You are in Bear Country

You are in Bear Country!

Bears can become human-habituated or food conditioned and may become a threat to human safety. These bears may have to be relocated or euthanized.

Bear signs include tracks, scat, rolled logs and rocks, torn stumps, diggings, and rubbed, chewed, or claw-marked trees. Bears are omnivores, eating both plant and animal food. They are opportunistic feeders that will eat almost anything – from toothpaste to ground squirrels. They will scavenge and seek out all potential food sources. They have an acute sense of smell and they rely heavily on that sense to find food and other animals. Bears are often interested in petroleum--based products, such as fuel, oil, and jerry cans as well as garbage, carcass pits, berry patches and granaries.

These animals can consume up to 25,000 calories/ day and are continuously driven to locate new food sources. Fall is a particularly dangerous time as bears need to consume as many calories as possible in preparation for hibernation during the winter. Be cautious when working or walking around cereal crops, such as wheat, oats and barley, especially at dusk and dawn. Bears are most active at that time. Clean all spilled and waste grain as soon as possible. If spillage is unavoidable, locate storage facilities away from areas of human use and bear habitat. Consider seasonal electric fencing or install alarm systems in areas with valuable products or those at high risk of bear human encounters. Each bear has a unique personality, and their reactions to humans are not predictable. All bears have a “personal space” and feel scared or threatened when this space is invaded. If there are cubs in the area, move away from the area immediately. Make every effort to leave the bear an escape route. Back away slowly, talk softly and don’t look a bear directly in the eye. In an encounter with a non-charging bear or a bear with cubs, you should appear passive. Do not raise your voice. If your vehicle is nearby, get in as quickly as possible. Never run. You can not outrun a bear, and running may excite the bear and trigger an attack. Climbing a tree is an option but offers no guarantee of safety. Black bears are excellent climbers, and grizzlies have also been known to climb trees.

Excerpts from Alberta Bear Smart publications In an emergency situation, call Report A Poacher at 1-800-642-3800. Report all grizzly bear sightings to Fish and Wildlife by calling 310-0000.