Bear Safety Essentials!

In view of the periodic sightings of black bears within the Village, it's a good idea to be a little more cautious during your daily walk or jog. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind:

BEAR SAFETY ESSENTIALS

• Respect all bears – they can be dangerous.
• Never approach a bear, or 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.

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.

IF YOU SEE A BEAR

• Remain calm. The bear is likely just passing through and, if it doesn't find food, will simply move on.
• Keep away from the bear, and warn others to stay away. Bring children and pets indoors.
• If the bear seems threatening or persistent, call a conservation officer or the police.

DON'T ATTRACT BEARS TO YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

• Bears are naturally conditioned to remember easy sources of food. With their keen sense of smell, garbage may be easier to find than natural foods such as fish, berries, bugs, vegetation and wild meat. ONE TASTE OF GARBAGE, AND A BEAR CAN BE HOOKED FOR LIFE! Once bears become used to eating garbage and other unnatural foods, they tend to stay close to communities where they can find easy sources of food. While feeding on garbage, they end up eating sharp metal and glass, plastics, and other toxic materials. In their search for food, bears may roam freely through populated areas, damaging property and even attacking pets or people. Garbage conditioned beam tend to lose their natural aversion to people. If there is a person nearby, or if someone appears to be after their food, they may attack. That's why garbage-eating bears are often destroyed to protect the public.
• Keep garbage in a secured shed or garage – don't stockpile or bury garbage.
• Never leave fish or meat remains outside or in your compost. Cooking oil, grease, dairy products or fruit should never be left outside or put in your compost. Use lime to cut odour from your compost.
• Burn barbecue grills dean to remove any food residue and store barbecues inside or cover and store out of the wind.
• If you have fruit trees, pick fruit as it ripens and clean-up windfalls promptly. Get rid of any unwanted fruit trees.
• A dog may help warn you that a bear is nearby, but be sure your dog is restrained or in a fenced yard. It is best not to hike with dogs, as dogs can antagonize bears and cause an attack. An unleashed dog could bring a bear back to you.

THE BEAR FACTS

• Bears can run as fast as horses, uphill or downhill.
• Bears can climb trees.
• Bears have an excellent sense of smell and heading, and better sight than many people believe.
• Bears are strong. They can tear cars apart looking for food.
• Every bear defends a "personal space" which varies with the bear or situation from a few metres to a few hundred metres. Intrusion into this space is considered a threat and may provoke an attack.
• Bears aggressively defend their food.
• All female bears defend their cubs fiercely.
• Bears will usually hide from people. but remember, just because you don't see a bear, doesn't mean they aren't around.
• Bears are usually active from May to October, but especially during August and September.

WHAT TO DO

• 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. 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 telephoto lens.
• There is no guaranteed minimum safe distance from a bear -- the further, the better.
• Stay away from dead animals. Bears may attack to defend such food.
• 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.

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