Bear Safe Guide What's the Problem?
Every year in the United States, an increasing number of people are setting up residence or vacationing in bear country. But many are not sufficiently prepared to deal with their wild neighbors. A bear is quickly labeled a "nuisance" when it becomes used to finding food in areas where people live or recreate. All too often, the problem is solved in the most extreme way - by shooting the bear. But by taking just a few basic steps, you can discourage curious animals looking for an easy meal. Carelessly stored food, garbage, even barbecue grease and bird feeders, can all attract bears and keep them coming back. By eliminating the source of the attraction, you eliminate visits from "nuisance" bears - and keep other bears from becoming a problem in the future. Easily avoided bear encounters have resulted in thousands of bears being killed unnecessarily each year. The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) helped to launch the Bear Safe program to educate the public how they can protect themselves -and the bears - in our wild spaces. Becoming Bear Safe is as easy as following the simple steps outlined in this safety guide. By learning about bears, you can anticipate and avoid encounters. Spotting a bear outside your home or cottage, or while hiking along some backcountry trail, can be terrifying to some and delightful to others. The best approach in either case is to play it safe. Never approach the bears and never feed them. Remember, "a fed bear is a dead bear"! If you have taken precautions, the bear should find nothing of interest and move on, leaving you with a rare and beautiful memory of your wildlife encounter. Whether you want to know how to discourage bears from wandering onto your property, how to camp sensitively in bear country or just find out more about living with these amazing creatures, read on and find out how to make your summer bear safe! |