Newsletter Index > Adventure Tidings e-Newsletter, April 2010
Wilderness Tips
Where the Grizzlies Roam: Bear Avoidance 101
by Dustin Davis
One thing is for sure........that is a big bear paw track in the photograph to the right and in any hypothetical battle between us and the grizzly bear that left this massive track........we would be the likely looser. So, that being said, the key to bear safety while traveling in bear habitat is avoidance of bear-human interactions. Occasionally we will spot a bear in the distance, or along the river and that is fine and enjoyable when it happens. However, up close and personal encounters should not be promoted or desired, if you know what's best for humans and bears alike.
Bear Avoidance Techniques: While Hiking
- Stay at home on the couch and watch countless absurd reality shows. ( Just kidding........we don't recommend this technique)
- Make noise when you travel in the bush. Develop a loud bear call vocalization that is yours. Use it often to warn bears of your approach.........own it.......enjoy it. The bear call sound will serve no useful purpose sitting in the pit of your stomach after you have already wandered upon an unsuspecting bear in your blissful silence.
- Travel in groups of three or more if possible. This dramatically decreases chances of a bear attack.
- In thick vegetation with poor visability travel close enough that you could reach out and touch hands, as in this way the bear perceives you almost as one big animal
- Be extra careful when traveling into a strong wind in the forest or shrubs. Your bear calls will not travel as far forward into the wind and your scent will be blown behind you, offending campers behind you, but not doing much at warning bears of your approach.
- Be extra careful when travelling on windy or rainy days when your sounds are muffled and it is even more likely you could approach a bear to within a distance it considers threatening before it has perceived your presence.
- Carry bear spray and be educated on how to use it properly. There are lots of youtube videos showing this.
Bear Avoidance Techniques: While Camping
- Set up a kitchen well away ( preferably at least 100 meters ) from your tenting area so that if a bear attacks your kitchen, at least they don't attack you. Never bring the food to the tenting area.
- Carry your food in bear resistant containers so that the bears can not get an easy free meal. This will keep the bears from learning to associate human activity with the presence of food. Do not burry left-overs. Bears will easily dig this up and since they can probably smell human scent around your camp, they will learn to associate food with humans.
- Do a good job planning your meals and don't create any left-overs. If there are left-overs eat them as a priority at the next meal.
- Keep all food and smelly products such as toothpaste, soaps, sunscreen, chap stick etc. in the camp kitchen overnight in one of the bear-resistant containers.
- Pack a communal cooking apron with you and leave it packed in one of the food barrels in the kitchen
- If you get a lot of food residue on your clothing, change into something else, wash the clothing using biodegradable soap away from water sources before wearing again.
There you have it: numerous techniques to avoid unwanted interactions with bears!
Please Note: There are many books available with much greater depth of information on bear behaviours and bear safety and we recommend you do a lot of self-education before travelling into bear habitat
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