If you are planning to travel to bear country, this is a must-read blog for you. If you are planning to visit Banff or Jasper, there is a chance you might encounter a bear. Though it’s rare, consider yourself one of the luckiest if you have this thrilling experience. I would like to share my knowledge and experience with you so that you can prepare yourself before you travel.
How to Recognize the Bear You Have Encountered?
It’s very important to recognize the bear first before deciding on your survival strategy. Otherwise, you might end up experiencing a serious attack! Hold on—I am here to help you! You may already know that you cannot identify them by color alone because they can vary. Usually, there are three kinds of bears: Black, Grizzly, and Polar Bears.
Black Bear: Black bears have a straight facial profile without any hump above their shoulders. They have tall ears and short claws.
Grizzly Bear: Grizzlies have medium dark brown fur, round ears, a hump above their shoulders, and long claws.
Polar Bear: Polar bears have thick white fur and massive paws.
Understanding Its Behavior
You need to observe and understand if the bear is likely to attack. Bears generally don’t charge unless they feel threatened by you. For instance, black bears are not as aggressive as grizzlies. If a polar bear charges at you, it’s definitely not your lucky day.
How to Survive?
- Bear Spray:
As soon as you encounter a bear, bear spray is your best tool for protection. Use it on its nose and eyes, and leave the area as quickly as possible. Always keep the spray in your front pocket or somewhere easily accessible because a bear may charge within seconds. - No Bear Spray:
If you don’t have bear spray, here’s what you should do:- Black Bear: After recognizing it, stay calm and observe its behavior. If it approaches, try making loud noises—it may leave. If it continues to approach, hit its nose and eyes to assert dominance. Never fall down or play dead with black bears.
- Grizzly Bear: Stay calm, speak in a low voice, and back away slowly. Never run from a grizzly—it will catch you. If it becomes aggressive and attacks, assume a fetal position, protecting your ears, nose, and stomach. Once it believes you are no longer a threat, it may leave. Stay in this position for 10–15 minutes after the attack to remain safe.
- Polar Bear: Encountering a polar bear is never a good experience. If you have bear spray, use it. Otherwise, fight back by targeting its nose and eyes with as much strength as possible. Remember, it’s a matter of survival, and you need to stay clear of its powerful paws.
My Experience
Let me share my experience: when I encountered a grizzly, I remained calm and slowly backed away while speaking in a low voice. It continued approaching aggressively, but before I decided to lie down, it changed its path and left me alone. My main advice is to avoid panic and never run at first sight.
How Many Bears Are There in Alberta?
It’s unfortunate that these animals are endangered due to increasing human activities. There are only about 150 to 170 bears within Banff and Jasper.
For more detailed information, visit Parks Canada.