bears Flashcards
Five signs that a bear has been in the area
Recently overturned rocks, rotted wood that has been torn apart, dug up ground, crushed vegetation, berries on the ground, hair on trees, bear droppings
two species of bears in BC
Black bear and grizzly bear
What are a bear’s keenest senses?
Smell and hearing
Three types of food for bears
Roots, berries, dead animals, mammals, grasses, spawning salmon
How do bears aquire food?
opportunistic feeders. scavenge for dead animals. Will sometimes hunt.
Are bears attracted to or repelled by human voices?
Repelled
What is the mass of an average bear?
Grizzly: 150 to 200 kg
Three ways to distinguish a grizzly bear and a black bear
Black bear: straighter, flatter snout. generally smaller.
Grizzly: hump on shoulders, upturned muzzle (concave) larger and chunkier than black bear. longer claws.
What is the most numerous bear in BC?
Black bear
What kinds of areas to bears need to survive?
Anywhere with enough habitat
What should you do with garbage in the bush?
Pack everything out. either burn it or send it out with a supply vehicle
What precautions should you take to make a camp less attractive to a bear?
either burn your garbage or send it out with a supply vehicle. store food in air tight containers. don’t use perfume or cologne. dispose of period products by burning them or putting them in ziplocks. Don’t set up on the site of previous camp. don’t set up on natural pathways. don’t set up in feeding areas
What kinds of areas to bears need to survive?
Anywhere with enough habitat. Choose habitat that has the most food.
Why do bears enter human campsites?
Smell food, garbage. Searching for food.
What are two things that will attract a bear?
Smell of food and garbage
When should you play dead in a close encounter with a bear?
If you know that it’s acting defensively and is attacking you.
When should you fight a bear?
If it’s acting predatory and attacks you
Should tents be set in a circle or a straight line?
Straight line so the bear has an easy exit and doesn’t get confused if it enters the site
What do bears use as travelling routes?
Rivers, human pathways
What are two effective bear detterents that you can buy?
Electric fences, bear spray
Which species of bear is mostly likely to stalk humans?
Black bear
Where should food be stored?
At least 50 meters away from you in an air tight container or food cache
What is the first thing to determine when you see a bear?
What kind of bear it is
When is it safe to approach a bear in the wild?
Never
