(CNN) -(CNN) - You're on the trail on a beautiful fall day. You suddenly spot the bear. And it has spotted you too. Do you know what to do?
Beth Pratt sure would.
She once ran on the Old Gardiner Road Trail in Yellowstone National Park, enjoying running in the wild. The excitement was over when she spotted the grizzly bear munching on flowers.
"I put my foot down. It sat on its hind limbs and stared at me. I was sure that it was not a threat," she told CNN Travel. "I'm not lying the paw waved at me like it was trying to say, 'go to your destination, then went back for a meal."
"And I walked away slowly and removed some distance from us. And the confrontation concluded in a perfect way."
In terms of handling bears Pratt has a something or two that he can learn from most of us, however.
She's an executive director for the California Regional Executive Director of the National Wildlife Federation, a position she's held for over 10 years. She was also a part of Yellowstone for a number of yearsand witnessed nine grizzlies on one day.
She is an author on "When Mountain Lions are neighbors," which addresses how humans can coexist alongside wildlife California. The book also has a chapter on bears.
She lives near the boundary of Yosemite National Park, and bears are likely to pass through her property, such as the one in the video above in late September.
There is a sense of excitement in Pratt's voice when she discusses her bear-friendly tips and tips to ensure that bear/human interactions are enjoyable and not risky.
"A Wild bear can be an amazing sight to behold. It's amazing to observe bears on the open field. I've never had a bad encounter with bears. What I strive to get individuals to believe is that there is respect not fear, of bears. The bear will usually want to stay clear of encounters."
Bears are in the news
Bear attacks aren't common, Pratt and US National Park Service websites indicate that they happen, however, they do occur.
This month in North Carolina, a couple's dog unleashed by their pet attracted unwelcome attention from a bear while they were enjoying a picnic at the Blue Ridge Parkway. In the past few days an individual hunter was bitten by a grizzly bear in Wyoming by female grizzlies who was playing with her cubs.
In both instances, victims survived the attacks. In Slovakia, the European state that is Slovakia the victim was a man died after being bitten by a bear in June.
Each illustrates the fact that being rare doesn't mean never.
Feasts for beasts
It's a great season to brush up on bear facts and security since many bears are in a stage called hyperphagia, Pratt said. "It's an era during the fall when bears eat anything and everything in order to fill up to prepare for hibernation."
She also noted that mountain lions can be relatively very picky eaters. They are not bears.
"They consume all kinds of things they can find: Ants. Roadkill. Flowers. Nuts. Unfortunately, human food isn't secure. Our food is extremely attractive to them. It's simple calories."
Add to that the reality the the national parks have set record attendance in 2021, and then refusing to accept guests, and you've got yourself a an opportunity for problems.
"If there are more individuals taking advantage of public land and more people are part of the mixture, there's more chance for conflict and confrontation. It worries me a bit," Pratt said.
The trick is to prepare and this is the point at which Pratt and other people who are experts come in.
The first rule of the bear fight club Do not fight
The most effective strategy is to stay out of danger by tempting or inciting wild bears. Doing things like offering an animal food or to approach cute cubs are a bad ways to initiate a conversation. It's only a way of attracting trouble.
This US National Park Service website provides information on each bear encounter is unique, however, there are general guidelines to follow for most situations.
First , remain in a safe distance in the event that you encounter bears. Avoid approaching it, and allow it plenty of space to move away from you. Yellowstone recommends staying at minimum 100 feet (300 yards or 91 metres) away. Shenandoah National Park in Virginia recommends that you stay at 200' (61 metres) for the black bears it has.
It is possible to be in trouble with the law and the bears when you get too close to. In the last week an individual was sentenced four days in federal detention and fined for being too close to the bear and her cubs in Yellowstone. read more..
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