I've developed a sudden fear of being mauled by a bear.

Last month, a bear attacked and killed a sleeping man in a Montana campground near Yellowstone National Park. After that snack, he ripped through another tent and injured two more people.

My dreams of going on a family camping trip out West have sort of moved indoors.

"You can't stay in a 4 star hotel in the Grand Canyon" my husband declared. "That totally defeats the purpose of experiencing the National Parks.

Well maybe, but what about the killer bears?

"You'll be fine. Just bring an Ambien" he comforted.

Like I'm going to take an Ambien and fall asleep in a tent. F- that. According to the National Park Service, the best way to reduce the risk of a bear attack is to take the proper precautions, which include:

Traveling with Pepper Spray (it's been shown to be effective at deterring grizzly bears more than 90 percent of the time)

Making lots of Noise to avoid surprising a bear. (f you're sleeping, does snoring count?)

Securing all of your Food away from your camp site. (Best diet ever...I'm not bringing food!)

They also give tips on what to do if a bear actually approaches you. Did you know that you're Not Supposed to Run? Bears can swim, climb trees and run faster than people AND can hit top speeds of 35 mph... or faster. The NPS suggests that you should act in ways that let the bear know that you are not prey – like shouting, shaking a branch or even throwing a rock.

One of my teenage sons tried to assuage my fears by saying, "Yo Mom, if a Bear catches you on one of your days (think hormonal) he'll be running in no time."