As we embrace the warmer months, it’s important to stay aware of the potential for bear encounters. While bears are fascinating creatures, they can be dangerous if approached unprepared. Here are crucial tips to ensure your safety while enjoying the great outdoors.
Staying Safe in Bear Territory
Encountering a bear can be a frightening experience, but knowing how to react can be life-saving. If a bear approaches you, remain calm and get ready to use your bear spray. Here’s how to handle different bear behaviors:
1. Assess the Bear’s Behavior:
○ Defensive Bears: If the bear appears stressed, agitated, or is making noise, it might be defensive due to feeding, protecting young, or being surprised by you.
○ Non-Defensive Bears: If the bear does not show signs of stress or agitation, it is likely not feeling threatened.
2. Responding to Defensive Bears:
○ Try to appear non-threatening and talk in a calm voice.
○ If the bear is not advancing, slowly back away without turning your back on the bear.
○ If the bear continues to approach, stand your ground and keep talking. Use your bear spray if the bear gets within 4 meters (12 feet).
3. Responding to Non-Defensive Bears:
○ Speak in a firm voice and move out of the bear’s path.
○ If the bear follows you, stop and stand your ground. Shout and act aggressively.
○ Try to intimidate the bear by picking up a stick or raising hiking poles above your head to appear larger.
○ Use your bear spray if the bear gets within 4 meters (12 feet).
4. General Bear Safety Tips:
○ Carry bear spray, have it accessible, and know how to use it properly.
○ Make noise (e.g., playing music, singing, clapping) and travel in groups.
○ Keep pets on a leash or leave them at home.
○ Pack out what you pack in to leave no trace behind.
○ Report all bear sightings to 403-591-7755 to warn other hikers and campers.
For more detailed information on how to properly use bear spray, watch this video by Alberta Parks: How to properly use bear spray.
To help our community stay safe, Gateway partner, Immigrant Services Calgary, will be hosting a Workshop: Bear Aware Basics and Tips for Day Hiking Trips on June 23. This workshop will be an excellent opportunity to meet Parks Canada staff in person and ask all the questions you want about bear safety.
Additional Resources:
For up-to-date information on bear safety practices and advisories, visit AlbertaParks.ca | Alberta Parks and Wildsmart — Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley.
Remember, large animals sometimes wander into urban areas and can pose a public safety risk. If you spot bears, cougars, or moose within Calgary, please call 9-1-1.
Stay safe and enjoy your outdoor adventures responsibly!
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