Can a person outrun a bear by running in a zigzag pattern?

Answer 1

It depends on the density of the trees. If they are closer together than the width of the bear, one might escape the bear by frustrating his direct attack. On the other hand, the person will get tired faster, as well.

It might be possible, because if you are agile enough, you can climb over very large logs and the bear may not bother to chase you through thick brush. My own experience with bears is that they tend to go around logs rather than climb over them. They look for the easiest way to go towards you, not the hardest. Like an open road, open spaces. Once they are out on the flats, it would be very hard to outpace them and a zigzag pattern might not help, but be even more of a detriment since it may slow you down and give the bear an even greater opportunity to catch you. A bear has a lot of momentum, it starts slowly, but when it gets moving, accelerates very fast. But it will stalk you before bringing you down, and that may be your only chance. If you stop momentarily, it will stop as you do. And when you move again, it will move almost like a machine which is programmed to start up again to go in for the kill.

DISCLAIMER: In case anyone wants to try to outpace a bear just for kicks, I don't recommend it. In fact, don't ever try do it by taunting a Bear. It's not a game. And if you try, you probably will not live to tell your tale. The odds against you are very long. 99.998% chance the Bear will kill or at very least maim you for life. Animals in the Wild are extremely dangerous and they certainly are not like your household pets. They kill to eat and survive. Don't ever attempt to humanize or visualize them as a domesticated animal, because they aren't.