1. Travel in a group. Groups of 4 or more are safest, but you only reap the safety benefit if you hike together. Stick together and don’t get spread out. The only times I’ve seen a bear at close range (5 metres) was when I was alone or hiking with 1 person (I’ve seen grizzlies and black bears several times, but not too close most times).
2. Make some noise! Holler “Yo Bear!” periodically. Teach your kids some camp songs. If you’re hiking in a large group and one group is hiking faster than the other, play Marco Polo! Remember to pump up the volume when:
a) the brush is thick to announce your presence and that you are not stalking the bear; avalanche slopes and meadows with berry bushes are prime bear areas where you should be extra noisy;
b) the trail is narrow and winding;
c) you are near streams (bears may not hear your coming and be startled); or
d) the wind is blowing in your face (bears cannot smell you coming).
3. Carry bear spray YEAR ROUND as your insurance policy and keep it handy (on your hip/in a chest holster, NOT in your pack)! In the recent bear attack in Waiparous, the couple had one canister of bear spray but couldn’t get it out in time. Every adult in your party should carry their own bear spray. Bearsmart.com recommends having at least 2 canisters per group. Also, bear spray loses potency after a few years. You should replace it after 3 years.
4. Never, ever approach a bear or cub. Keep your distance. The same applies if you are driving and see a bear on the side of the road. Stay in your car and keep driving. Stopping for a photo habituates bears so they become used to humans.
5. What if I see a bear on the trail? If you are on the trail when you encounter a bear, announce your presence in a calm voice and back away slowly while talking to it in a calm voice. Do not shout, do not panic, do not turn your back on the bear, and do not run; bears can run as fast as racehorse, you cannot outrun (or outswim) them. Black bears can climb well and some grizzlies can too. If grizzlies are too big to climb, they can reach up to 10 feet high when standing on their hind legs (source: http://www.udap.com/mm5/Bear-Safety-Tips), so climbing a tree isn’t recommended unless you are certain it is a grizzly and you are confident in your climbing abilities. In most cases, the bear will run away. Try to avoid eye contact so you don’t further aggravate the bear.
5. What if the bear stands it ground and doesn’t leave? If the bear doesn’t leave, this means it is not afraid of humans (dangerous), or has food or cubs nearby (also dangerous). If the bear stands up, it is curious about you and trying to get a better look. Continue to back away and then go back the way you came. Don’t head into the bush looking for a way around the bear in case cubs are hanging out there.
6. What if the bear becomes aggressive? If the bear starts huffing and charging towards you again, do not run but try to put something between you and the bear; trees, picnic table, boulders. Keep your children and pets close. Make yourself big – stay close together, shout loudly, bang hiking sticks together, and take the safety off your bear spray and hold it in front of you. Often bears are bluffing; they will charge at you and turn away at the last moment but be prepared with your bear spray. The bear is telling you to get lost and you should – quickly – but stand your ground until you are sure the bear isn’t going to attack. DO NOT TURN YOUR BACK ON THE BEAR! You should use your bear spray when the bear is about a car length away.
7. Know the signs of bears of bears in the area: bear scat, scratchings, diggings, and footprints. If they look fresh, stay alert, be extra loud, and consider going back the way you came. If you come across a fresh kill or fresh bear scat, go back the way you came immediately.
8. Keep dogs on leash. Roaming dogs can aggravate wildlife, including bears, and lead them back to you. Even where not designated by law, it is safest to keep dogs on a leash.
9. When camping, store everything with a smell (food, dishes, lip gloss, sunscreen) in your vehicle. When backcountry camping, store food and items with a smell in a bear canister or dry bag in a bear locker, or hang them from a bear wire. If bear lockers or bear wires are not available, hang your food in a tree at least 100 feet (300′ in grizzly country) from your tent. Leave No Trace has good instructions on Hanging a Bear Bag here. Also, do not litter, even if waste is biodegradable. Leaving food by trails attracts wildlife.
10. Travel on official trails during daylight hours. Bears are most active at dawn and dusk, and during the night.
Renee S
Thanks, Wes, for the great info!