Manitoban Black Bear Encounters

Manitoba Conservation experts comments that each bear encounter is unique and recommends:

Stop and try to understand what message the bear is sending before you act.

Never approach or crowd a bear, even if it does not seem agitated.

Never feed bears. This habituates it to people either yourself or someone else later and will lead to injuries and the ultimate destruction of the bear.

Never run as this may trigger a chase response. Bears reach bursts of speed of 50 km/hr (30 m/hr) easily outrunning people.

Climbing trees or entering water is no guarantee of safety since black bears are superior at both.

If near a building or car go inside.

If a bear is in a tree – leave it alone by vacating the area. When it feels safe, it will climb down and leave.

If the bear is unaware of you:

Quietly move away quietly. Keep your eye on the bear. Do not make eye contact as this may be start a challenge.

If the bear is aware of you:

Let it know you are human. Talk to the bear in a low tone of voice waving your arms slowly while moving away.

Recognize the Bear Defensive Reaction

When bears are stressed (perceives threats - to it, its cubs, or it may be defending its food) they give cues like swatting or slamming its paw against the ground and blowing explosively through its nostrils. They may include: exhaling loudly, huffing, moaning or snapping the teeth, or lowering the head with ears drawn back while facing you.

Excessive drooling is a sign of nervousness.

These responses may lead to an actual charge, usually a bluff where the bear stops and veers away before making contact.

Reacting to a defensive approach or charge :

Stand your ground.

When the bear has stopped advancing, slowly back away, watching the bear and talking to it in a calm low-toned voice.

Prepare your bear spray, if available .

Reacting to a defensive attack :

Fall down ground immediately. Lay on your stomach with your legs spread slightly apart, locking your fingers behind your head. If the bear flips you over, roll back on your stomach to protect your vital organs and face.

Do not struggle or cry out.

After the attack is finished, do not move or make a sound until you are sure the bear has left – getting up too early has killed people!

Offensive Situations

If a bear advances without acting or appearing stressed, the bear wants right of way, to assert dominance or, to eat you (this is rare).

As a first response, give the bear right of way by moving aside and watching.

If it still follows you, drop your pack and food, and back away in a sideways.

If the bear continues stop and defend your ground. If with others, stay together and act as a group. Allow the bear a clear escape route. Aggressively show you are not prey. Stare it in the eye. Raise your jacket to look bigger. Shout. Wave your arms. Stomp your feet. Slowly move uphill of it. Stand on a log or rock. Use your bear spray if within range.

Reacting to a predatory attack:

If a bear attacks silently without displaying stress behaviour – fight back aggressively -you are fighting for your life!

Attacks by black bears are extremely rare, and defensive attacks are less frequent than offensive attacks.

Bears as wild creatures are not evil but are unpredictable. The Naturalist Grey Owl lived in Riding Mountain National park and demonstrated how people and bears could coexist peacefully.

Today Park services run educational programs on bear awareness

http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/