With each passing year, more Americans are having more encounters with bears as numbers of the latter increase in many states. So what do you do if you're camping or hiking, or even working in your backyard, and a bear shows up? Outdoor survival expert Wayne Fears offers the following advice.

"Try to make as much noise as you can, try to bluff the bear away," he says. "And I've had this problem both with black bear and grizzlies and a couple run-ins with polar bears. If you can let them know you are a person, which is the first step. Try to keep your distance; you don't want to run with them or you will be in a predator-prey situation. But, try to look big, wave your arms, stand erect, and make noise. If you carry a whistle, blow it and try to keep some distance between you."

He advises, "With a few very rare exceptions, bears want to be left alone, regardless of what kind of bear it is. I think the more noise you can make, the bigger you look, and the better off you'll be in avoiding a human-bear encounter that could be very dangerous."