5 Things to Remember When Viewing Bears

FIVE THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN VIEWING BEARS

Now that Spring has fully arrived in Whistler, the bears have emerged. Though they are very majestic and beautiful to watch please be smart when viewing these animals. Here are a few things to remember:

1. All bears are individuals

Bears are very similar to humans in that they each have a distinct personality. Just like humans their personalities are derived from nature and nurture. That being said every disturbance that bears experience has an impact on them. Bears are very intelligent and sensitive to their surroundings. Try to minimize your impact on them.

2. Be weary of a bear’s “critical space”

Just like humans with their personal space, bears have “critical space.” This space is the area around each bear that they may defend. That is why keeping a safe distance is important. If you notice a change in the bears behavior you may be within the bear’s critical space. Time to back up!

4. Bear Viewing on the roads

We all love bears; We all love watching bears; We don’t love getting into car accidents. If you are stopping to watch a bear please make sure you are in a safe area. Don’t pull off alongside the highway to watch a bear, as it is not safe for the cars behind you. Make sure to maintain a generous distance between your vehicle and the bear. Standard distance is 100 metres (about the length of 7 school buses). Don’t call out or whistle to attract the bear’s attention for a photo. All noises or actions that might stress bears should be avoided. Don’t do this when viewing bears:

5. Bears love FOOD

Yes that means they like your garbage, or that half eaten granola bar in your car, they will try to eat both. Make sure to lock up your garbage and avoid leaving food in your car. If you do leave food in your car, you may return to see this: