Parks Canada reminding the public about staying safe in bear country

The first bear sighting in Jasper National Park this spring has been reported.

The black bear was spotted foraging for food in the Lac Beauvert area on the evening of April 2, and more black bears and grizzly bears are expected to emerge from hibernation soon, say Jasper National Park wildlife officials.

Along with the impending park-wide ursidae wake-up, Parks Canada is reminding the public of the possibility of human-wildlife conflicts. 

“While bears generally prefer to avoid people, encounters between bears and people do occur,” the agency said in an April 2 information update.

The message from wildlife experts is for the public to reacquaint themselves with basic bear safety practices, and to take steps to avoid an encounter.

“Add bear spray back into your adventure kit, and be ready to encounter wildlife,” the memo reads.

Parks Canada says that avoiding an encounter with either bear species is the best situation; 100 metres (or 10 bus lengths) away is the general rule-of-thumb. You can stay safe in bear country by:

• Carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it: Bear spray is, essentially, pepper spray. It’s also good against other large mammals such as cougars, wolves, coyotes, elk, deer and moose
  
• Making noise to let bears know you’re coming. A surprised bear can be aggressive and defensive. Bear bells are not effective. Instead you should call out, clap your hands, sing or talk loudly
  
• Look for fresh bear signs such as tracks, droppings, overturned rocks, or evidence of digging
  
• Leave your dog at home. Dogs can provoke defensive behaviour in bears and are known to be a factor in bear attacks.

Parks Canada says attacks fall into two categories: defensive or predatory. A defensive attack will usually occur if the bear is feeding, protecting its young or if it’s surprised. Predatory attacks are “very rare,” according to Parks Canada.

“This kind of attack is very rare, but it is serious because it usually means the bear is looking for food,” according to the agency’s Safe travel in bear country web page.

“It is very difficult to predict the best strategy to use in the event of a bear attack. That is why it is so important to put thought and energy into avoiding an encounter in the first place.”

Jasper National Park is home to 109 grizzly bears, as well as around 90 black bears. While the range of each black bear can be up to 200 square kilometres, grizzlies can roam across a territory of as large as 4,000 square kilometres—often extending outside the park boundaries.  

Coming into spring, bears will feast on berry patches, as well as on newly-sprouted vegetation along roadsides and highways.

Grizzlies are typically light brown in colour, with some blonde or white hairs sprinkled throughout, giving them a silver-tipped or “grizzled” appearance. They’re easily distinguished by a large, muscular hump on their shoulders.

Black bears are smaller—typically weighing around 170 kg (375 lbs) compared to the grizzlies’ 250 kg (550 lbs) bulk—and range in colour from black to cinnamon, sometimes with white patches on their chest.

Want to know more about bears and staying safe while outdoors in Jasper National Park? Download the Parks Canada “Bears and People” brochure here: 

If you do encounter a bear, contact Jasper Park Dispatch, (780) 852-6155.

Cameron Jackson // cj@thejasperlocal.com