Bear Safety in the North Georgia Mountains
How to share the trail with black bears near Helen, from food storage to what to do face to face
The short answer
Black bears live all through the mountains around Helen, and almost every encounter ends with the bear walking away. Georgia DNR's black bear fact sheet says there are no recorded bear attacks on humans in the state, and no fatalities.
The thing that does go wrong is food. When a bear gets an easy meal from a trash can, a cooler or a campsite, it starts losing its fear of people, and bears that threaten public safety have to be euthanized. Most of bear safety is just not giving them the meal. The rules below come from Georgia DNR, BearWise and the National Park Service.
The basics before you go
Make noise
Most bears will avoid you if they hear you coming. Talk, clap or call out in thick brush, near streams and around berry bushes. Skip the earbuds.
Hike in a group
Groups are louder and smellier than a lone hiker, so bears notice them from farther away and tend to steer clear.
Keep your distance
Never feed or approach a bear for a photo. Keep dogs well away from bears.
Don't leave food out
Pet food, bird seed, grills, garbage and coolers all draw bears. Secure them.
If you meet a bear
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You see a bear that hasn't noticed you | Stay calm, give it room, and leave the area or take a detour. If you can't, wait until it moves off. Always leave the bear an escape route. |
| The bear has noticed you | Talk to it in a calm, low voice so it knows you're a human. Stand your ground, wave your arms slowly, and don't run. A bear standing on its hind legs is usually just trying to see or smell you. |
| It woofs, yawns, huffs or snaps its jaws | That's a bear telling you it's stressed. Keep your voice low, back away slowly and give it more space. |
| It charges | Bears sometimes bluff-charge and turn away at the last second. Hold your ground and don't run, since bears will chase fleeing animals. |
| A female with cubs is nearby | Never get between a mother and her cubs, and never approach them. Leave the way you came. |
| A black bear actually attacks | Don't play dead. Get to a car or building if you can; if not, fight back with anything at hand and aim for the face and muzzle. |
Sources: National Park Service bear safety page. Recommendations vary a little by park and region, so check posted signs. Carrying bear spray is the other defense the NPS describes; if you choose to carry it, buy an EPA-approved bear product and learn how to use it before you need it.
Storing food and trash
| Where you are | What to do |
|---|---|
| Car camping or at a cabin | Keep food, trash and scented items locked in your vehicle or inside, not in the tent or on the porch. Georgia DNR says a vehicle works for food storage when camping or hiking. |
| Backpacking | Use a bear-resistant canister if one is required or you have one, or hoist your food pack high and well away from tree trunks. |
| Cabin rentals | Use the bear-proof trash can if there is one, keep the lid latched, and don't leave bags out overnight. Take grills in or clean them. |
| Dogs | Keep them leashed. A dog running loose can lead an angry bear back to you. |
At home or in a rental cabin, the BearWise basics are the same: secure food, garbage and recycling, bring in pet food, clean the grill, and take bird feeders down while bears are active. See BearWise.org for the full set.
Rules on public land
The Forest Service sets its own rules for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, and they can change. Backpackers camping overnight along stretches of the Appalachian Trail near Blood Mountain may be required to carry a bear-resistant canister. Check the Forest Service alerts page for current orders before an overnight trip. Georgia State Parks campgrounds such as Black Rock Mountain and Vogel may post their own food-storage rules, so read the signs at check-in.
Bears around Helen
Bears do wander into mountain towns that have unsecured trash. If you're staying in a cabin or camper near Helen, bring trash inside at night and keep food out of cars with open windows. For day hikes, the same habits that keep bears away are the ones that make a walk pleasant: a group, a bit of conversation, and snacks sealed in a pack.
To learn more about the animals themselves, our North Georgia black bears guide covers biology, seasons and where to look. For wider wildlife, see the wildlife guide and wildlife watching tips. For hikes and parks mentioned here, see Unicoi State Park and Smithgall Woods.
Common questions
Are there bear attacks in Georgia?
Georgia DNR's black bear fact sheet says there are no recorded bear attacks on humans in Georgia and no fatalities. Encounters are common enough that you should still store food properly and keep your distance.
Should I run from a black bear?
No. The National Park Service says not to run, since bears will chase a fleeing animal. Stand your ground, talk calmly, wave your arms slowly and back away.
Should I play dead if a black bear attacks?
No. The National Park Service says not to play dead with a black bear. Try to reach a car or building, and if you can't, fight back with whatever you have, aiming at the face and muzzle.
Related Imagery from Around Helen
