Moved: Bears
 

Has anyone witnessed a bear in canada? I am going to live in Vancouver and feel really anxious about living where there are bears, would my children be safe walking alone,?

What safety precautions do i need if i see one?

Please help me, not using seeing these species

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Neither is the average Canadian.

Re: Moved: Bears
 

I googled for something to do with bears a few weeks ago and got a whole lot more than I bargained for..... :rofl:

Think American Pie 2.....

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Are you serious? Many of us out here in BC have seen bears - I have a regular visitor to the fruit tree in my garden in late summer/fall. Never heard of them wandering down the streets of Vancouver though. Your kids will be quite safe unless they are wandering alone in the back country.:)

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Seen them or one in New Brunswick and they are more likely to run away than anything else. Stay off the beaten track and you will probably never see one. Moose are more dangerous here in NB

Re: Moved: Bears
 

If you live in a town or city in most parts of Canada you are fairly unlikely to encounter a bear.

If you have a cottage in the woods or go hiking or camping in "bear country" then you might. Black bears are more likely than grizzlies, and these bears sometimes wander into the edge of populated areas in search of food or new territory, usually youngsters when they get kicked out by mum!

I certainly would not let it be a deterrent to moving to or visiting Canada. I personally have yet to see a bear, and I would like to and have made several trips into bear country in the hope of seeing one!

Here's a link to Parks Canada's bear advice page.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/visit12_e.asp

If you are walking trails where bears are common or have been sighted there will be warnings to walk in close groups of 4 or 6 minimum, and you should keep your dog on a lead and your children close to you, for instance.

Keep it in perspective though, your kids are FAR more likley to be knocked down and killed by a car in the UK (or in Canada for that matter!) than they are to be attacked by a bear in Canada!

Re: Moved: Bears
 

I live within the city limits of Kamloops, though relatively rurally. Bears regularly walk through our property (particularly pre-hibernation when they're looking for food). We get coyotes most nights, deer, and on occasion Lynx and Cougars pass through too.

I've watched bears sunbathing on the river bank while waterskiing and seen them (mum and 3 cubs) 50ft away in a tree on the local golf course. They regularly wander too and from the local hillsides plundering the fruit trees, and the bus stop near the end of my driveway is a favourite place for them to cross the road to a neighbours crab apple tree.

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Bears AND cougars were seen several times within the city limits in Calgary last summer. A bear even wandered into the hospital here :p It didn't attack or eat anyone though. http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/visit12_e.asp

Bears that come here get chased out or caught and relocated. If they persist in entering the city they run the risk of being shot. Bears that are unafraid of people and/or see them as a ready food source are known as "habituated". Generally this is a far bigger problem for the bear than it is fro the humans!

Re: Moved: Bears
 

We drove to Warterton National Park last summer. While I was moaning on about the cost to get in we saw a Black Bear at the side of the rd. Well worth the entrance fee after that.

They have been seen around the Pincher Creek area too. Last year there was a few reports of a Cougar around the Fort Macleod area, thats a bit too close for comfort.
In Calgary we were always seeing Coyotes in the burbs and at the sides of the rds.I am more worried about the Coyotes than anything else as they are more unpredictable and do not have much fear of us as Bears and Cougars.

x mrs minihaha

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Your best precaution is education. Learn about bears, how to differentiate between a black bear and a grizzly, their behaviours, habitiat and how to best defend yourself. It is important if you ever come across one to know which species (black or grizzly) that you are dealing with and the circumstances as your response needs to be different.

Check out these:
http://www.bearaware.bc.ca/
http://www.bearsmart.com/

Also, be aware of cougars... I think they likely maul/kill more kids than bears do in BC... which is still very rare.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/kidspage/kidscoug.html

Really though, you should be more worried about perverts and drug dealers.

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Cougars are a danger in several bars in Toronto too.

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Hi there,

You'll rarely see bears in urban areas. We live in Powell River, and do see bears very occasionally. It's best to discourage them with proper garbage management, and to pick up any windfall apples etc.

Last autum, I saw one walking across the bottom of my garden. I yelled to my neighbour next door (who I had seen earlier trying to start a bonfire). Turns out, she was holding a petrol can right over the bonfire at this point, and the flames were going up the stream of petrol. That was the moment she saw the bear 20ft away....

So the moral of the story is, if your're a BC resident, there's plenty more ways to cause yourself a mischief than bear attacks.

All the best,

Sarah

PS. No one mention the cougars.....

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Like you need to worry... :p

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Worry? Certainly not.

Re: Moved: Bears
 

I've seen 12 in 2 1/2yrs :thumbsup: but thats on Vancouver Island

Re: Moved: Bears
 

We have seen bears. We also had a cougar walk through our field and watched it for 30-40 seconds, it was a really inspiring moment. Mind you we were watching from inside our house at the time.:)

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Always carry large rocks in your coat, just in case of bear spotting.

That way you can scare them away with a hefy lob to the head.

This advice inspired by Viz, circa 1995.

R.

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Down here in Lethbridge I see one reguarly, he's a big fella, stuffed and a in a glass box.......other than that I totally understand the OPs concern, before I moved here I was worried about everything that I could worry about.

It's natural to be nervous about a new environment, even though we are taking the pee a bit, if you are a mum especially these are all things you want to know before you commit!

And if all else fails, just run, you don't need to be a fast runner, just faster than the person behind you.

All the best
Mrs Miggins xxx

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Apparently Lethbridge has a fair few Cougars Downtown on a weekend, so I heard:p:p

Re: Moved: Bears
 

My hubby thought I was mad for picking up a few heavy rocks and a large pointy stick when we were out walking in Kananaskis! :blink::rofl:

Re: Moved: Bears
 

[QUOTE=minihaha;6095590]Apparently Lethbridge has a fair few Cougars Downtown on a weekend, so I heard:p:p[/QUOTE


Well they you would know honey - by the way, is that fetching garment you are wearing a kaftan by any chance:rofl:


(Make sure you have the kettle on tomorrow xxx)

Mrs Quiet and Demure Miggins xxxx

Re: Moved: Bears
 

[QUOTE=Mrs Miggins;6095604]
You "quiet and demure "lol dont make me laff me throats on fire tonight. You been sending ur Westside germs this way.

Il be in quarentine tomorow will catch u in the week dude.

Re: Moved: Bears
 

maybe Mr Haha, when he gets back, can knock up some man soup, I hear it works wonders for your throat - byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee xxxxxxxx

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Hi,

As has been said, there are more prevalent dangers than bear / cougar attacks. Look at the statistics if you can - you'll find way more dreadful road deaths and injuries, than wildlife incidents.

But, we're 'socially used to road traffic accidents,' unfortunately! But the perceived fear of bear attacks is much higher.

Anyway,some great advice on here, as Hot Wasabi peas said, get knowledge of what to do in these situations.
Know areas where bears / cougars move. Actually, they are very fascinating, I think.

If you don't actaully live in Canada yet, your anxiety is accentuated, when you are 'there on the ground' involved, getting to know people, the layout, etc. things usually feel better.

Knowledge dispels fear! Who said that? An old school motto, perhaps.

All The Best.

Re: Moved: Bears
 

In 4+ yrs of backcountry mt biking and hiking I have seen a couple blackbears but it wasn't a bother. Once road cycling on highway 40 in K-country in the spring before it's open to traffic there were 2 grizzlies feeding by the side of the road. We sat in the distance and watched until they moved on and resumed our ride, what a wonderful moment.

That said, as one of Canadian friends replied when i first asked him what's how do you tell back bears and grizzlies apart. He sat back and explained; "You see young man, if the bear climbs up the tree and eats you, it was a blackbear. If it knocks the tree down and eats you, it was a grizzly."

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Yes even had one in the garden here in Belleville Ontario, came in for a look around, found nothing and left

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Thank u so much for all the comments, if i see one in the night in my back garden then i think i would pass out.

I love animals but to stumble across a bear is surreal to me,

Re: Moved: Bears
 

If you see one in your back garden you'd probably be wise to stay in the house. The likelihood of that happening depends on where you live, but as others have said, a bear is usually looking for fruit on the ground, or garbage to rummage through, so if you don't leave stuff out for them they probably won't bother you. :thumbup:

I love the fact that there are large wild animals living wild in the countryside here. I even enjoy spotting Coyotes and have seen wolves, moose and various deer-type things. My family saw a young grizzly eating berries by the roadside on their first trip to the mountains, and like to tease me cos I haven't seen one yet!

I love the squirrels and chipmunks, the marmots, .... and those big old jack-rabbits that bound around our communities. They are just starting to regain their brown colour now it's warming up (they turn white in the winter) and look rather grubby! :p

Re: Moved: Bears
 

i saw a bear in glasgow

Re: Moved: Bears
 

I love the way this note home from school tells the kids to walk in groups ........... breakfast dinner & tea I suppose :) Also tells them to stick to the roads ............. :o mmmm OK

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Last week the newspaper published the top 10 ways people die in Canada.

Bears did not feature on the list at all. :thumbup:

I very much doubt if it they would appear on the top 100 list, so there are plenty of other ways to die that you can worry about instead.

Re: Moved: Bears
 

those rabbits are just bizzare!!!!!!! There was one last summer as big as my four year old, and brilliant fun to watch, we get them white, brown and all sorts of colours here, I am sure there's been a domestic cross.....

The gophers make me laugh the most though - they rock!!!!!!!!!!!!:rofl:

And we have loads of deer here, beavers live down the road from us and we are pretty sure we seen a porcupine fella too!

We love it!!!!!!!!!!

Mrs M xxx

Re: Moved: Bears
 

A real eye popping moment comes when you come face to @rse with a skunk :D My close encounter:

We had been sitting by the fire pit all evening, doing the usual cold beer drinking, hot dog toasting when I heard a noise by the garage door. I walked up the side of the house and step around the corner on to the drive and there it was, Tail up, stamping its little feet (must have been a girl) and all the white hair drawing your eyes to a little pink bumhole .... I pause for about 2 seconds and stepped backwards around the corner ... I was lucky apparently I had quite a lengthy warning.

I need to work on my skunk reflexes no time to pause and think "ah, look a little skunk"

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Ive seen a bear twice in 10 years. Both times they were smaller black bears

Once I was riding my bike in a local conservation area and it crossed in front of me about 15 feet away. Glad it was going the other way to me!

Second time was in my back yard after a neighbour tipped us off it was coming along the fence line, so I had a chance to get the video camera out.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...ear_behind.jpg


As far as things to worry about go, I'd be far more worried about traffic, or botulism, or asthma, or being hit by a falling meteor. Bear attacks are a non issue.

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Oooh we drove past a squashed road kill skunk in Muskokas - awww the smell that permeated the car for the bext 10 mins - eeeeeurfhg!!

Re: Moved: Bears
 

Yes, the one I met lived in the culvert under the road and decided to spray the bird table on night. He/ She must have met something. Anyway our air exchanger in grid is oooh 40 feet away and around a corner. Still woke us all up at 2am and made me jump out of bed and rush to the basement to turn the air exchanger off!!

(Jules is lauging and says I didn't "Jump" out of bed and "Rush" anywhere, is was more like "Struggled and then lumbered downstairs).

Re: Moved: Bears
 

And it's not easier for a bear to water-ski.

Re: Moved: Bears
 

The water skiing part is relatively easy.

It's teaching them how to drive the boat that's difficult. :p:):)

Re: Moved: Bears
 

yup - think I would prefer to sun bathe and let the bears exert themselves!!

Re: Moved: Bears
 

See them plenty of times (behind that nice enclosure on Grouse Mtn) and we tend to get one wondering past the deck (once a year, never seen it myself thank god, that would be too close).

We live in North Vancouver (Lynn Valley).

Skunks, they have nested under our porch :( and racoons, bloody hell they are big beasties!

But, and I know I just posted to share this, I think our coinage shows the Canadian sense of fun. Get out a Toonie and look at it. Yep, that is the Queen with a Bear (bare) Behind :rofl: :rofl: