Whistler is a haven for black bears. They are roadside, in our backyards, walking down the Valley Trail network and on the ski hill. For the most part, they ignore us and are not dangerous unless we approach them or bait them to our houses with attractants like garbage. Even then, bears will give us plenty of warning that we are in their personal space - like huffing, jaw popping and maybe swatting the ground or lunging at us. We can sometimes forget that these are wild animals that deserve our respect, if for no other reason than that they are much more powerful than we are (even the little yearlings).
In Whistler, bears can be found almost anywhere in town, including alongside or crossing the highway. I've seen people in such a hurry driving to their destination that when they see a bear clearly attempting to cross, they speed up because they don't want to stop for the bear and lose 30 seconds of time.
Bears are not good judges of vehicle speed and may literally run out in front of vehicles in an attempt to cross the road quickly. Or they may meander across, taking their time because they've become very accustomed to traffic. In either scenario, it is far better to slow down and let the bear cross the road; not just to avoid killing the bear, but to keep yourself safe and not cause damage to your vehicle.
If you see a bear grazing beside the road, please do not stop to photograph it. "Bear jams" are very dangerous for both people and bears. If you have to stop because traffic is blocked, don't contribute to the problem by getting out of your vehicle and approaching the bear. Chances are pretty good that you won't get hurt, but as we saw a couple of weeks ago, when the RCMP killed a bear that was too close to a person approaching it, the bear might.
By approaching bears, you are also teaching them that humans are benign, and that also gets bears killed in the long run (human-habituated bears are far more likely to be killed by managers than non-habituated bears). If you really want to see bears, Whistler Blackcomb offers bear-viewing tours; alternatively, you can take the gondola up to the Roundhouse on Whistler Mountain, and look for bears on the ski runs. These are better options than approaching roadside bears to get a National Geographic photo with a small point-and-shoot camera without the appropriate telephoto lens.
We can all enjoy bears from a distance. That ensures our safety and does not contribute to bears habituating to people.
Remember to keep your garbage and recycling secure in your house or in a bear-proof bin; put away those birdfeeders; and keep your barbecues clean and remove the grease can or drip tray! If you see a bear in an urban or residential area, please call (604) 905-BEAR (2327).
Lori Homstol is Whistler Bear Aware community coordinator.
