At Home

1. Don't attract bears to your property with bird feeders, fruit/berries, gardens, compost, dirty barbecues or pet food.

2. Store garbage and recycling in bear-proof containers or place curbside only on the morning of pick-up. Don't stock pile it.

3. Keep accessible doors and windows closed and locked.

4. Use deterrents to discourage bears from entering your property.

5. If you encounter a bear in an urban area - make lots of noise to encourage it to leave. Learn more.....

6. Help your neighbours to follow bear smart practices too.

In the Woods

1. Stay alert and aware. Obey all trail closures and information signs.

2. Avoid bears - make noise, watch for bear sign.

3. Don't approach or crowd bears. Don't try to pet bears!

4. Be prepared - do your homework. Know how to react to an encounter or attack.

5. If you encounter a bear: remain calm, talk in a calm voice, back away slowly.

6. Don't feed bears. That means not leaving food scraps behind too.

7. Carry bear spray as a first line of defence.

8. When hiking, pack it in, pack it out - keep food in bear-resistant containers.

9. Hike during the day in groups in grizzly country, keep children nearby and dogs on a leash.

10. When camping, dispose of garbage in a bear-proof container or hang it out of bear's reach.

11. Cook away from your campsite, clean up immediately and dispose of dish water 100 m from tent.

12. Camp away from travel corridors, bear sign and bear feeding sites.

13. Use a portable electric fence around your tent in grizzly country or in remote areas of bear country.

Download detailed information on Staying Safe in Bear Country. Get a video.

On the Job

1. Learn about bears. Understand what their behaviours mean. Know how to react to an encounter or attack.

2. If you're working in grizzly country, ensure you can tell the difference between a black and a grizzly bear.

3. Stay alert! Look for signs of recent bear activity. Work & travel in a group when possible.

4. Don’t surprise bears. Warn bears of your presence (talking).

5. Don’t attract bears or reward them with food. Carry your food/garbage in a portable, bear-resistant food canister.

6. Be proficient in first aid. Carry sufficient medical supplies.

7. Inform others of your plans. Carry 2-way communication device.

8. A well trained dog (that listens to voice commands) can be very useful in detecting and deterring bears.

9. Carry bear spray as a first line of defence.

10. Electric-fence overnight camping sites.

11. Train in the use of non-lethal deterrents and keep supplies handy.

Hunting

1. Learn about bears. Understand what their behaviours mean. Know how to react to an encounter or attack.

2. Carry and use bear spray as a first line of defence.

3. Do not try to shoot out the situation if a bear has taken over your kill. It is illegal to shoot a bear in defence of a game carcass.

4. Remove your game carcass as quickly as possible from the site and let others in the area know there is game residue present.

5. Store food and garbage at your camp in a bear-proof manner.

6. If you have to leave a game carcass over night, use a portable electric perimeter fence and make sure it is well out in the open. Approach the site very carefully when retrieving your game.

7. Electric-fence your camp or where meat is hung.