Safe travel in bear country

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AVOID an encounter is the best approach

Bears travel the same trails people do, on the path of least resistance. You can help protect these animals by avoiding encounters with them.

• Avoid travelling in high quality bear habitat at key times of year.
• Make noise! Let bears know you are there. Call out, clap hands, sing or talk loudly especially near streams, dense vegetation and berry patches, on windy days, and in areas of low visibility. Bear bells are not effective. Bears can be so preoccupied eating that they may not be aware of your presence.
• Watch for fresh bear signs. Tracks, droppings, diggings, torn-up logs and turned-over rocks are all signs that a bear has been in the area. Leave the area if the signs are fresh.
• Keep your dog on a leash and under physical control at all times. We recommend leaving your dog at home if you plan to camp, hike or go into the backcountry. Dogs can trigger aggressive behaviour from wildlife.
• Larger size groups are less likely to have a serious bear encounter. We recommend hiking in a tight group of four or more. Never let children wander.
• Use officially marked paths and trails and travel during daylight hours as bears are more active at dawn and dusk.
• If you come across a large dead animal, leave the area immediately and report it to Parks Canada. 
• Dispose of fish offal in fast moving streams or the deep part of a lake, never along stream sides or lake shores.

Bear Spray

Carry bear spray with you at all times when recreating. Ensure it is easily accessible and know how to use it. Bear spray can be effective with some bears when used properly. Be aware that wind, spray distance, rain, freezing temperatures and product shelf life can all influence its effectiveness. Familiarize yourself with the proper use of bear spray (including the manufacturer’s specific instructions) and keep it readily accessible. However, the best way to live safely with bears is to avoid contact with them.

What is bear spray and how do I use it?

 

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If you SEE a bear

Stop and remain calm. Be ready to use bear spray. Do not run away.

OBSERVE:

Is the bear UNAWARE of your presence?

Move away quietly without getting its attention.

Is the bear AWARE of your presence?

Bears may bluff their way out of an encounter by charging and then turning away at the last second. Bears may also react defensively by woofing, growling, snapping their jaws and laying their ears back.

• Stay calm. Calm behaviour can reassure the bear. Screams or sudden movements may trigger an attack.
• Speak to the bear. Talk calmly and firmly. This lets the bear know you are human and not a prey animal. If a bear rears on its hind legs and waves its nose about, it is trying to identify you.
• Back away slowly. Never run! Running may trigger a pursuit.
• Make yourself appear BIG. Pick up small children and stay in a group.
• Do not drop your pack; it may provide protection.

If you must proceed, make a wide detour around the bear, move well off the trail or wait at a safe distance for it to move on.

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If the bear APPROACHES

Stop and remain calm. Get ready to use your bear spray. Do not run away. Assess the bear’s behaviour and determine why it is approaching.


© Dan Rafla

Is it DEFENSIVE?

The bear is feeding, protecting its young and/or surprised by your presence. It sees you as a threat. The bear will appear stressed or agitated and may vocalize.

• Try to appear non-threatening.
• Speak in a calm voice.
• When the bear stops advancing, start slowly moving away.
• If it keeps coming closer, stand your ground, keep talking, and use your bear spray.
• If the bear makes contact, fall on the ground and play dead. Lie still and wait for the bear to leave.

Is it NON-DEFENSIVE?

A bear may be curious, after your food, or testing its dominance. In the rarest case, it might be predatory–seeing you as potential prey. All of these non-defensive behaviours can appear similar and should not be confused with defensive behaviours.

The bear will be intent on you with head and ears up.

• Speak in a firm voice.
• Move out of the bear’s path.
• If it follows you, stop and stand your ground.
• Shout and act aggressively.
• Try to intimidate the bear.
• If it approaches closely, use your bear spray.
  

Handling an ATTACK

Most encounters with bears end without injury. If a bear actually makes contact, you may increase your chances of survival by following these guidelines. In general, there are two kinds of attack:

Defensive attack

This is the most COMMON type of attack.

• Use your bear spray.
• If the bear makes contact with you, PLAY DEAD!

PLAY DEAD! Lie on your stomach with legs apart and position your arms so that your hands are crossed behind your neck. This position makes you less vulnerable to being flipped over and protects your face, the back of your head and neck. Remain still until you are sure the bear has left the area.

Defensive attacks are generally less than two minutes in duration. If the attack continues, it may mean it has shifted from defensive to predatory—FIGHT BACK!

Predatory attack

The bear is stalking (hunting) you along a trail and then attacks. Or, the bear attacks you at night. This type of attack is very RARE.

• Try to escape into a building, car or up a tree.
• If you cannot escape, do not play dead.
• Use your bear spray and FIGHT BACK.

FIGHT BACK! Intimidate that bear: shout; hit it with a branch or rock, do whatever it takes to let the bear know you are not easy prey. This kind of attack is very rare, but it is serious because it usually means the bear is looking for food and preying on you.

Remember...

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Cycling and Trail Running

Your chosen activity is a dangerous one in bear country. Your speed and quietness put you at increased risk for sudden bear encounters.

• Slow down through shrubby areas and when approaching blind corners.
• Make noise, travel in groups, be alert and always watch ahead.

Do not wear ear buds while recreating in the park.

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Backcountry Camping

Limit your impact by avoiding encounters and managing your food, scented items and garbage.

• Camp only in designated areas.
• Keep yourself and campsite scent-free. Keep sleeping bags, tents, and sleeping clothes free of food, food scents or beverages.
• Leave smelly cosmetics at home. Store toiletries and personal items with food.
• Store your food, pet food, livestock feed and garbage away from your tent. Use designated food storage facilities. 
• Wash and store all dishes and food utensils immediately after use. Strain food particles from dishwater and store with garbage. Dump dishwater in designated areas or at least 50 metres from your sleeping area.
• Pack out garbage—do not burn or bury it and do not dispose of in outhouses.
  
   

Additionally, for areas where random camping is permitted:

• Avoid camping, cooking, or eating near running water, thick brush, animal trails or berry patches so wildlife can be heard or seen approaching.
• Pitch your tent at least 50 metres from the trail, thick brush and berry patches and 70 metres from the nearest water source.
• Set up cooking, eating and food storage at least 50 metres downwind from your tent. See illustration for how to hang and store food. 
• Bear-resistant food containers, approved by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, are mandatory between April 1 and November 15 in Banff, Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper national parks. Bring a rope and hang whenever possible.

How to keep a "bare" campsite.

 

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If you see a bear by the road

Slow down—consider not stopping. Bears need to forage undisturbed in order to gain enough fat to survive the winter. Your decision to drive on by gives bears the space they need to make a living in this challenging landscape.

At all times . . .

• Observe and photograph bears from the safety of your car.
• Remain at least 100 metres from the bear.
• Never feed a bear.

If you stop . . .

• Be aware of the traffic around you.
• Pull over where it is safe to do so.
• Use your hazard lights to alert other drivers.
• Watch for a few moments, take a quick photo, and then move on!
• If a traffic jam develops, move on. It is unsafe for people and bears.

What happens to a bear when it encounters people?

1. It can alter its path of travel or abandon an area, displacing it from important habitat.
2. It can react aggressively: this usually only happens when the bear is surprised at close range and feels threatened. Serious human-bear encounters may result in the bear's destruction and loss from the ecosystem.
3. It becomes habituated: with frequent, repeated exposure to people, a bear loses its natural wary behaviour. It is more likely to enter a campground or townsite where food or garbage may be improperly stored.

Tips for Roadside Bear Viewing

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How you can help protect bears

The best thing you can do for bears is to limit their exposure to you.

• Consider not stopping when you see a roadside bear.
• Put all garbage in wildlife-proof garbage bins. Do not burn food or garbage.
• Keep your picnic or camping site attractant-free. Move the food, cooler, dirty dishes, recyclables, BBQ, lotions and pet food into your vehicle, trailer or storage locker (tents are not bear-proof).
• Use official trails only and leave the wild trails to wildlife.
• Respect closures and seasonal trail restrictions —they are in place for your safety and to give bears a chance to use critical habitat undisturbed.
• Pay attention to bear warnings—follow recommendations. Be careful when travelling through these areas, or choose a different route.
  
   

Conservation is not just about bears; it is about protecting the whole ecosystem. Parks Canada has a responsibility to protect wildlife and their habitats. As a national park visitor, you can help protect bears and reduce the likelihood of an unpleasant bear encounter by learning more about bear behaviour.

For more information, visit a Parks Canada visitor centre. 

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