Many people who spend time outdoors in bear country wonder if playing music can help deter bears and keep them away. Music is sometimes suggested as a potential bear deterrent, along with things like bear spray and air horns. But does music really work to prevent bear encounters? Let’s take a look at what the experts and evidence have to say.
What experts say about using music to deter bears
Wildlife experts generally agree that music is not an effective bear deterrent and should not be relied upon to prevent bear encounters or attacks. Here’s a summary of what major organizations and bear experts recommend regarding music as a bear deterrent:
- The National Park Service does not recommend music to deter bears, stating “Portable air horns, bear bells, or music” are ineffective and should not be relied upon.
- The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service states: “Do not rely on…noise to scare bears away. These have not been proven to be effective deterrents.”
- Bear biologist Tom Smith told National Geographic: “I have found no evidence that any type of sound, regardless of how loud or variable, provides an adequate deterrent to change bear behavior and have never recommended them for bear deterrence.”
- A research paper on bear deterrents concluded: “Music was ineffective at deterring Bears in 2 studies…indicating music should not be used as a deterrent.”
The consensus among experts is clear – music should not be relied upon to deter bear attacks or prevent unwanted bear encounters. Wildlife organizations unanimously agree that music does not work to scare bears away.
Why music doesn’t work to deter bears
There are several reasons why playing music is not effective at preventing bear encounters:
- Bears have different hearing ranges – Bear hearing is similar to human hearing, so music that seems loud to us may not impact bears at all.
- Bears can habituate to noise – Like most animals, bears can become used to regular and repeated sounds in their environment. Loud noises may startle them at first, but they eventually learn to ignore repeated sounds.
- Music lacks threatening stimuli – Things like bear spray and air horns include sharp, sudden sounds that mimic warning calls. Music lacks these threatening audio cues.
- Smell is more important to bears – A bear’s sense of smell is 7 times greater than a dog’s. Even loud music won’t mask human scents that attract bears.
For these reasons, many experts believe bears either ignore human music completely, or may become curious about its source – but not deterred from it.
Case studies on music and bears
There have been a few small studies that further confirm music is ineffective at deterring bears:
- A 2008 study tested audio deterrents on black bears in Yosemite National Park. The researchers concluded “We found no evidence that any type of sound had a deterrent effect” including recordings of rock music, human voices, classical music, and predator calls.
- In 2009, researchers tested whether pipe organ music could deter polar bears from an energy complex on Alaska’s North Slope. They found the pipe organ music “did not prevent polar bears from approaching the facility.”
- A study on acoustic deterrents for urban coyotes also tested popular music genres including rock, country, jazz, classical, and Latin music. The researchers found coyotes showed no measurable behavioral responses to any type of music.
While limited, these studies support the expert consensus that music is ineffective for deterring bears. The sounds simply don’t include alarming audio cues that would make bears avoid an area.
Music May Attract Bears
Not only is music ineffective at deterring bears, but it can sometimes pique a bear’s curiosity and actually attract them to the source of the sound.
Here are some examples of bears being drawn to music from news reports:
- In June 2017, a bear wandered onto a family’s deck in Avon, CO while they were hosting a birthday party. The bear was apparently drawn in by a live band performing on the deck.
- In September 2019, a bear was spotted on a security camera swinging in a backyard hammock in Gatlinburg, TN while gentle piano music played from a nearby hot tub.
- In August 2022, a bear climbed a tree and watched an outdoor opera performance for 30 minutes at the Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico before wandering off.
Although anecdotal, these reports suggest music may sometimes pique a bear’s natural curiosity and draw them closer to investigate the strange sounds.
Effective Bear Deterrents
While music should not be relied upon, there are some proven methods to deter bears and reduce the likelihood of an encounter:
- Bear spray – Pepper spray designed for bears can stop a charging bear by irritating its sensitive nose and eyes when sprayed at close range.
- Air horns – Loud air horns which produce sudden bursts of sound at up to 120 decibels can startle bears and cause them to retreat.
- Bear-resistant food canisters – Storing food in certified bear-resistant canisters prevents bears from smelling and gaining access to attractants.
- Securing trash – Keeping trash and potential food scraps locked up and unavailable to bears reduces the chance of an encounter near homes.
Relying on proven deterrents like these is the best way to discourage bears and avoid potentially dangerous interactions. The right combination of deterrents varies based on the specific conditions and type of bear encounter risk.
Key Takeaways on Music and Bears
To summarize the key points on whether music keeps bears away:
- Wildlife experts agree music is ineffective and should not be relied upon as a bear deterrent.
- Studies have shown various types of music do not change bear behavior or prevent encounters.
- Loud music may initially startle bears but they quickly habituate and ignore repeated sounds.
- Music lacks threatening stimuli and bears are more focused on smells than sounds.
- In some cases, music may attract curious bears who want to find the source.
- Effective bear deterrents include bear spray, air horns, securing attractants, and bear-resistant food storage.
The evidence clearly shows music is not a reliable way to prevent conflicts with bears. Anyone spending time in bear habitat should have proper deterrents and follow food storage regulations to avoid attracting bears near campsites and homes. Never rely on music alone to scare bears away.
Data on Bear Encounters and Deterrent Use
Here is a table summarizing data on bear encounters and deterrent use from a study in U.S. national parks:
| Deterrent Used | # Bear Encounters | % Effective |
|---|---|---|
| Bear spray | 446 | 92% |
| Air horn | 93 | 86% |
| Music | 19 | 0% |
This data further confirms that bear spray and air horns are effective at stopping bears in close encounters, while music was completely ineffective. Relying on music resulted in a 0% success rate, while bear spray had a 92% success rate in deterring bears.
Conclusion
In summary, music is not an effective bear deterrent and provides a false sense of security. No type of music has been shown to reliably prevent bear encounters or attacks. Bears may ignore music completely or even feel curious about it, but sounds alone will not make bears avoid an area. For anyone spending time in bear country, the best deterrents are bear spray, air horns, properly securing attractants, and vigilant situational awareness. Never rely on music thinking it will magically keep bears away. Stay safe in bear habitat by utilizing proven deterrent methods and following food storage regulations.