Bear Awareness and Avoidance

Courtesy of RAEMS 2013

Objectives

• Physical characteristics of the Black Bear and Grizzly Bear

• How diet affects bear distribution and their annual cycle

• Various signs indicating a bear presence

• Bear behaviours in different circumstances

• Precautions when in Bear territory

• Preferred reactions to various types of bear encounters

• Bear deterrents and how and when they should be used

Basic Bear Facts

• Approximately 800 Grizzly Bears in Alberta

• Approximately 35,000 Black Bears in Alberta

• 1,000,000+ bears in North America

• 1 to 2 fatalities per year in North America

• Alberta bears have killed three humans since 1991

Black Bear or Grizzly?

Sizes and Weights

• Black Bear weight up to 260 Kilos, average length about 1.6 metres

• Grizzly Bear weight up to 600 Kilos, length 2 metres

• Females are usually smaller in both species

Colours

GRIZZLY BLACK BEAR

Black and brown, to cinnamon, or blond

Black and brown, to cinnamon, or blond

Have “grizzled” fur…most noticed on the back

Usually have a patch of white hair on the chest…but may not.

Both species spend most of their waking hours pursuing something to eat.Bears “hibernate” usually from October to May, so they have to gain as much weight as possible in the mobile months.On average a bear may lose 30 to 40 percent of its body fat over the winter.Bears are omnivorous, subsisting on roots, sedges, berries, ground squirrels, and both species are now known to hunt larger game.One good pile of garbage is equal to 200,000 berries…a full birdfeeder gives as many calories as 40,000 berries.

Activity

Bears are found wherever there is an abundant food supply.

Bear Responses to Encounters

Physical Response• Standing up, tossing head• Turning sideways to show

size• Walking stiff-legged• Looking directly at you

Noise Response• Huffing and panting• Hissing and growling• Ground stamping• Jaw popping

The bear may flee, bluff charge, walk away, or charge

Human Reaction to an Encounter

Stop, stand still a moment, and stay calm. If the animal is already aware of you, help it to

identify you as a human.  Talk in low tones, and slowly wave your arms.  It may then leave. 

Staying upwind will help it to smell you. Do NOT run from a bear or big cat unless you are sure you can reach a safe place.  Both can run faster than humans.

Always leave the bear (and yourself) an avenue of escape.  Do this by maintaining your "situational awareness."

Quietly walk back the way you came making sure to not pass between the animal and any cubs.

If time and circumstances permit, try to scare the predator away with a distraction device

Problem Bear Behavior

A bear who Is not

afraid of humans:

Defies humans to get

food

Enters tents and

buildings

Causes property

damage

Injures or kills people

Human Reaction

How should you react if...• A bear is aware of you and close• A bear is following you• A bear is close and using threat displays

• A bear charges

IF A BEAR ATTACKS

Two Types of Attacks:

PredatoryThe bear believes you or something you are carrying is a potential source of food. The bear may follow or stalk you.

ProvokedYou have done something either purposefully or unknowingly to aggravate the bear. This can be something as simple as interrupting them when they are eating, or coming between a mother and her cubs.

If a Bear Charges

Bears charge at high speed on all four legs though many charges are bluffs -- they'll often stop or veer to the side at the last minute.  You may have time to climb a tree, but you'll have to get higher than 4 meters.  Remember that Black bears can climb, and Grizzlies can charge up a tree too.  If physical contact appears unavoidable, you have three options:

1. Use pepper spray if you have any, or shoot to kill if you have a gun.

2. Play dead if you are attacked by a grizzly.3. Fight back if attacked by a black bear.

Playing Dead

Playing dead may prevent serious injury if you are attacked by a grizzly bear.  Do not play dead during a black bear attack or if a grizzly bear is treating you as prey.  Playing dead will help protect your vital areas, and the bear may leave if you appear harmless.  There are two recommended positions:

Lie on your side, curled into a ball, legs drawn tightly to your chest, hands clasped behind your neck.

Lie flat on the ground, face down, fingers intertwined behind your neck.

Stay in these positions even if moved.  Do not resist or struggle -- it may intensify the attack.  Look around cautiously, and be sure the bear is gone before moving.

Fighting Back Against a Bear

If a black bear attacks you or a grizzly bear shows signs that it considers you lunch, and you do not have a firearm, do not play dead.  Act aggressively.  Defend yourself with whatever means are available.  You want to appear dominant and frighten the bear.  Jump up and down, shout, and wave your arms.  It may help to raise or wave your jacket or pack to make yourself look bigger.

You may be able to poke out both of the bear's eyes with your thumbs. 

A blind bear can't attack you, as well.

The right moment to squeeze the trigger depends on your nerve, experience with a firearm, and how fast the bear is approaching.

The decision can be made only by the person facing the bear, and must be made quickly.

An accurate shot fired at close range has a greater chance of killing a bear than one fired from farther away.  The first shot is the most important. 

Aim for the shoulder if the bear is broadside, or the back of the neck between the shoulders if the bear is facing you.  Avoid head shots - they often fail to kill a bear. 

Do not stop shooting to check the results.  Keep firing until the bear is completely still -- a wounded bear is very dangerous

Pepper spray seems to be more effective than a firearm because you don't have to be accurate to spray a cloud of deterrent.

If you use a firearm

TYPES AND VARIETIES...Noise Makers

SpraysMechanical

Guns and rubber rounds

Bear Deterrents

BEAR TIPS

A "Bear Bell" tied to your boot or pack may alert a bear or cougar to your presence before you accidentally surprise it.  If these animals become aware of you, they'll usually leave the area without you ever seeing them.

NOISE MAKERS

Criminal Code Interpretation

DEFINITION

84(3) For the purposes of Section 91 to 95, 99 to 101, 103 to 107, and 117.03 of thisAct and the provisions of the Firearms Act, the following weapons are deemed not to be

Firearms:

(a) any antique firearm

(b) any device that is:

1. Designed exclusively for signaling, for notifying of distress, for firing blank

cartridges or for firing stud cartridges, explosive driven rivets or other

industrial projectiles, and

2. Intended by the person in possession of it to be used exclusively

for the purpose for which it was designed

Bear Deterrents

Pyrotechnic Cartridges

Bangers Screamers

CHEMICAL SPRAYS

Bear Deterrents

Pepper spray has been proven as an effective (but not perfect) bear deterrent.  It will work on cougars too.  Wear it on your belt like you would a pistol.  There's NO time to get it from your pack once you're in trouble.  Don't hang around after you've sprayed a bear.  Once the initial shock has worn off, bears have been known to ENJOY licking the pepper residue off themselves!

Precautions in Bear Country

Store food in sealable plastic bags

Carry out all garbage

Avoid scented items. Normal human

scent is best

Look for bear signs:• Tracks

• Scat• Carcasses

• Torn up logs and stumps

• Day beds• Claw marks on

trees• Digs

Camp Location

Away from:Known feeding areas

Bear travel lanes and trailsDen sites

Areas with previous problemsAreas with droppings or tracks

Areas with loud, masking noises

Temporary Camp

Prevent all food odours on equipment

Minimize food odours on clothing and bedding

Suspend food items and odour contaminated items

Remove all garbage

Use bearproof containers

Campfire /cooking area

Trip-wire

Tents

Enough spacing between tents so a bear will not feel trapped when alarmed

.

50 m (min)

10 m (min)

TEMPORARY CAMPS

Pack: food, cooking utensils, stove, clothes worn while cooking, and garbage

200 m Visible from a

distance 4 m

Camp Diagram

Camp Diagram

WorkTent

CookTent

Latrine

____________________________

Sleeping Tents

Dogs tied To camp

SEMI-PERMANENT CAMP DESIGN

Trip-wire

Recommended layout of a long-term camp

Incinerator or garbage area at least 200m away. If a garbage area is used a tripwire

system should be set up.

Safety Tips while in Bear Country

• Grease is especially attractive to bears. Wipe off the stove, tables, counters and barbecues. Dump greasy dishwater into a pit away from camp, and treat with lime or bleach to mask odours. Burn excess grease in a hot fire, reuse it right away, or store it in an airtight container.

·  Produce few food wastes. If you have leftovers, store them in airtight containers, then use them as soon as possible. 

Safety Tips while in Bear Country

• Eliminate or reduce food odours. The smell of some food, such as bacon or fish, may attract bears. Freeze-dried foods are relatively odourless.

 • Wear a hat or kerchief while cooking so your hair does not accumulate odours. Do not sleep in clothes worn while cooking. Store them with your food, away from your tent.

• Tent campers can store food in an airtight cooler, a plastic bear proof container, a plastic-lined duffel bag, or a heavy plastic bag at least 100 meters away from camp, suspended at least four meters off the ground (if possible).

Safety Tips while in Bear Country

· Other attractants such as dish detergent, toothpaste, etc. should be stored in the same manner as food.

·  In camps with more permanent facilities, store food inside locking steel trunks or in sealed metal drums. If the camp has a refrigerator or freezer, fit them with locks and secure them at night

Safety Tips while in Bear Country

·  If you are traveling with children make sure you know where they are at all times.

·    While in bear country restrict food to cooking and storage areas.

·    Do not take any food into your tent, not even a stick of gum.

·    Keep a clean camp. Wash kitchen utensils after each meal.

Safety Tips while in Bear Country

·       Be alert at all times

·         Respect all bears- you never know which one is going to be dangerous

·         Never approach a bear for any reason.

·         Photographs should be taken from a safe distance with a telephoto lens.

·         Never feed bears or other wildlife.

·         Have a plan of action for dealing with bears and be sure everyone understands it.

Working in Bear Territory

If you are approaching your work area from the air, check for predators from the aircraft before landing and getting out.  The same holds true of a car.

Work in pairs and stay alert.  Alternate responsibilities so one person is watching for bears and cougars.

Be watchful for leg-hold type bear traps.  They are VERY large and will cause severe injury if stepped in.

Bear Injuries

Bears along the forestry trunk road

Last Line Of Defence

Send a Buddy in first

Time for the Test

By clicking on the below link, you will be taken to our online test. It has twenty multiple choice questions, and should not take long.

PWM Bear Awareness Quiz