Bits 'n Bites

Earn CA$H for bears

If you are willing to gas up at Husky, you can earn CA$H for bears. All you have to do is use a Get Bear Smart Society Loyalty card when you pay. It won’t cost you anything and Get Bear Smart earns 2% on every dollar you spend. That'll add up quickly! Just let us know if you’d like to participate by emailing GBS with your full mailing address and we'll send you a loyalty card.

Tip of the Month: electric fence your tent site

It seems that with more and more people using the backcountry as well as established campgrounds, incidents involving bear inflicted injury and death are becoming a serious concern. The recent incident at Montana Soda Butte Campground, resulting in a human fatality and several injuries to campers, is yet another example pointing to the clear need to protect yourself in your tent. According to the USFWS's Investigation Team Report, the attacks “cannot be clearly explained or understood”. The campground had plenty of warning signage, bear-resistant food storage boxes and garbage containers, as well as enforcement of bear safe regulations.

To ensure your safety while tenting in bear country, we strongly recommend using a portable electric fence to surround your sleeping quarters. Campground managers should also consider surrounding at risk camping areas with permanent electric fence, similar to The Lake Louise Campground in Alberta. Additional precautions could include restrictions, such as not permitting tents and soft-sided trailers in campgrounds in early spring (April/May) and late fall (October/November), to help protect both people and bears.

Not convinced? Check this list of bear attacks on humans while camping in North America over the past four decades.

In the News

Construction firms learn to get ‘Bear Smart’

July 28, 2010 “Bears are attracted to worksites by food, drinks, garbage, food wrappers, and empty drink containers,” says Dolson. “Workers need to be advised that lunch boxes, coolers and cars are not bear-proof. Bears have been known to rip off the doors and windows of vehicles to access even a candy wrapper, used coffee cup or banana peel. Store all food inside a bear-resistant food container, bear-proof locker or a locking, closed metal container.” Learn more about work safe practices. Read the full story here.

Bear killed but bullet hits by-stander

August 27, 2010. Seward police, in Alaska, shot and killed a black bear but the bullet ricocheted off something and hit a bystander. While the bystander was only bruised, this is a good evidence to support non-lethal means of managing bears, to ensure that public safety is not compromised. Read the story here. Download our guide to non-lethal bear management.

B.C. man denies taming bears to guard grow-op

September 6, 2010. While the police believe that about 15 rather large wild free-ranging bears found near a grow-op were fed to guard the property - the owner denies the allegations. He says he fed the bears because one seemed to be asking for food about a decade ago and that he's had up to 24 bears come for food at one time. He says he's had a "wonderful time" with them as well as his pet raccoon, which he says likes to sleep on his bed. His Christina Lake property is surrounded by residents who say they haven't been concerned about the feeding of the bears. But, as the bears are weaned off the food handouts, nearby properties will be monitored by police to ensure that the bears don't cause the neighbears any problems. "Problem" bears will be destroyed. Read the story here. Follow on Facebook.

The moral of the story: Don't feed the bears!

In this edition:

• Bits 'n Bites
• In the News