why does playing dead work to avoid getting attacked by brown bears? Wouldn’t they want to eat you more if they thought you were dead and thus couldn’t fight back?
In: Biology
I once listened to a bear encounter expert explain the part of the explanation involves the evolutionary history of the species. Brown or grizzly bears originally evolved to live on the barren lands and open plains where there was little available cover. Their response to a threat is to beat it up and then run away (taking cubs if they have them in tow.). Black bears evolved in forested environments with ample cover, so they tend just to run away or send their cubs up a tree. No need to risk a direct confrontation with the threat. Of course this changes if the bear (typically a black bear) is in predatory mode, in which case the appropriate response is to present as formidable a target as possible, in hopes the animal will give up and look for an easier meal. Polar bears evolved in extreme arctic environments where food in the form of vegetable matter, insects and small rodents is not available. So they have to eat anything they come across. They have the size and strength to predate on seals, walrus and even small whales—humans are easy pickings.
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