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Safety in
Grizzly and
Black Bear Country
Avoiding Problems on
the Trail
You can reduce your chances
of encountering a bear by taking a few precautions:
- Travel in groups and
only during daylight hours.
- Tell someone where you
are going and when you expect to return.
- Know the types of
areas bears use at different times of the year.
Avoid those areas or be very cautious when
travelling through them.
- Be alert and aware of
your surroundings. Think ahead and be prepared. In
open terrain, use binoculars to look ahead for
bears. If you see a bear at a distance, take action
to avoid surprising it
- Watch for bear signs
such as: tracks; droppings which contain vegetation, berries,
or hair; claw marks or stripped bark on trees; torn
up stumps or rotten logs; and upturned earth.
- Never approach a fresh
kill. Be cautious of loose piles of dirt, branches
and vegetation. They may hide a carcass which a bear
has cached, and the bear may be resting nearby to
protect it.
- Carry food in airtight
or bearproof containers and avoid carrying foods
with strong smells.
- Make noise where
visibility is limited. Announcing your presence may
help you avoid surprising a bear. You can sing,
shout or talk loudly. Some people carry noisemakers
such as bells or air horns. However, do not become
overconfident - noise may be masked by sounds such
as wind or water, or may go unnoticed by a bear that
is busy eating.
- Avoid taking a pet
dog. If you must take your dog, keep it on a leash
at all times.
- Do not carry articles
that have a strong artificial smell and avoid
wearing scented cosmetics.
- Menstruating women
should try to minimize odours through careful
personal hygiene, use of internal sanitary
protection and burning sanitary materials in a hot
fire.
- Carry bear deterrents.
A 12-gauge shotgun is recommended - it can fire some
deterrents as well as slugs and buckshot (SSG).
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