People and bears can live together very well - as they do in Whistler, British Columbia
People and bears can live together very well. The Resort Municipality of Whistler, British Columbia that will be the host city of 2010 Winter Olympics is setting a great example of safe coexistence of people and the black bears.
Whistler is located in prime black bear habitat, so whether you're living there or just visiting that beautiful area, you may encounter a black bear as both adult bears and cubs are constantly looking for food and that may take them into Whistler urban areas, golf courses and into the backyards.
In Whistler, black bears are most active from mid-March to November, however they may also remain active during the winter time.
While seeing a bear in the natural habitat can be an exciting experience that you will remember for your whole life, it can also be scary and even dangerous to you - if you don't know what to do in such case. So, below I'm sharing with you a non-nonsense guidelines to make sure that your encounters with bears are safe and enjoyable. The most important among them is to always let the bears pass through by giving them a lot of space.
And, of course, never attempt to feed them, pet them or pose for a photo with a bear (sic!). Remain calm when you meet a bear. Back away slowly and look him and her into eyes. Talk in a low, calm voice so the bear understands that you don't want to cause any harm. Still, if a bear comes to you, speak firmly and hold your ground. In most cases, the bear will turn around and will go away to get food somewhere else...
Photo author: Kimba2007 from flickr.com
What to do if you meet a bear in the woods (or how to avoid meeting one)
- Obey all trail closures and information signs. Stay alert and aware. Look for signs of recent bear activity. Learn about bears, understand their behavior.
- Avoid bears - make noise, watch for bear sign.
- Be prepared - know how to react to an encounter or attack by a bear.
- Carry bear spray and use it as a first line of defence.
- Don't approach or crowd bears, don't try to pet bears or to take pictures with them! Don't feed them - never give them any food, don't leave food scraps behind and dispose of garbage in bear-proof containers.
- Hike during the day only and in groups; keep children nearby and dogs on a leash.
- When camping, dispose of garbage in a bear-proof container or hang it out of bear's reach (but the cubs can climb the trees too! See the pictures below...). Camp away from travel corridors, popular bear feeding sites and from areas marked with bear signs. Use a portable electric fence around your tent. Cook away from your campsite, clean up immediately and dispose of dish water 100 m from tent.
How to protect your property from damage by the bears
- Don't store any food outside, even if it's inside a locked refrigerator or freezer.
- Put your garbage and recycling in bear-proof dumpsters or place curbside only on the morning of pick-up.
- Keep accessible doors and windows closed and locked. Use deterrents to discourage bears from entering your property.
- Don't leave trash, groceries, pet food, coolers or any odorous items in your vehicle.
- Feed your pets indoors and store their food inside.
- Keep your compost clean and odor free or use the community composting system.
- Clean your BBQ clean immediately after use, wash and store it covered out of the wind.
What to do when you meet a bear - learn from Amazon.com books
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byNew Flickr Photos
THE BEAR 1A by slow guns
Tree Cub Two by jason.soza
Bear closeup by Kimba2007
Bear deterrents from Amazon.com
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byBlack bears in Whistler on YouTube videos
How to use bear (pepper) spray - on YouTube videos
How to report any bear-related problems in Whistler area
- a bear sighting in any human-developed area
- a human-bear conflict
- a property damage caused by a bear
- wildlife attractants (undisposed garbage)
Source of information in this lens: Get Bear Smart Society, 204-3300 Ptarmigan Place, Whistler, BC V0N 1B3. Phone: (604) 905-2327. Email: info@bearsmart.com
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