Guide to Bears
in the Wild
Printed February, 1996
Seeing a bear can be one of the most memorable experiences
of a wilderness vacation, but it is our responsibility to
respect the bear in its home. This means we must not force
bears to leave their habitat, teach them to eat human foods,
or place bears in situations where people or bears could get
hurt. Preparation and education are essential to ensure our
encounters with bears in the wild are positive and free from
Bears are everywhere. We see them on the side of the highway,
on logging roads, on the way to a campsite, near towns, or
in the bush when hiking or working. Bears will usually hide
from people, but remember: just because you don't see a bear,
it doesn't mean they aren't around.
British Columbia has about one-quarter of all black bears
in Canada, and half of all grizzly bears. Both species are
found throughout the province, with very few exceptions. There
are no grizzly bears on Vancouver Island or on the Queen Charlottes,
for instance, and there are few or no grizzlies in the heavily-settled
Lower Mainland or the dry, southern areas of the province.
Although B.C. is fortunate to have black bears and grizzlies
occupying most of their historic range throughout the province,
bears and their habitat face risks from increasing human development
and access. There is only a small amount of inaccessible wilderness
left in British Columbia, but there is a tremendous and growing
human interest to spend leisure time in the wilds of the province.
We must respect the fact that the wilderness is home to bears,
and as visitors we must do our part to help conserve bears
and their home.
Bear safety essentials:
- Respect all bears - they all can be dangerous.
- Never approach a bear.
- Never attempt to feed a bear.
- Be defensive - never surprise a bear.
- Learn about bears. Anticipate and avoid encounters.
- Know what to do if you encounter a bear.
- Each bear encounter is unique. No hard and fast rules
can be applied when dealing with a potentially complex situation.
The most dangerous bears are:
- Bears habituated to human food.
- Females defending cubs.
- Bears defending a fresh kill.
- Cute, friendly, and apparently not interested in YOU.
- Bears can run as fast as horses, uphill or downhill.
- Bears can climb trees, although black bears are better
tree-climbers than grizzly bears.
- Bears have excellent senses of smell and hearing, and
better sight than many people believe.
- Bears are strong. They can tear cars apart looking for
- Every bear defends a "personal space". The extent
of this space will vary with each bear and each situation;
it may be a few metres or a few hundred meters. Intrusion
into this space is considered a threat and may provoke an
- Bears aggressively defend their food.
- All female bears defend their cubs. If a female with cubs
is surprised at close range or is separated from her cubs,
she may attack. An aggressive response is the mother grizzly's
natural defense against danger to her young.
- A female black bear's natural defense is to chase her
cubs up a tree and defend them from the base. However, she
is still dangerous and may become aggressive if provoked.
When in Bear Country:
- Avoid conflict by practicing prevention.
- Be alert.
- Look for signs of recent bear activity. These include
droppings, tracks, evidence of digging, and claw or bite
marks on trees.
- Make your presence known by talking loudly, clapping,
singing, or occasionally calling out. Some people prefer
to wear bells. Whatever you do, be heard! It doesn't pay
to surprise a bear.
- Keep children close at hand and within sight.
- Photographing bears can be dangerous. Use a long-range
- There is no guaranteed minimum safe distance from a bear
- the further, the better.
- Stay away from dead animals. Bears may attack to defend
- It is best not to hike with dogs, as dogs can antagonize
bears and cause an attack. An unleashed dog may bring a
bear back to you.
- Never leave pets unattended.
Children should not:
- Run or play in areas with dense bush.
- Play unsupervised in bear country.
- Make animal-like sounds while hiking or playing.
- Approach bears, especially bear cubs.
- Be encouraged to pet, feed, or pose for a photo with bears,
even if they appear tame.
If you encounter a bear at the roadside:
- Remain in your vehicle. Don't get out even for
a "quick photo".
- Keep your windows up.
- Do not impede the bear from crossing the road.
- If you park to view bears at a distance, leave your car
well off the road to avoid accidents.
Your food and garbage:
- Odours attract bears. Reduce or eliminate odours from
yourself, your camp, your clothes, and your vehicle.
- Don't sleep in the same clothes you cook in.
- Store food so that bears cannot smell or reach it. Don't
keep food in your tent - not even a chocolate bar.
- Properly store and pack out all garbage.
- Handle and store pet food with as much care as your own.