YOU ARE IN BEAR COUNTRY

Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site


Brochure
Photo © L. Freese
Adobe PDF document - 12MB

SAFE TRAVEL IN BEAR COUNTRY

The Yukon and Northern British Columbia are home to grizzly and black bears

You can run into a bear anywhere: in a campground, on a busy trail or in the remote backcountry. While bears generally prefer to avoid people, encounters do occur.

Bears are extremely sensitive to human activity. Avoiding bears helps to protect them. Learning how to prevent bear encounters is the best way to enjoy our national parks and historic sites safely.

If you do encounter a bear, it is important to understand bear behaviour. How you respond in an encounter depends on the type of interaction that is taking place. The video “Staying Safe in Bear Country” is highly recommended and is available for viewing at Parks Canada visitor centres.

AVOID an encounter: the best approach

For information on polar bears in Northern Yukon, see Parks Canada's "Safety in Polar Bear Country" (PDF, 2.02 Mb) brochure.


© H. Fitzgerald

DETERRENTS


© N. Pritchett

Carry bear spray with you at all times

Bear Spray is effective when used properly. Be aware that wind, spray distance, rain, freezing temperatures and shelf life can all influence the spray’s effectiveness. Familiarize yourself with the manufacturer’s instructions for your bear spray, and carry it where you can access it at a moment’s notice.

Other tools can help you deter a bear: noisemakers such as air horns and rattles, non-lethal projectiles and electric fencing.

Firearms are not permitted in national parks or historic sites in Canada

Plan ahead. Bear spray and other deterrents may not be available for purchase in smaller communities in the Yukon, and are strictly prohibited from travel on commercial airplanes. Check with border services about transporting deterrents across national borders.

REPORT BEARS

PLEASE REPORT ALL BEAR SIGHTINGS AND INTERACTIONS

Bear observations
Visitor reports of bear observations are very important information for bear management within Kluane National Park and Reserve and Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site.

Key information: number, species and colour/description of bear(s), location (GPS coordinates if possible), distance from observer, bear’s behavior, observer’s contact information.

Kluane: fill out a Bear Observation Form(available from the Kluane National Park and Reserve visitor centres) or call 867-634-7250.

Chilkoot Trail: fill out a Bear Report Form(available at the Trail Centre in Skagway, Lindeman Camp) or tell a Parks Canada staff person along the trail.


© T. Buzzell

Emergencies:
Parks Canada 24-hour emergency line:
1-780-852-3100 / 1-877-852-3100 (toll-free)

IF YOU SEE A BEAR

Stop and remain calm. Do NOT run away. Pull out your bear spray. Assess the situation:

Is the bear UNAWARE of your presence?

Is the bear AWARE of your presence?

If you must continue on your planned route, make a wide detour around the bear or wait at a safe distance for it to move on.

 


© N. van Vliet

Roadside Bears

 

IF THE BEAR APPROACHES

Stop and remain calm. Do NOT run away. Pull out your bear spray. Assess the bear's behaviour and determine WHY it is approaching.

Is it DEFENSIVE?

The bear may be feeding, protecting its young and/or surprised by your presence. It may see you as a threat.

The bear will appear agitated and may vocalize by woofing, growling, moaning, huffing and/or snapping its jaws. Its ears may be laid back and it may jump forward, slap the ground or swat nearby objects.

Defensive bears may bluff by charging and then turning away at the last second.

Is it NON-DEFENSIVE?

The bear may be curious, after your food, or testing its dominance. In the rarest case, it might see you as potential prey. All of these non-defensive behaviours can appear similar, and may include following you.

Curious bears approach hesitantly, with ears cocked forward, and head and nose raised to investigate. They may circle to move downwind of your scent. Bears seeking food or testing dominance may approach more boldly. A predatory bear would have a confident and persistent approach, and would be intensely focused, with head up and ears erect.

HANDLING AN ATTACK

Attacks are rare. If a bear makes contact, your reaction will depend on the type of attack.

DEFENSIVE

The most common type of attack, this may happen as a surprise encounter at a a close distance. The bear is defending itself, its food source or its cubs.

At or just before the moment the bear strikes you, fall to the ground and PLAY DEAD.

PLAY DEAD!

Defensive attacks are generally less than two minutes long. Once the bear no longer thinks you are a threat it will stop. If the attack continues, the bear's motivation has likely shifted from defensive to predatory.


REMEMBER...the best strategy for bear attacks is to avoid encounters in the first place!


PREDATORY

In this very rare type of attack, the bear sees you as prey.

Try to escape into a building, car or up a tree; keep in mind that black bears are particularly good climbers. If you cannot escape, FIGHT BACK!

FIGHT BACK!


© S. Davidson

BEAR RESISTANT FOOD STORAGE

Proper food storage is one of the best ways to prevent conflicts with bears.

 


© S. Davidson

If bears get into human food, they will continue to seek it. Such "food-conditioning" is a primary cause of bear-human conflict. Using certified bear-resistant food storage is one of the best ways to prevent such conflicts.

A list of certified bear-resistant products can be found at the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee website.

 

 


© M. McLean

Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site

Kluane National Park and Reserve

Vuntut National Park


© S. Donker

SAFE BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING

Limit your impact by avoiding bear encounters and managing your food, garbage and associated odours.


© R. Edelman

GRIZZLY OR BLACK BEAR?

Individuals of both species can range in size and colour. The most reliable way to identify the species is to look for distinguishing features:


© N. Pritchett

GRIZZLY BEAR - Also known as "Alaskan Brown Bear"

Notice:

BLACK BEAR

Notice:

 

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