Bear Awareness Training

Bear Awareness Training

Please review the following presentation. In order to move the presentation forward or back, simply click on your mouse or use your scroll wheel. If you have any questions on how to use this, please email outland@outland.ca At the end of this presentation you will be required to complete a quiz. Please take the time to go through the entire presentation. You must get over 90% on the test or you will need to re-do it. Thank you for your participation.

Introduction

Introduction Outland undertakes a variety of operations that involve employees working in black bear habitat, occasionally this may result in an encounter Objective: To provide an overview of the policy and ensure that you understand all of your responsibilities as related to policy requirements 3

Responsibilities Management and Employee Responsibilities Defined Management 1. Review work activities to determine policy application 2. Ensure mandatory requirements are implemented in local operating procedures 3. Provide the local JHSC or Health and Safety Rep with a copy of the policy 4

Responsibilities Management and Employee Responsibilities Defined Management 1. Ensure employees have all required training/instruction 2. Confirm employees are complying with bear safety working procedures 3. Ensure all records ( training, storing and issuing ) are maintained 4. Account for all bear spray in the workplace 5. Review all reports of bear spray use, conduct investigation if required, report any cases to Occupational Health and Safety Unit and local JH and SC 5

Responsibilities Management and Employee Responsibilities Defined Employees 1. Works in compliance to the policy, training and instruction provided and uses issued spray only in accordance to Ministry instructions 2. Does not use bear spray that appears to be defective or unsafe, notifies supervisor of such incidents 3. Reports any black bear encounter where employee felt threatened, and reports any use of bear spray (accidental or intentional) 6

Bear Identification Seeing a bear can be one of the most memorable experiences of working in the woods, but it is our responsibility to respect the bear in its home. This means we must not force bears to leave their habitat, teach them to eat human foods, or place bears in situations where people or bears could get hurt. Preparation and education are essential to ensure our encounters with bears in the wild are positive and free from conflict. Bears will usually hide from people, but remember: just because you don't see a bear, it doesn't mean they aren't around. British Columbia has about one-quarter of all black bears in Canada, and half of all grizzly bears. Both species are found throughout the province, with very few exceptions. There are no grizzly bears on Vancouver Island or on the Queen Charlottes, for instance, and there are few or no grizzlies in the heavily-settled Lower Mainland or the dry, southern areas of the province. 7

Bear Identification Black Bear vs. Grizzly Bear Color: Brown, black, cinnamon or blonde Size: Smaller than the grizzly; 500-600 lbs Senses: Black bears rely on their excellent sense of smell to locate and find food. Speed and Agility: Black bears can run over 40 km/hr over short distances. They are agile runners both up and down hills as well as excellent swimmers 8

Bear Identification Black Bear vs. Grizzly Bear Color: Brown, black, cinnamon or blonde Size: 1100-1400 lbs. Males are almost twice as large as females. Grizzly bears are the larger of the two species. Facial Features: Grizzly bears have a blind spot and must turn their head to view you because their face is flatter. 9

Bear Identification Black Bear vs. Grizzly Bear 10

Bear Signs Be aware of your surroundings at all times and recognize bear signs! Fresh Tracks: It is often better to see the bear s tracks than to see the actual bear. If you can tell the direction that the bear is traveling in, it is prudent to change your course of direction. Bears will travel down the same pathways as people or other large animals use. Scat: Bear scat will look different depending upon the bear s diet. Scat that has remanence of human garbage means the bear is likely not afraid of humans and therefore potentially dangerous. Hair on Trees: Bears will often rub against trees to scratch themselves. The higher the hair left on the tree, the bigger the bear. Remember that the bear will often stand on its back legs to scratch its back on the tree 11

Bear Signs Torn-up Logs or Stumps:: Bears will forage for insects in dead logs and rotting trees. You will often see torn up logs and stumps, evidence of their foraging. Evidence of Digging: Holes dug into the ground are often made by grizzly bears digging for roots or ground squirrels. Grizzlies will dig for food in the early spring when they first leave their dens. Claw Marks on Trees: Claw marks can be left on trees by black bears when they have climbed up a tree. Grizzly bears will also leave claw marks on trees and on the ground. Bears will often chew a small tree or a sign-post, so watch for signs of chew marks along the trail. 12

Bear Signs Animal Carcasses: IF YOU COME ACROSS A CARCASS, LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY. Grizzly bears will often cover their kills for a few days and let it rot, then come back and eat it. THE BEAR WILL STAY CLOSE BY. Grizzly bears will defend their kill and this is a situation that will prompt a defensive attack by a bear. 13

Bear Behavior Understanding a bear s behavior is important to ensure your safety while working in remote areas Bears are always actively seeking food Bears are large and powerful animals and should be AVOIDED AT ALL TIMES Female bears, especially grizzly bears, will attack to protect their cubs. Never come between a female bear and her cubs. If you see cubs, leave the area immediately. Bears are creatures of opportunity; if you provide them with a food source they will take it and come back for more. Bears are curious, especially young bears. 14

Bear Behavior Dominance Hierarchy Defined Bears have a dominance hierarchy and people DO NOT fit into the bear s order of hierarchy. A bear s age, gender, reproductive status and their individual temperament will influence a bear s position in the dominance hierarchy. Dominance is maintained by ritualized threat encounters which may occur when; one bear comes too close to another, when two bears are competing for a choice fishing spot or when two strange bears meet for the first time. Bears do not attack one another, but use dominance signals such as: posture and orientation such as turning sideways to display their size to the other bear, movements, false charges, head-tilt positions and facial expressions. 15

Bear Behavior Dominance Hierarchy Defined The following is the dominance hierarchy of bears: Dominant male usually an older, larger male Female with cubs Female without cubs Sub-adults. 16

Hazards and Situations Activities that require frequent stooping/bending, increase chance of a surprise encounter. Stand up and scan often Working in thick bush or under noisy conditions (windy, rivers) Seasonal food sources ( spawning, various berries, dumps). Also the smell of rotting carrion. ( a presence of scavengers, for example, Ravens may indicate a rotting carcass) Dogs are not advised Base sites or camps often attract bears, take appropriate actions before bear activity starts 17

Encounter Techniques General Recommendations Consider your surroundings and access the situation before you act. Remain calm. Do not turn your back to a bear. DO NOT RUN You will trigger the bear s natural response to chase you. Bears are extremely fast and you cannot outrun a bear. (They are as fast as an Olympic sprinter, so if you are not faster than an Olympic sprinter, don t run! They can run 40 km/hr and you can t!) You cannot out swim a bear either. 18

Encounter Techniques Preventative Measures Stay alert, pay attention, take advantage of increased lines of sight ( ridge tops ) Making frequent noise when moving may limit the chance of startling a bear Avoid wearing perfumes/colognes that may cause a bear to investigate the smell If carrying food, ensure it is in an airtight container Avoid carcasses, if you do come on one, walk slowly away in a direction that is open If you see a bear, move away in a direction that gives the bear an escape route. 19

Preventative Measures In Camp Avoid camp areas often used by others Plan your camp to reduce the likelihood of setting up near abundant natural food sources Select a site that is open and provides good viewing prior to stepping out of tent/trailer/cabin Keep site clean, don t burn food scraps or fat in fire pit Do not cook, eat or store food/toiletries in your tent If bears become aggressive and enter tent/trailers, think about installing electrical fencing 20

Preventative Measures In the Field Stay alert, pay attention, take advantage of increased lines of sight ( ridge tops ) Making frequent noise when moving may limit the chance of startling a bear Avoid wearing perfumes/colognes that may cause a bear to investigate the smell If carrying food, ensure it is in an airtight container Avoid carcasses, if you do come on one, walk slowly away in a direction that is open If you see a bear, move away in a direction that gives the bear an escape route. 21

Bear Myth Grizzlies Can t Climb Trees. WRONG! Can you tell which is a grizzly and which is a black bear? Both can climb trees! If a grizzly is too large to climb a tree they will try to push it over! Left: Young grizzly Right: Yearling black bear cub 22

How to React to Bear Encounters Remain calm. DO NOT RUN the bear will quickly out-run you if it is so inclined. Stand your ground raise your arms and talk to the bear in a calm loud voice. You are assuring the bear you are not a threat. Try to slowly move upwind and back away from the bear - the way you came, always keep your eyes on the bear. 23

How to React to Bear Encounters Aggressive Bears Stand on high ground make yourself appear as large as possible Raise your arms high Shout aggressively Utilize a whistle or air-horn Use a shovel or stick whatever is available in an aggressive manner You want the bear to think it may become injured if it persists The bear cannot think you are prey by acting subordinate, you must act as if you are dominant to the bear 24

Thank you for taking the Outland Bear Awareness Training. You can now proceed to the online test where you will be required to answer all questions. You need to achieve 80% on the test to pass the course. You can re-do the test if you do not achieve a passing grade.