Bear Safety

One Step Away From Learning All About Bears

Thank you for joining us in The Let’s Adventure Academy Course Library!

This free short course is brought to you by the L. A. Foundation – helping change the face of leadership in the outdoor industry.

The content from our courses are provided thanks to our Educators, as well as from personal experience shared by our team of chapter coordinators and board members. A huge thanks to our Assist Partner Merrell Canada for supporting the Bear Safety course. Partners like Merrell Canada allow us the ability to bring courses like these to life.

Just by being here, you’re helping the L. A. Foundation make a difference. Our collection of free and short courses are to be enjoyed by all to help build confidence in the outdoors.

This course is one of our free courses, as we want to ensure that the majority of our education material is accessible to everyone. If you are able to support the L. A. Foundation through a donation, you can do so here. Every dollar helps!

We thank you for your support of our foundation, and hope you enjoy the next few lessons on Bear Safety! Don’t forget to send this course to a friend to help inspire further education in the outdoors!

Much love,

All of us at The L. A. Foundation

Amazing Facts About Bears

Bears are extraordinarily intelligent animals. They have excellent navigation skills, strong memories, a large brain-to-body ratio, and they use tools in various contexts, from play to foraging and hunting.

Bears also grieve deeply. Cubs are known to moan and cry when separated from their mothers; this can continue for weeks if the mother is killed by hunters or predators.

Their senses are exceptionally powerful. Bears have strong smell, sight, and hearing. They can detect food, cubs, mates, or predators from great distances. A personal account in The Great Bear Almanac describes a black bear in California traveling “upwind three miles in a straight line to reach the carcass of a dead deer.” Some estimates place a black bear’s sense of smell at 18–20 miles; polar bears — close relatives — have been known to follow scent for up to 40 miles.

A common misconception is that bears have poor eyesight. In fact, their vision is comparable to ours. Biologist Harry Reynolds wrote that, from his experience, “bears can see very well at a distance, at least as well as humans.”

Bears do not only live on land. Some Asiatic bears build nests in trees, using them for hiding, feeding, and sleeping. Many species climb trees well. Polar bears are considered marine mammals and are covered by the Marine Mammal Protection Act; their nostrils close underwater and their bodies (including partially webbed paws) are adapted for life in, on, and around water.

Before we begin the safety material, we want to reduce fear and increase understanding. So we’ll start with some fun, incredible, and jaw-dropping facts about bears.

Bears are impressive and potentially dangerous animals that deserve utmost respect. They are not the same as the cuddly toys we grew up with.

But an uncontrollable fear of bears isn’t helpful either.

When we encounter a bear on a trail, we need to stay calm and resist the instinct to run. So let’s begin with awe-inducing bear facts before we dive into safety.

Bears and Human Culture

Bears have been honored in the cultures of many early civilizations as symbols of power, strength, and protection. Vikings and Celts included bears in their legends, celebrating their strength and prowess. Today, the bear remains a national personification for countries such as Russia and Germany, and the brown bear is Finland’s national animal.

Humans have long idolized and romanticized bears. Stories portray them variously as cuddly companions, loyal friends, or fearsome villains.

Winnie-the-Pooh is one well-known example. The fictional character, created by A.A. Milne in 1926, was inspired by a real female black bear named Winnipeg from White River, Ontario. Winnipeg (nicknamed Winnie) was an orphaned cub who became an unofficial mascot for a Canadian regiment and later lived at the London Zoo, where she inspired Christopher Robin Milne and, in turn, his father’s stories.

Teddy bears have a different origin. The familiar toy was inspired by an incident involving President Theodore Roosevelt. On a hunting trip near Onward, Mississippi, on November 14, 1902, Roosevelt’s assistants cornered and tied a black bear to a tree so the president could shoot it; Roosevelt refused, calling it unsportsmanlike. Newspapers and political cartoons popularized the story, showing a small, helpless bear — and the “Teddy Bear” was born.

Even stories that produce cute characters like Winnie or Teddy often reflect a complicated human relationship with bears — one that includes admiration but also a history of disrespect, fear, and efforts to limit bears’ freedom to be wild.

‘Grolar’ and ‘Pizzly’ Bears Are Appearing

As the climate changes, brown (grizzly) and polar bear ranges are beginning to overlap, producing hybrid offspring commonly called “grolar” or “pizzly” bears.

This was first confirmed in 2006 when a hunter killed what he thought was a polar bear that proved to be a hybrid of a polar bear and a grizzly. These hybrids can be fertile, so interbreeding may affect the gene pools of both species.

Black Bears Are Not Always Black

The bears in the photo above are a cinnamon-colored black bear sow and her blond cub.

Although the species is called “black bear,” individuals can be black, brown, cinnamon, blond, blue-gray, or even white.

Color variation is influenced by environment. Lighter coats are more common in western North American black bears, where they help with camouflage in open meadows and may reduce heat stress.

White Bears Have Cultural Significance

The best-known light-colored black bears are the Kermode subspecies (found in British Columbia). Ten to 25 percent of Kermode bears have all-white or cream-colored coats, despite being technically black bears.

Beyond their striking appearance, Kermode (or “spirit”) bears hold cultural significance for many First Nations. For example, a Kitasoo/Xai’xais story says Raven created the white bears to remind him of snow and ice as the Ice Age ended; another tale describes an agreement that some black bear cubs would be born white.

We hope this broadens your view of bears so you can see beyond fear to the remarkable animals behind our stories. Now, let’s learn what to do when you encounter a bear in the wild.

When You See a Bear on the Road

Scenario: You are driving along a scenic highway. Suddenly you notice stopped vehicles ahead and people gathered on the shoulder. A mother bear with a cub is beside the road. What an incredible sight!

Do you…

A) Pull over slightly, tell everyone to stay put, then grab your camera and step out to take photos next to your vehicle?
B) Stop in the travel lane and get everyone out of their seats to join the crowd, now only a few metres from the bears?
C) Turn on your vehicle’s hazard lights to warn other drivers, slow down, and cautiously drive through the area while watching for people or bears crossing the road.

If you chose C, this encounter is more likely to end well as you didn’t put others or the bears at risk.

Bears are fascinating, but people’s enthusiasm can create dangerous situations, especially for those unfamiliar with wildlife behavior.

Why “bear jams” are a problem

For people:

Stopped vehicles blocking travel lanes, people crossing the road, and crowds near the shoulder create serious hazards, especially on narrow roads with limited sightlines.
Bear jams make it hard for drivers to pass safely and increase the risk of collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians.
Approaching bears for photos (often for social media) is dangerous – bears can react unpredictably.

For bears:

Close contact or feeding can habituate bears to humans, eroding their natural fear and increasing human-bear conflicts and vehicle collisions.
Crowds, loud vehicles, and sustained proximity are stressful for bears and can provoke defensive or aggressive behavior, or harm vulnerable individuals (e.g., pregnant females).

What to do if you see a bear while driving

Do not stop in the travel lane.
Pass through the area cautiously
Watching for animals or people that may dart onto the road (people lose their minds around bears!)
Use your hazard lights

If you must stop, because your tire went flat immediately upon seeing the bear and you have absolutely no choice but to stop… follow these rules:
1. Only stop if there is a designated pull-out, ensuring you are off the highway and in a safe place to stop.
2. Remain inside your vehicle, protected from traffic and the bear, until the bear is long gone.
3. Keep a safe distance to respect the bear’s stress levels and safety.

Our concern is for the safety of everyone (bear included) involved.

Never a Winnie, Always the “Oh Pooh” situation…

Though they seem cute and cuddly, bears are no joke.

It’s important to review bear safety information prior to going out on a hike with your group. We encourage you to review this information privately prior to hikes, as well as verbally with your group to ensure everyone is prepared for possible encounters.

Bears generally prefer to avoid people. However, encounters between bears and people do occur, as we are in their home. Knowing how to avoid an encounter with a bear is the best way to enjoy your event safely.

In the event you do come across a bear, it is important to know a bit about bear behaviour. How we respond in an encounter with a bear really depends on the type of interaction that is taking place.

AVOID an encounter: the best approach

Bears are extremely sensitive to the stress of human activity. You can help protect these animals by avoiding encounters with them. Very rarely is a bear actually looking for you. Most encounters are due to surprise.

Here are some tips!

Make noise! Let bears know you’re there. Call out, clap, sing or talk loudly especially near streams, dense vegetation and berry patches, on windy days, and in areas of low visibility. Bear bells are not enough.
- In large groups this is much easier, so encourage everyone to chat, motivate your group along the trail as you go, shout to the front lead “how’s it going up there?!”, or yell to the back of the group “how’s my pace?!” Keep the conversations flowing.
Watch for signs a bear is around. Fresh tracks, droppings, diggings, torn-up logs and turned-over rocks are all signs that a bear has been in the area. Leave the area if the signs are fresh.
Keep your dog on a leash at all times or leave them at home. Dogs can provoke defensive behaviour in bears
Larger size groups are less likely to have a serious bear encounter. We request group hikes in high bear areas be of groups of 6 or more.
Use officially marked paths and trails and travel during daylight hours.
If you come across a large dead animal, leave the area immediately and report it to park staff or rangers.

If you SEE a bear

Stop and remain calm. Get ready to use your bear spray. Do not run away.

Is the bear UNAWARE of your presence? Move away quietly without getting it’s attention.

Is the bear AWARE of your presence? Bears may bluff their way out of an encounter by charging and then turning away at the last second. Bears may also react defensively by woofing, growling, snapping their jaws and laying their ears back, or sometimes they will just stand there, trying to identify you.

Stay calm, and keep your group calm. Your calm behaviour can reassure the bear. Screams or sudden movements may trigger an attack.
Speak to the bear. Talk calmly and firmly. This lets the bear know you are human and not a prey animal. If a bear rears on its hind legs and waves its nose about, it is trying to identify you.
Back away slowly. Never run! Running may trigger a pursuit.
Make yourself appear BIG. Pick up small children and stay in a group.
Do not drop your pack. It can provide protection.

If you must proceed, make a wide detour around a bear or wait at a safe distance for it to move on.

If the bear APPROACHES

Stop and remain calm. Get ready to use your bear spray. Do not run away. Assess the bear’s behaviour and determine why it is approaching.

Is it DEFENSIVE?

The bear is feeding, protecting its young and/or surprised by your presence. It sees you as a threat. The bear will appear stressed or agitated and may vocalize. Keeping calm in this situation is crucial. You will react much differently to a defensive bear than a non-defensive bear.

Is it NON-DEFENSIVE?

A bear may be curious, after your food, or testing its dominance. In the rarest case, it might be predatory–seeing you as potential prey. All of these non-defensive behaviours can appear similar and should not be confused with defensive behaviours.

The bear will be intent on you with head and ears up.

Talk in a firm voice.
- Move out of the bear’s path.
- If it follows you, stop and stand your ground.
- Shout and act aggressively.
- Try to intimidate the bear.
- If it approaches closely, use your bear spray.

Handling an ATTACK

Most encounters with bears end without injury. If a bear actually makes contact, you may increase your chances of survival by following these guidelines. In general, there are 2 kinds of attack:

1) Defensive

This is the most COMMON type of attack.

Use your bear spray.
If the bear makes contact with you: PLAY DEAD!

Lie on your stomach with legs apart and position your arms so that your hands are crossed behind your neck. This position makes you less vulnerable to being flipped over and protects your face, the back of your head and neck. Remain still until you are sure the bear has left the area.

These defensive attacks are generally less than two minutes in duration (everything would feel like an eternity in the case of a bear attack, but defensive attacks are meant to protect, not to eat). If the attack continues, it may mean it has shifted from defensive to predatory—FIGHT BACK!

2) Predatory

A bear could start our defensive and switch to predatory if it thinks you are dead. If this seems to be the case, it’s time to fight back.

Try to escape into a building, car or up a tree. *Bears can climb trees, better than we can – this is a distancing technique but not a lifesaver
If you cannot escape, do not play dead.
Use your bear spray and FIGHT BACK.

Intimidate that bear: shout; hit it with a branch or rock, do whatever it takes to let the bear know you are not easy prey. This kind of attack is very rare, but it is serious because it usually means the bear is looking for food. And you’re food.

Note: 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.

Because you are with a group there is less likely of a chance that there will be a bear attack. But it is important to know this information and learn and understand bears prior to going out with a group. We are not bear instructors. We encourage you to seek further information and get to know bears if bears are a threat in your local area.

Remember, we are joining them in their home, and we need to show them the respect.

Running or biking on the trails

Your speed and quietness put you at risk for sudden bear encounters.

Slow down through shrubby areas and when approaching blind corners.
Make noise, travel in groups, be alert and always watch ahead.
Carry bear spray with you at all times on the trail, and know how to use it.

Bears are incredible animals. When you cross their paths, they need their space, and they need respect.

Note we say “when” not “if”. If you are in a bear populated area, mentally prepare yourself with “when” statements as much as possible. The more you mentally prepare yourself for all of the possible situations mentioned above, the more instinctual your response will be when you encounter a bear.

Try to learn this information well enough to explain it to your groups before you hit the trail. As always we let the attendees know that “we are not guides and that this is not a guided hike, but here are some bear tips to remember!”

Bear Spray

Bear spray can be a great tool to your toolbelt of bear safety. However carrying bear spray is not enough in itself. The following information will go over what bear spray is and how you can use it. Most outfits that sell bear spray can provide bear spray lessons and education. We encourage you to go beyond the following information to ensure safety when using bear spray.

Please note: We have borrowed the following information and cited our references below. The Lady Alliance Foundation is not a bear spray use educator, and this information is for your general knowledge only. We encourage further education in this area.

What is bear spray?

Bear sprays are aerosol deterrent sprays loaded with highly concentrated capsaicin and capsaicinoids similar to those found in over-the-counter pepper sprays used by civilians and law enforcement agencies. The only difference between the two lies in their potency. The average capsaicin content in civilian pepper sprays is around 0.4% to 0.5%, but in bear sprays ranges from 1.0% to 2.0%. As you might have guessed, the higher the concentration of capsaicin, the more potent the spray will be.

When deployed, bear sprays release a cloud of the capsaicin formula as a vapor. This temporarily incapacitates the bear by irritating its mucous membranes, eyes, mouth, and ears, giving you time to hightail it to safety.

Several studies have shown that bear sprays are highly effective in repelling attacks by different species of bears. The most notable of these was a study by Alaska’s U.S. Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team(opens in new tab), which found that bear sprays effectively deterred 92% of brown bear attacks and 90% of black bear attacks.

The bottom line? Although bear spray doesn’t offer a guarantee of coming out of a bear encounter unharmed, it’s still the most effective and reliable deterrent at your disposal – and it is, of course, far better than carrying nothing at all.

https://www.advnture.com/how-to/use-bear-spray

To have bear spray be of use, you must:

Ensure it is not expired
Know how to use it
Carry it in the proper place
Understand external elements that can alter deployment

How to store bear spray

First of all, because bear spray canisters can explode in high temperatures, be sure to store your spray in a cool location and out of direct sunlight either at home or in your vehicle.
Store your spray in a secure, locking container. This is particularly important if you have kids or pets.
The shelf life of bear sprays varies from product to product. Every type of spray will lose potency towards the end of this date, so it’s a good policy to make a point of renewing your spray annually. If not, take a note of the expiry date and swap it out for a new one with a month or two to spare.
Before taking your bear spray out of storage and with you on a hike, make sure you check local or park regulations regarding the use of bear sprays.

How to carry bear spray

Before we explain how and when to deploy your spray, let’s first take a look at how to carry it so it will be ready to roll when need be.

When hiking and around camp, keep your spray on your person and in a place where it can be accessed easily and quickly, ideally on a holster on your belt or your chest – if you do encounter a bear, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll have time to fish around in your daypack to find it.
Make sure the safety clip is on to avoid accidental discharge.
Take your spray inside your tent with you in the evening and store it in a place where it can be easily located without using a headlamp. Make sure you have the safety on and that it’s well clear of any sharp items (e.g. tent pegs, crampons, camping utensils for cooking and dining).

This may seem unnecessary to state – but DO NOT USE YOUR BEAR SPRAY LIKE BUG SPRAY. Don’t be tempted to use your bear spray on your tent in the hope that it will deter bears before they get close. Doing this is actually only likely to attract bears to your campsite by giving them the scent of the pepper content of the spray – and even the best large tents, of course, are no match for bears

Bear spray can be effective with bears when used properly. Be aware that wind, spray distance, rain, freezing temperatures and product shelf life can all influence its effectiveness. Familiarize yourself with the proper use of bear spray (including the manufacturer’s specific instructions) and keep it readily accessible.

💡Pro Tip: Keep your bear spray on your hip belt, or shoulder strap on your non-dominant side so that you use your dominant hand to retrieve the bear spray.

How to use bear spray: step-by-step instructions

So, what to do if you meet a bear in the wilderness?

First, remember that using your spray should be a last resort. If you meet a bear in the wilds, first try to back away slowly while talking to the bear in a calm, loud, and consistent voice, and avoiding making eye contact. If the bear doesn’t approach or charge, continue backing away, make toward a safe place, and then alert park authorities. If it does…

Remove your bear spray from the holster or belt and release the safety clip.
If possible, take up a position whereby the bear is downwind to avoid the spray blowing back toward you when discharged.
Hold the spray in front of you with two hands, one on the can and the other on the trigger.
Wait until the bear is within ten yards (30 feet), aim slightly downward to allow for recoil, then discharge the full contents of the can.
Spray in a zigzag pattern to put a cloud of spray between yourself and the bear. If the bear doesn’t stop, aim directly at the bear’s face.
When the bear halts its charge or changes direction, leave the area promptly.
Give yourself a pat on the back and be grateful that you took the time to learn how to use bear spray!

https://www.advnture.com/how-to/use-bear-spray

Did you get bear spray on your skin?

Remove yourself away from the site of deployment.
Remove any clothing that has residue from bear spray. (Cloths will need to be washed or dry cleaned before used again).
Wash Skin with cool soapy water for at least 15 minutes. …
Seek medical help for further treatment.

The Bear Proof Campsite

Now you’ve got your bear spray, let’s talk about a bear proof campsite. Whether you’re front-country camping or hiking out to your spot in the back-country, there are precautions we can take to keep the bears at bay. Here are 9 ways you can bear proof your campsite!

Choose The Right Campsite

When selecting your campsite, check the area for signs of recent bear activity. This could be signs of digging or fresh bear prints. If you have a choice of campsites, choose one away from berry patches or other natural food sources for a bear. If you are hanging your food, the site must also have appropriate trees for bear bags. Unless you are random camping, and do not have a planned campsite, you should also call whoever runs the campground to check updated bear warnings or sightings.

Always give yourself ample space to set up your properly.

Set Up in the Right Spots

Your tent should be upwind of both your bear hang, and your cooking/ food disposal area. The tent should also be placed a fair distance from your food disposal area. If a bear was to smell the odours coming from the disposal area, they wouldn’t find you in your tent.

We like to encourage the 50-50 rule. Your bear bags and cooking/eating area should be quite far away from your tent.

Keep a Clean Campsite

Keep your site clean by packing away all your trash and food. This includes little bits that may have fallen off of your picnic table or lap! Clean your dishes immediately after eating, and pack them away. A bear isn’t interested in a squeaky clean site.

Any time your food or smelly items are out, a bear could come to check it out – whether you’re awake or not. Food should be properly stored at all times of the day. Practice keeping food out for very short times, only when eating. Additionally, practice being loud, chatting or listening to music while cooking and cleaning up to ensure a bear is aware of your presence before checking out the smells.

💡 Pro Tip: Bears are attracted to your poo and pee. Yup – you’ll need to plan those spots as well. More about this below.

Bring “Food Clothes” and “Sleeping Clothes”

As the name would suggest, cook and eat (and roast marshmallows!) in your “food” clothes. Before you go to bed, change into your sleeping clothes and put the ones you ate away. They can go into your bear locker or your bear bag. Don’t keep them in the tent with you. Bears have a great sense of smell.

Additionally, consider the laundry detergent you use to wash your sleeping clothes. Does it smell amazing? Maybe not the best camping detergent.

Bring Seal-able Bags and Containers

Pack bags that can be sealed, or odour proof bags for your leftover food and your trash. Some campsites may have bear bins for safe disposal of garbage. If you are in the back-country, they may not, so seal it tightly. This also goes into your bear bag overnight.

Bear Spray with You in Your Tent

Keep your bear spray in your tent with you. Even if you follow all of these precautions, we are still entering into the bear’s home. This is their domain! So keep your bear spray easily accessible when you sleep.

Considerations for the Smelly Things:

Backcountry

Your backcountry campground should resemble the image above. Your tent should be upwind of all smelly things. Your camp kitchen and bear hangs should be separate and each 50 meters away from your tent. Your perfect campground is not bear heaven. Everything above should be considered.

Before you go to sleep, hang everything we’ve discussed in your bear bag, or lock it in the locker provided. There should be nothing with odours in your tent (sorry, no sneaky midnight snacks). This should include toothpaste and soaps.

Everything that could have a smell – all food, food/cooking equipment that touches the food, toothpaste, creams, anything with perfumes (like some sunscreens) and even your eating clothes if applicable should go into your bear bag.

Bear Bag:

A bear bag is a crucial part of bear safe camp. Here is a link to one from MEC!

How To Hang:

Bear bags help eliminate smell, but bears senses are better than any bag could be. Hanging your bear bag is a crucial part to your bear proof campsite.

Here are some important considerations when hanging your bear bag:

Your bear bag should be at least 4 meters from the ground, and more than 1.3 meters away from any solid branches or the trunk of the tree.
Your bear bag should be hung 50 meters downwind from your camp.
Your rope should be strong enough to hang the bag and long enough to get your bag high enough.
Bring a small bag and method of clipping the small bag to your rope to help you hang the bag.

Some tips on hanging your bear bag:

Fill your small bag with rocks.
Attach your small bag of rocks to your rope
Swing your small bag of rocks over the tree branch you are hanging your bag from.
Use a stick to stop your bag from falling

Here is a great video showing 3 different ways to hang a bag! https://youtu.be/eCXTtagYDHk

We all do it – Pee and Poo Considerations:

If outhouses are provided, camp away from them and use them! If not, be sure to add an additional 50 meter down wind spot to the diagram shown above and designate a spot to relieve yourself.

When you poop we encourage a 1 foot hole dug, then cover your poo with the soil removed.

Frontcountry

When you are camping at a campground, ask the campground staff about their bear policies, any frequent bear sightings and bear hot spots. If there is no one on site, do your research ahead of time. They will have information posted.

Additionally, ensure that all smelly things are in their appropriate places and stored inside your vehicle. Coolers, storage bins and gazebos are not bear-smell-proof. Keep all food and smelly items inside your vehicle at all times. This includes those marshmallow sticks!

It’s Not “If”, It’s “When”

We are glad to have you here, and so happy to see your curiosity when it comes to bears and safety in the outdoors.

We hope that this course has answered questions you may have, and can help you prepare yourself for a positive bear experience.

It’s important to keep the mindset of not “if” but “when”. We encourage you to further educate yourself to prepare for possible bear encounters. If you mentally practice how your bear response will go WHEN you see a bear, you will react out of instinct not memory.

Thank you to our friends at Merrell Canada for supporting the L. A. Foundation and our course platform, and a huge thank you to you for your dedication to keeping yourself, other individuals and the bears safe.

The bears thank you!

Did you enjoy this course?

Help us bring more courses to our community through donation! Whether it’s $1, $5, $10 or $100 – every dollar helps us bring education into the outdoors.

Thank you for your support!