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By Justine Kelsie

Conservation Officer urging people to be “bear aware”

Jun 1, 2018 | 2:20 PM

As the spring and summer roll on, people are encouraged to be aware of bears and other wildlife when heading outdoors. 

District Conservation Officer with Alberta Parks Andrew Goldberg says there are ways to avoid human and animal conflicts. 

“If you are camping at any of our parks, we require that you don’t leave attractants in your site including food and garbage. If you are leaving your site, put your food in a hard-sided vehicle and garbage in a proper bin.”

Keeping animals on a leash is also a way to avoid a run-in with a bear. 

“Many dogs are protective of their owners and when put in a situation with wildlife, they tend to make the situation worse. They tend to provoke the wildlife and then realize they are unmatched. They will then run back to their owner,” said Goldberg.

“A lot of people travel in areas that are off their campsite in parks like hiking trails and biking. Your chance of encountering wildlife in that situation is a lot greater than within your campsite. It is generally in the forested areas.”

He recommends traveling in groups, making noise and carrying bear spray as well as knowing how to use the spray if it’s needed to prevent an attack. 

Although wildlife may be intriguing to take pictures of, Goldberg recommends steering clear of bear selfies. It is recommended that photographs be taken from the safety of a vehicle. People should keep a 100-metre distance between bears and themselves. There should be a 30-metre distance between people and other large animals such as moose or elk.

“If you do happen to come across an animal, the best thing you could do is give it space and let them know you are there. It does happen where people may be making noise and things happen where an animal might still be there. Make your presence known by calmly talking and slowly getting out of the area,” said the officer. 

He says he hopes people can have an opportunity to see wildlife in a safe manner. 

by Justine Kelsie