The best tactics and tips for protecting yourself from black bears while canoe tripping this summer!

Black bears are actually mainly vegetarian creatures which subsist on a diet of berries, roots, buds, leaves, nuts, insects and fish, which means that they don’t instinctively or actively seek out large mammals (like canoeists) for their dinner. Whew!.

Most black bears are also quite scared of people. Actually, most are more scared of you than you are of them (I know that is hard to believe) and they will often take-off at the first smell or sight of humans.

However, the type of black bears that you should be concerned about are the ones that have been habituated to humans, by either being fed human food or food scraps from the garbage. These bears have been conditioned to know that human picnic baskets, coolers and canoe packs are a source of “easy” calories (think back to Yogi bear cartoons) and some of these black bears not longer fear humans.

These bears cause problems, as they can be unpredictable and sometimes aggressive. From my experience in dealing with a problem baby black bear in Killarney Provincial Park (no mother bear was to be seen) that even a swift whack with a canoe paddle didn’t deter the aggressive cub from the pot of chili. Like the adage goes, “a fed bear is a dead bear.”

Our group was fine in the end. We were able to distract and deter the bear for a few minutes, while we packed our things and fled the campsite quickly with the pot of chili sitting in the bottom of the canoe.

So that everybody has a safe trip into the wilderness, here are some of the top tips from Parks Canada on how to avoid bear encounters and what to do if you encounter one.

How to Avoid Bears

1) Avoid Surprising a Black Bear.

Canoe in groups, stay on established trails and hike or canoe in daylight. Use caution when canoeing inot the wind or travelling near fast flowing water because black bears might not be able to hear or smell you. Keep children close.

2) Keep Your Eyes Open.

Watch for signs such as tracks, droppings, diggings, torn-up logs and scratched trees may indicate that a bear is nearby.

3) Be Cautious Around Bear Food.

Bears love to eat berries, fish and carrion (dead animals) and these are sources of food that they may defend. Be cautious around these areas and always report the presence of a dead animal to the park staff.

4) Keep Dogs on a leash.

Dogs can aggravate bears. Please keep them on a leash and never leave them unattended.

5) Stay away from cubs.

Bears can be aggressive if they feel that their cub is threatened. Never come between a mother and her cub.

6) Watch for area closures and bear warnings.

It is illegal to enter a closed area. Area closures are posted in places where bear activity poses a danger to visitors. Bear warnings are posted in areas when there is bear activity and the chance of an encounter is heightened. Use caution in these areas.

What to do if you encounter a bear?

Keep calm. Think ahead; your brain is your best defence against a bear attack. Plan how to respond if you encounter a bear.

Don't run. Bears can easily outrun you. By running you may trigger an attack. Make yourself less vulnerable. Pick up small children and stay in a group.

Give the bear space. Back away slowly and talk in a soft voice. Do not approach the bear or make direct eye contact.

Leave the area or make a wide detour. If you cannot leave, wait until the bear moves out of the way and ensure that it has an escape route.

The bear may approach you or rear up on its hind legs. Bears are often curious. If one stands on its hind legs, it is most likely trying to catch your scent; this is not necessarily a sign of aggression. Back away slowly and talk in a soft voice.

Do not drop objects, clothing or food to distract the bear. If the bear receives food, it will have been rewarded for its aggressive behaviour, thereby increasing the likelihood that it will repeat that behaviour again.

Watch for aggressive behaviours. A bear may display aggression by swinging its head from side to side; making vocalizations such as huffs, snorts, whoops, or moans; displaying teeth or claws; jaw popping; swatting at the ground; staring with eye contact; panting; or laying its ears back. These behaviours usually indicate that the bear is stressed, acting defensively and asking for more space. Attacks rarely follow. This is the most common kind of black bear aggressive encounter.

Also check out the video "Grizzly Bears Destrying Campsite" on the Canoeroots blogs www.canoerootsmag.com/blogs

Have a great time at Parks Canada this year. To learn more about black bears, go to: www.pc.gc.ca

Photo Credit: Alan Vernon