently, a 72-year-old woman was gored by a bison at Yellowstone National Park after repeatedly approaching it, marking the second such incident since the park reopened in May.

The early 20th century saw an effort to protect natural lands and the bears that lived in them, initiated by hunters like Teddy Roosevelt. Yet, European colonizers had decimated bear populations and destroyed their forest habitat for agricultural use or as dangerous pests.

In the event of an aggressive bear encounter, it's important to know what to do. If it's a black bear, fight back, trying to land a blow on its nose. If it's a grizzly, curl into a ball, protect your neck, and play dead. In all cases, use bear spray during encounters, spraying it with steady, sweeping blows as if putting out a fire.

The use of bear-proof garbage cans is the best mitigation strategy to keep both bears and humans safe. Bears that associate humans with food will likely die because of it, either by being struck by vehicles or being euthanized by state wildlife authorities.

The "Night of the Grizzlies" in 1967, when two hikers were mauled to death in separate incidents in Glacier National Park, led to swift policy change at the NPS. Summer, the busiest season for U.S. national parks due to tourists eager to return to the outdoors after coronavirus lockdowns, serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining these policies.

As we move forward, it's clear that the relationship between humans and bears in national parks continues to evolve. By following guidelines and respecting these magnificent creatures, we can ensure a safer, more enjoyable experience for all.

A black bear stands tall amidst park visitors at Yellowstone National Park. While black bears are generally less aggressive than grizzlies, their larger numbers and scavenging habits may lead to closer encounters with humans.