Bear Awareness

The Bear Awareness and Avoidance program was created to provide the most recent available information on bear avoidance for members of the public and industry alike. Knowing the appropriate response to a bear sighting/encounter could save your life and the lives of those you are with.

Grizzly and black bears are unpredictable at the best of times. Whether you are seeking recreation in bear country (hiking, camping, fishing, hunting) or you’re involved in an industry that requires you to work in bear country (seismic, logging, forestry), you need to be aware of what to do in the event of a bear sighting or encounter.

This program provides guidance for pre-planning before you enter bear country and on-site situations. The best defense against a bear encounter is to avoid it altogether. However, if faced with a bear, this program provides direction on how best to handle the situation using the knowledge and experiences of experts from the field. It provides students with the knowledge to recognize potentially dangerous situations and the understanding of the best methods to diffuse these hazardous situations.

Course content includes distinguishing between types of bears and their mobility as well as their diet, distribution and annual cycle. It also provides and in-depth look at available deterrents (bear pistols, sprays and noisemakers) and applicable legislations. In addition to curriculum, the program promotes discussion so class participants can learn from the knowledge and experience of others.

The student program is four to six hours in length. Students receive a participant workbook and a Bear Awareness and Avoidance Graduation Card upon successful completion of the program.