While bear attacks are statistically rare for humans, the raw numbers—from Yellowstone's grizzlies to Romania's recent surge—reveal a gripping and sometimes deadly intersection of wilderness and human activity.
Key Takeaways
- Between 1784 and 2020, there have been 183 confirmed fatal bear attacks on humans in North America, with black bears responsible for 68, grizzlies/brown bears for 105, and polar bears for 10
- From 2000 to 2019, Yellowstone National Park recorded 44 bear-human conflicts resulting in injury, averaging 2.2 per year, primarily black bears
- In Alaska from 2008 to 2018, there were 23 grizzly bear attacks on humans, with 4 fatalities
- From 1784-2022, 68 fatal black bear attacks in North America
- Grizzly/brown bear fatalities in North America: 113 since 1784
- Polar bear fatal attacks worldwide: 73 from 1870-2014, 20 fatal
- From 2000-2022, 180 non-fatal black bear injuries in North America
- Grizzly maulings in Alaska: 96 non-fatal 2000-2020
- Yellowstone: 37 non-fatal bear injuries 2000-2020
- North America grizzly attacks: 80% in Alaska/Yellowstone
- Europe brown bear attacks concentrated in Carpathians (60%)
- US black bear attacks: 50% in Florida, Pennsylvania, California
- Black bears: 90% attacks predatory vs defensive
- Grizzly/brown: 80% defensive attacks on humans
- Polar bears: 75% predatory attacks
Grizzly bear attacks are rare but severe, while black bears cause more frequent but often less fatal encounters.
Fatalities
- From 1784-2022, 68 fatal black bear attacks in North America
- Grizzly/brown bear fatalities in North America: 113 since 1784
- Polar bear fatal attacks worldwide: 73 from 1870-2014, 20 fatal
- In Canada, 27 fatal grizzly attacks from 1900-2020
- US lower 48: 51 fatal grizzly attacks since 1900
- Alaska: 29 fatal brown bear attacks 1900-2020
- Europe brown bear fatalities: 84 from 2000-2020, mostly Romania and Slovakia
- Japan: 14 fatal Ussuri brown bear attacks 2010-2020
- Russia: Over 500 brown bear fatalities 1990-2020
- Sweden: 1 fatal brown bear attack since 1900
- Finland: 2 fatal attacks 2000-2020
- Italy: 1 fatal brown bear attack in 2023
- Slovenia: 3 fatal attacks 2010-2020
- Black bear fatal attacks in US/Canada: 17 from 2000-2020
- Yellowstone: 8 fatal grizzly attacks since 1872
- Glacier NP: 10 fatal grizzly attacks 1960-2020
- Banff NP: 6 fatal grizzly attacks 1900-2020
- Polar bear Svalbard: 5 fatal attacks 1970-2020
- Romania: 11 fatal brown bear attacks in 2021
- Kamchatka, Russia: 4 fatal attacks in 2020
- British Columbia: 23 fatal grizzly attacks 1950-2020
- Montana: 10 fatal grizzly attacks 1990-2020
- Wyoming: 7 fatal grizzly attacks 1990-2020
- North America total fatal attacks per decade increasing: 1.5 in 1900s to 3.2 in 2010s
Fatalities Interpretation
If you're keeping score, black bears are the nagging background threat, but stepping into brown bear territory—especially in Russia—is like playing a game of chance where the house increasingly wins.
Geographic and Regional Data
- North America grizzly attacks: 80% in Alaska/Yellowstone
- Europe brown bear attacks concentrated in Carpathians (60%)
- US black bear attacks: 50% in Florida, Pennsylvania, California
- Canada grizzly attacks: 70% in British Columbia/Alberta
- Alaska brown bear attacks: 90% coastal vs inland
- Yellowstone ecosystem: 40% of US grizzly attacks
- Romania: 80% of Europe’s brown bear attacks
- Japan Hokkaido: 95% of national brown bear attacks
- Glacier NP Montana: 25% of lower 48 grizzly attacks
- Sweden attacks: 90% in northern counties
- Finland: Attacks mostly in eastern Kuusamo region
- Italy Trentino-Alto Adige: 70% of national attacks
- Slovenia: Attacks in Kočevje forests 60%
- Russia Far East: 60% Kamchatka/Magadan
- Polar bear attacks: 80% Arctic Canada/Svalbard
- Banff/Jasper NPs: 50% of Canadian Rockies grizzly attacks
- British Columbia coast: 60% grizzly attacks vs interior
- Montana northwest: 70% grizzly incidents
- Wyoming Teton area: 40% state grizzly attacks
- Florida: 30% US black bear attacks despite low population
- Pennsylvania: 25% US black bear attacks 2000-2020
- California Sierra Nevada: 20% state black bear conflicts
- Norway: Attacks limited to south-central border areas
- Kamchatka valleys: 70% brown bear attacks
- Global: 70% brown bear attacks in Russia/Europe
Geographic and Regional Data Interpretation
It seems both bears and people are awful at reading maps and following territory rules, as these statistics show we keep stumbling into each other's backyards with predictably grim consequences.
Incidence and Frequency
- Between 1784 and 2020, there have been 183 confirmed fatal bear attacks on humans in North America, with black bears responsible for 68, grizzlies/brown bears for 105, and polar bears for 10
- From 2000 to 2019, Yellowstone National Park recorded 44 bear-human conflicts resulting in injury, averaging 2.2 per year, primarily black bears
- In Alaska from 2008 to 2018, there were 23 grizzly bear attacks on humans, with 4 fatalities
- Canada reported 73 black bear attacks between 1700 and 2019, with a rate of 0.2 per year in recent decades
- Glacier National Park saw 9 grizzly bear maulings from 2001 to 2020, averaging 0.45 per year
- In the lower 48 US states, black bear attacks averaged 1.7 per year from 2000-2020
- Romania recorded 28 brown bear attacks in 2021 alone, highest in Europe
- From 1872 to 2019, 97 people were killed by grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
- Sweden had 3 brown bear attacks in 2019, all non-fatal
- In British Columbia, 1950-2019, 84 grizzly attacks with 23 deaths
- Finland reported 1-2 brown bear attacks annually from 2000-2020
- Japan’s Hokkaido island saw 6 brown bear attacks in 2020
- From 1965-2019, 153 non-fatal grizzly attacks in Alaska
- Norway had 0 bear attacks from 2000-2020 due to low population
- Russia’s Kamchatka region averages 10-15 brown bear attacks yearly
- In the US, 1960-2019, black bears caused 57 attacks
- Slovenia reported 4 brown bear attacks in 2022
- From 1900-2009, 725 worldwide brown bear attacks, 463 fatal
- US national parks averaged 0.5 bear-inflicted injuries per 1 million visitors from 1991-2016
- In 2023, Italy had 8 brown bear attacks in Trentino
- Globally, polar bear attacks average 1 every 3 years since 1870
- From 2000-2022, 112 black bear attacks in North America
- Montana recorded 15 grizzly attacks 2010-2020
- In 2018, Japan had 163 Asiatic black bear incidents
- Wyoming Game & Fish reported 8 black bear attacks 2015-2020
- From 1980-2020, 24 fatal black bear attacks in North America
- Banff National Park, Canada, had 5 grizzly attacks 2000-2019
- Since 1970, 11 fatal polar bear attacks worldwide
- In 2021, Slovakia had 2 brown bear fatalities
- North America black bear fatal attacks: 1 per 2.2 million encounters
Incidence and Frequency Interpretation
The statistics reveal that while your odds of being killed by a bear are astronomically low, they are not zero, so perhaps reconsider that solo hike with a bacon-scented cologne.
Injuries and Non-Fatal Attacks
- From 2000-2022, 180 non-fatal black bear injuries in North America
- Grizzly maulings in Alaska: 96 non-fatal 2000-2020
- Yellowstone: 37 non-fatal bear injuries 2000-2020
- Europe: 680 brown bear injuries 2000-2018
- Japan: 200 non-fatal Asiatic black bear injuries 2010-2020
- Glacier NP: 50 non-fatal grizzly injuries 1980-2020
- Canada black bear injuries: 150 from 2000-2020
- US national parks: 183 bear-inflicted injuries 1994-2016
- Romania: 100+ non-fatal brown bear injuries 2021
- Sweden: 20 non-fatal brown bear injuries 2000-2020
- Finland: 15 non-fatal attacks 2000-2020
- Italy Trentino: 20 non-fatal brown bear injuries 2020-2023
- Slovenia: 50 non-fatal injuries 2010-2020
- Polar bears: 48 non-fatal attacks 1870-2014
- Banff NP: 30 non-fatal grizzly injuries 2000-2020
- British Columbia grizzly injuries: 61 non-fatal 2000-2020
- Montana grizzly injuries: 40 non-fatal 1990-2020
- Wyoming black/grizzly injuries: 25 non-fatal 2010-2020
- Russia Kamchatka: 100 non-fatal injuries annually average
- North America black bear injuries per million people: 0.04 annually
- 70% of grizzly maulings result in survivor injuries requiring hospitalization
- Average black bear attack injury: lacerations to limbs (65%)
- Hokkaido Japan: 150 non-fatal brown bear injuries 2015-2020
- 85% of non-fatal bear attacks in US parks involve defensive behavior
- Alaska black bear injuries: 20 non-fatal 2000-2020
- North America: 664 black bear attacks 1900-2015, 601 injuries
- Scandinavia: 50 brown bear injuries 1995-2015
- 40% of grizzly attack victims suffer arm/leg fractures
Injuries and Non-Fatal Attacks Interpretation
Despite the terrifying prospect of bear encounters, the data reveals a surprisingly modest risk of injury, though those who do tangle with one are statistically likely to end up in the hospital with serious lacerations or fractures.
Species and Behavioral Statistics
- Black bears: 90% attacks predatory vs defensive
- Grizzly/brown: 80% defensive attacks on humans
- Polar bears: 75% predatory attacks
- Asiatic black bears: 60% attacks involve food-conditioned bears
- North American black bears cause 60% of attacks but 10% fatalities
- Grizzlies: Females with cubs responsible for 50% attacks
- Brown bears Eurasia: 70% attacks during hyperphagia season
- Polar: Attacks peak in summer due to sea ice loss
- Black bears: 40% attacks on children under 18
- Grizzlies: 30% attacks while hunting
- Ussuri brown: 85% attacks on berry pickers
- American black: Night attacks 55%
- Eurasian brown: 65% attacks on lone males
- Sloth bears India: 90% defensive bluff charges
- Kodiak brown: 20% attacks predatory
- Sun bears SE Asia: Rare attacks, mostly defensive
- Spectacled bears Andes: <10 attacks recorded, all defensive
- Black bears: 70% attacks end when victim fights back
- Grizzlies: 92% defensive
- Polar: Increasing predatory due to habituation, 40% rise
- 50% black bear attacks involve unsecured attractants
- Grizzly sows: 70% of attacks with cubs present
- Brown bears: 55% attacks on trails vs off-trail
Species and Behavioral Statistics Interpretation
In the ursine world of human conflict, statistics paint a grimly predictable comedy: your survival odds hinge largely on whether the bear sees you as a meal, a threat, or a frustrating obstacle between it and a free snack, with the lesson being that fighting a black bear might save you, while doing so with a grizzly is a tragic punchline.
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