Safety in Bear Country

Bear Tips

Avoid all contact with bears - never feed or approach bears. Don't try to get close for that perfect photo! Dogs can annoy bears and bring them back to their owners. It's best to leave your dog at home or keep it on a leash. Never store food in tents. Store all food in the trunk of your vehicle, or put it in a sealed container and hang it from a branch at least 4 meters above the ground and more than a meter from the tree trunk Sleep at least 50 meters from the area where you store and cook food. Pitch your tent away from dense bush, lake shores, stream banks and animals' trails. Keep clothes and gear free of food odours, and dispose of dishwater at least 100 meters from your campsite. Do not cook strong-smelling or greasy foods. Burn out tin cans after a meal if you have a fire. Keep your campsite clean. Put all garbage in bear-proof containers or pack it out. Never bury garbage - bears can dig it up. Clean fish in running water. Dispose of fish entrails by burning them in a hot fire or dropping them in deep or rushing water after puncturing the air bladder. Don't use or pack strong-smelling or herbal scented perfumes, deodorants, shampoos, etc. Don't surprise bears. Carry a bell, sing, talk or make noise along a trail to avoid startling bears. Never hike alone, or after dark. Never come between a female bear and her cubs. Stay clear of occupied bear habitat, berry patches, avalanche chutes or streams with spawning salmon. Leave an area the way you came if you see fresh signs of bears such as tracks, droppings or diggings. Be wary of hiking in high winds. A bear may not be able to pick up your scent and have time to move off before you come across it.

Bear Encounters

• Never run from bears.
  
  
• BE HUMAN. Never imitate a bear, or make "bear" noises. Back up slowly and speak in a loud, low voice while waving your arms. Avoid direct eye contact. Stay calm.
  
  
• Return to your vehicle or climb a tree as high as you can.
  
  
• Drop something, such as your backpack, to distract the bear in case it decides to charge. Almost all charges are "bluff charges".
  
  
• If you are attacked, how you respond depends on the species of bear and the circumstances. Black bears and grizzlies behave differently and may have different motives. Aggressive bears are usually defending their territory, their food or their young. Predatory bears, on the other hand, are looking for food.
  
  

  GRIZZLIES it is best to play dead. Struggling will encourage attack. Drop, curl your knees up to your chest and place your hands behind your neck.

  BLACK BEARS - fight back! Use everything you've got - sticks,rocks, hands and feet. With predatory black bears your best chance is to fight them off and chase them away.

  
  
  
• CARRY PROTECTION. in case of meeting an aggressive bear, carry noise-makers and pepper-spray or bear-spray (an effective deterrent)
  
  
  this bear was encountered on a nature walk in Whistler, B.C. and despite the "bear scare" methods of renowned Bear expert Steve Searles of stomping our feet and yelling "Bad Bear, Bad Bear", the bear defied our techniques and tried to outstare us!
  
  

Links:

• The Bear Den
  
  
  
  
• Steve Searle's Bear Affairs

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