Fight or Flee?

Illustration of McNeal hiding from a bear, from Sergeant Gass's published journals of the expedition. Library of Congress

What do you do when confronted with a dangerous situation? Fight or flee? Examples of the fight or flight response are found throughout the Lewis and Clark journals. One such example involves Private Hugh McNeal and his experience with a grizzly bear while on a solo mission in modern day western Montana in the summer of 1806. Meriwether Lewis delivers a clear, concise version of the story in his own journal:

July 15, 1806

Dispatched McNeal early this morning to the lower part of portage in order to learn whether the Cash and white perogue remained untouched or in what state they were... a little before dark McNeal returned with his musquet broken off at the breech, and informed me that on his arrival at willow run he had approached a white bear within ten feet without discover him the bear being in the thick brush, the horse took the allarm and turning short threw him immediately under the bear; this animal raised himself on his hinder feet for battle, and gave him time to recover from his fall which he did in an instant and with his clubbed musquet he struck the bear over the head and cut him with the guard of the gun and broke off the breech, the bear stunned with the stroke fell to the ground and began to scratch his head with his feet; this gave McNeal time to climb a willow tree which was near at hand and thus fortunately made his escape. the bear waited at the foot of the tree untill late in the evening before he left him, when McNeal ventured down and caught his horse which had by this time strayed off to the distance of 2 ms. and returned to camp.

Clearly both McNeal and his grizzly bear nemesis responded to the surprise meeting via fight or flight…in McNeal’s case both. While the fight or flight response can help deliver us through dangerous situations, McNeal was extremely fortunate in this case. As any modern day hiker should know, one of the easiest ways to provoke a bear attack is to surprise one. The best way to avoid this is to make noise as you hike, whether through jingling bells or via your own voice. Should you have an encounter with a bear as McNeal did, bear spray can be used as another deterrent. With proper planning, you can avoid having a fight or flight encounter with a bear of your own.

Where this belongs

• Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

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