With bears in the territory awakening from hibernation, wildlife experts warn bears are “active” in the NWT and urge folks to take steps to keep a distance and keep safe.
The N.W.T. is known as “bear country’ and home to black, grizzly and polar bears. While bears generally avoid contact with people, encounters happen.
Bear encounters are most common in times like spring as bears emerge after hibernation, say wildlife experts.
“Seeing bears on our landscape is very normal up here. We live in bear country and we don’t have highly developed cities with lots of people and lots of infrastructure. We have really nice green spaces and our green spaces butt up to where our communities are and bears like to spend time there. Bears love to spend time in areas where there’s water, where there’s food,” said Abbey Wilson, who is a carnivore biologist with GNWT’s Environment and Climate Change.
Wilson advised it’s a good idea for anyone on trails or outdoors to keep deterrents like bear spray within close reach – not tucked away in backpacks and advises to stay calm, keep your distance, back away and give bears lots of room to make their exit.
Bear experts and officials say folks can take steps to prevent bear encounters and keep “bear and offered this advice to folks spending time outdoors in the N.W.T.
“Don’t invite them in!”
Avoid activities that bears might perceive as “inviting.”
“Avoiding encounters starts with not inviting bears to your home, cabin, or community. Negative encounters are more likely when bears are in populated areas, and if bears become food conditioned to human food and garbage, they are more likely to stay close to people and less likely to stay in the wild,” warn officials from the Department of Environment and Climate Change
They advise these steps “to keep yourself and the bears safer”
- NEVER feed wildlife.
- Keep food, pet food, gas, and other potential attractants inside or in airtight containers.
- Bear-proof your garbage by keeping it indoors, in a shed, or in a secured container that locks or stays firmly closed so a bear can’t get it open
- Don’t clean fish or field dress harvested wildlife close to communities, cabins or homes. Safely dispose of the remains away from places frequented by people to prevent human bear conflicts.
Food can be a major factor in a bear’s perception of a situation and their behaviour.
“If they are on a kill or have something really valuable on them, then they’re going to defend that, but for the most part bears are just trying to stay away from you and not encounter you,” emphasized Wilson.
If a threat is perceived, a bear may take an aggressive stance.
“That’s when you really want to fight back and get big and make yourself, say ‘I’m big enough that you can’t take me down,’ but I would say the majority of encounters with bears are just either the Bears trying to get away,” explained Wilson.
The main thing to keep in mind is to give the bears a lot of space, advised Wilson.
“Give them a way out because they don’t want to interact with you.”
Bears have a keen sense of smell, so another way to avoid getting face to face with a curious bear is by keeping “downwind.”
“Because you just want to keep the bear from smelling you. You just want to make sure the wind is not carrying your scent towards the bear, so you want to be downwind so the wind would be blowing on you so that your scent is travelling away from the bear,” explained Wilson.
During an encounter, it’s important to relax and just step back.
“You want to stay calm, keep your distance. You want to back away quietly, speak calmly and do not run,” said Wilson.
There is no guaranteed way to predict how a bear might respond.
“Be prepared on the land”
The Department of Environment and Climate Change recommended taking these steps to avoid negative encounters with bears on the land:
- Keep deterrents like bear spray, air horns and/or bear bangers on you – and know how to use them.
- Don’t leave garbage or food waste behind and bear-proof your campsite by keeping it clean.
- Make noise, travel in groups and carry bear spray.
- Keep your dog on a leash at all times.
- Be on the look out for fresh bear signs and leave the area if you find any.
Recognizing ways that might be “inviting” bears and avoiding those human behaviours can prevent a tense encounter.
“Making sure that we take responsibility for our garbage and our food waste, especially when we’re out on the land or if we’re at campsites,” urged Wilson.
As bears are mainly trying to avoid encounters, another recommendation is to travel in groups and make noise while on trails to give bears notice. It’s also a good idea to keep pets on a leash. Wilson explains these are simple but effective ways to respect bears’ territory and keep safe.
While out on the land there are ways to look out for bears by watching for “fresh bear signs.” There are a few things folks may be able to spot, like bear tracks in mud or sand.
“Depending on the weather conditions, those are be easier or harder to see,” Wilson points out.
Another tell tale sign — “bear scat.”
“If you see the droppings of bears, they usually have berries in them or like a dark brown colour,” said Wilson.
Bears like to use their claws to scratch trees to communicate with other bears to mark their territory or to attract mates. They also like to rub their fur on trees to groom off loose fur.
“So those (signs) are a little bit harder to see, but you’ll be able to see very clear claw marks or scratch marks on the trees,” said Wilson.
“If you see a bear”
Officials recommend following these steps in case of a bear encounter:
- Stay calm
- Keep your distance
- Back away quietly, speak calmly, and DO NOT run
- Try to stay downwind to avoid the bear from smelling you
- Make loud noises by using an air horn, whistle, or clapping hands to scare them away
- Have your bear spray ready
- Report all sightings that are within and around the community to your region’s wildlife emergency line
Anyone who wants to find the wildlife emergency line can go to the GNWT’s reporting page
“Bear behaviour indicators and what they mean”
- Bear climbing tree = The bear is frightened, seeking safety or escape from potential danger.
- Bear running away from you = The bear may be frightened and actively avoiding confrontation.
- Bear walking away, looking behind = The bear is escaping but checking to see if the danger persists, showing caution.
- Bear ambling haphazardly = The bear is likely unconcerned, relaxed, or unaware of any immediate threat.
- Bear looking at you = The bear could be curious, trying to assess the situation from a distance.
- Bear standing on hind legs and looking at you = The bear is likely curious, possibly trying to get a better view or more information.
- Bear approaching, stopping periodically = The bear is curious but hesitant, unsure whether to approach further or retreat.
- Bear pawing the ground and/or snorting = The bear is displaying aggression or defensive behaviour, possibly due to a perceived threat.
- Bear walking directly toward you with head down = The bear is likely in a predatory stance, possibly preparing to attack or view you as a threat.
“If a bear charges”
- Make loud noises and do not turn your back.
- Many charges are bluffs. The bear will often veer to the side at the last minute.
- Use bear spray only at close range.
- If you have a firearm and contact appears unavoidable, shoot to kill.
- If it’s a grizzly bear, you play dead during an attack, lie on your side, curl into a ball with your legs tight to your chest and hands clasped behind your neck.
- When you’re safe, report it to your region’s wildlife emergency line right away
The Department of Environment and Climate Change suggests folks review Bear safety resources
