From: jim.
Subject: Bear Country


Article #R64.
=====

Bear Country
Ben 
The Leader, October 1992


There's an old saying: "when a pine needle drops in the forest, a
turkey sees it, a deer hears it, and a bear smells it."  Canada
is bear country.  Wherever we live, we go camping and hiking in
what is probably bear territory.

While the chances of meeting bears are relatively low, largely
because of bears' disinterest in most people, we must know how to
avoid, recognize, and deal with bear encounters.  CJ'93
participants will camp right in the heart of bear country, but
all of us have need of this information.  It comes from an
Environment Canada Park Service brochure, titled YOU are in Bear
Country.

Bears are strong and agile wild animals that will defend
themselves, their young, and their territory if they feel
threatened.  All bears are potentially dangerous; they are
unpredictable and able to inflict serious injury.  NEVER feed or
approach a bear.


Tips for Safe Camping

Put away food and garbage, strong attractions to bears.  Keep
your campsite clean and never leave around food, garbage,
coolers, cooking equipment or utensils.  Lock food in the trunk
of your vehicle or hang it at least 4 m off the ground between
two trees.  Several campgrounds have bear poles or steel food
caches.

Do not cook or eat in or near your tent or tent trailer.  The
lingering odours of food invite bears.  Clean utensils and put
garbage in containers immediately after eating.  Do not get food
odours on your clothing or sleeping bag.  Sleep in different
clothing than what you wear for cooking.  Use a flashlight at
night.  Many animals feed at night, and a flashlight may warn
them away.


Tips for Safe Hiking

Bears feel threatened if surprised.  Hike in a group and make
loud noises.  Whistle, talk, sing, or carry a noise maker (e.g. 
bells).  Most bears will leave if they are aware of your
presence.  Stay in the open as much as possible.  Keep children
close at hand on trails.

Be especially alert when travelling into the wind.  A bear may
not get your scent and be warned of your presence.  In dense bush
and near rushing water, the animal likely won't hear your noise-
maker.

Stay away from dead animals and berry patches, important food
sources for bears.  You'll often see crows and ravens circling
over dead animals.  Report dead animals to park wardens.

Watch for bear signs, tracks, fresh diggings, and droppings.

NEVER approach a bear, especially a bear cub.  A protective
mother is usually nearby and may attack if she thinks her cub is
in danger.

Leave your dog at home.  A dog often infuriates a bear and may
come running back to you with the bear in pursuit!


Backcountry Camping Safely

Camp in designated campgrounds.  In random camping areas, pick a
spot away from animal and walking trails and the sounds of
rushing water.  Camp near large sparsely-branched trees you can
climb if necessary.  If you spot fresh bear sign, choose another
area.

Avoid fresh perishable foods with strong odours (e.g. meat and
fish) that attract bears.  Freeze dried foods are best.  Keep
tent pads clean and free of food and garbage.

Cache food away from your tent.  Use bear-resistant food storage
facilities where provided or suspend food between two trees (at
least 4 m up and 1 m away from trunk) if possible.  Store food
and garbage in airtight containers.


Pack out all garbage.  Don't bury it; bears can easily locate it
and dig it up.  Burning scraps of food is not recommended; if you
do it, make sure you burn them to ash.

Avoid smelly cosmetics, perfumes, hair sprays, and soaps.

Menstruating women should be extra careful.  Bears may be
attracted to them.


Bear Confrontations

Make a wide detour or leave the area if you see a bear at a
distance.  If you cannot detour or retreat, wait until the bear
moves from your path.  Always leave the animal an escape route.

Do not run.  Most bears can run as fast as a racehorse.  A scream
or sudden movement can trigger an attack.

Don't throw anything at a bear; it may provoke an attack.

Watch the bear for aggressive behaviour--snapping its jaws
together, making a "whoofing" sound, or keeping its head down
with ears laid back.  Consider any bear that moves toward you
aggressive.  If the bear does not seem to be displaying
aggressive behaviour, talk softly in monotones and slowly back
up.  If a bear rears on its hind legs and waves its nose in the
air, it is trying to identify you.  Keep still and speak in low
tones.

Keep calm.  Assess the situation.  There is no guaranteed life-
saving method to cope with an aggressive bear, but calm behaviour
has proven the most successful.  Sometimes bears will bluff their
way out of a threatening situation by charging and veering away
at the last second.  Back away quietly; never run!

If a climbable tree is nearby and the bear shows aggressive
behaviour, speak softly and back slowly toward the tree.  At the
same time, slowly remove your pack and set it down to distract
the bear.

Climb a tree as high as you can.  Adult grizzlies don't usually
climb trees, but large ones can easily reach well over 4 m.  Stay
in the tree until you are sure the bear has left the area, then
make your way quickly back to the trailhead.  Black bears are
agile climbers, so a tree may not offer an escape from them.

Bears are an important part of the park ecosystem and worthy of
continued protection.  With your cooperation, bears and people
can co-exist.


Further Reference
Bear Attacks, Their Causes and Avoidance, by Stephen Herrero,
Winchester Press.

Safety in Grizzly and Black Bear Country; NWT Renewable
Resources.
