Since bears are usually not found in social groups, their vocalizations are rare. Body language is the primary mode of communication. The obvious exception would be a mother bear with cubs. Cubs need to communicate, often quite loudly, through cries, whines and whimpers when distressed, hissing when frightened and a loud humming sound when contentedly nursing or drowsing. Mother bears also have a range of sounds from snorts that call her cubs to follow, scolding growls to correct youthful behavior and loud woofs that send cubs scrambling up the nearest tree to safety. In general, bears that live in thickly forested, visually restricted environments, tend to be much more vocal than bears that live in open territory such as brown bears. In open territory, visual signals send the message, not vocalizations. Some readable behaviors exhibited by bears are: Unconcerned bears; continue normal activities, feeding, course of travel, fishing, nursing cubs or resting. Nervous or Curious Bears; discontinue or alter normal activities, move off trail, break into run, rear on hind legs to look and smell, pace and look around. Moderately Agitated Bears; woof, walk stiff-legged, quarter away with lowered head, salivate, moan or growl. Angry Bears; pop jaws, salivate, bounce on front legs, slap brush or nearby objects, bluff charge. All bears will smack, champ or woof when aggravated, growl when angry and roar when extremely angry. Bears are not totally predictable! This is part of their glamour, mystique and majesty. They live in a world of bluff…without it they would constantly fight, which would reduce the survivability of the species.