AGENDA

2. AGENDA • Why should we be educated? • Grizzly Facts • Appearance • Diet • Grizzly Encounters • What To Do • Attack Stories • Video

3. Why should we be educated in grizzly bear safety?

4. Work Safety • Wilderness is grizzly country and we have a lot of it. • By becoming "bear aware", people will be able to better avoid situations that may endanger themselves and bears

5. Grizzly Facts – Appearance etc.

6. Habitat • Found on all types of terrain • Not found on VI, QCI, LM, & some of the south-central interior

7. Narrowly set eyes. Small rounded ears that are set well apart Big Head

8. Colour • Nearly white to black – most commonly brown • As they get older their long, outer guard hairs get lighter giving them a grizzled appearance on the head and shoulders.

9. Incredible Sense of Smell • Can detect things many miles away. • locate prey • sense danger • find suitable foods • locate mates • find cubs • avoid people • Find carrion (rotting animal flesh) - without any wind and will travel over mountains, across rivers or through a dense forest to find it. • A bear standing up on the hind legs is often trying to get a better smell or a better view of something.

10. Height & Weight • Average Height • 6 ft on 2 paws • Up to 9 ft • 2.5ft when on 4 paws • Average Weight • Male 500 lbs • Female 350 lbs • The heaviest known grizzly weighed 1,656 lbs. • Differ in size because of geographic differences in the quantity and quality of food.

11. Claws = No Tree Climbing • Front claws are extremely long • as long as human fingers • six to twelve centimeters • Young and small bears are agile tree climbers b/c claws are not as long and curved. • Adults have a reach up to 4 metres.

12. Hump • Located over their front shoulders. • Large muscle mass • Helps with digging – They use their powerful forelegs and claws to dig dens. • Helps them use their paws as a striking force

13. Grizzly Facts - Diet

14. Plants – 80% • Nuts • steal from squirrels • Berries – Most important • buffalo berries, huckleberries, cranberries, Saskatoon berries, blueberries • Most often responsible for attaining fat for denning period.

15. Insects • Grubs of insects and adult insects • Ants • Ladybird beetles • bees • Dig them out of rotting logs

16. Seafood - coastal grizzlies • Salmon • Clams • At low tide, grizzlies gather on the beach to dig clams.

17. Animals – Dead or Alive • Animals • Ground dwelling rodents • Newborns - up to 3 weeks old • Too nimble to catch as they get older • Elk, moose, deer, caribou • Full-grown – rare • elk, moose, deer, & mountain sheep • Carrion • Remain nearby until it is completely gone.

18. And Garbage • Take advantage of food and garbage carelessly made available by people. • Learn quickly & go back to the campsites • Leads to confrontations.

19. Grizzly Encounters – What To Do

20. Facts • < 50 people have died • <150 attacks have been reported as serious • Almost all bear encounters end without injuries • Each bear & each encounter is unique • No set guidelines on how to survive an attack

21. Deterrents • Firearms • Bear Bangers (or Signal Flares) • Like fireworks – make a loud, alarming noise. • Bear Spray • Backcountry version of the personal defense pepper spray used by police but more potent. • Range of about 8m. • Non-toxic, non-lethal so will not permanently injure the grizzly. • be aware that wind, spray distance, rain and product shelf life can all influence its effectiveness. • In most cases grizzlies will just walk right by you. But it’s good to be prepared - if you've taken all the right precautions (food storage ect.), you probably won't have to use them.

22. Avoiding Grizzlies on a Trail • Travel in groups on established routes, trails and paths and during daylight. • Obey all park regulations such as area closures. • Keep pets leashed b/c they may run back to you with a bear behind them. • Watch for signs like tracks, droppings, clawed trees. • Stay clear of dead wildlife they attract bears • Leave the area immediately! and report to park staff. • Make Noise to let bears know you're there. • Call out, clap hands, sing or talk loudly • Especially near streams, dense vegetation and berry patches, on windy days, and in areas of low visibility. • Cyclists who travel quickly and quietly along trails are most at risk of surprising wildlife.

23. Avoiding Grizzlies While Camping • Camp in designated areas • Avoid areas near running water, thick brush, animal trails or berry patches. • Keep yourself and campsite Odor Free • set up food and garbage areas at least 100m from your tent and hang between two trees at least 4m above the ground • Keep sleeping bags, tents and clothes you sleep in, free of food, food odors or beverages. • Leave smelly cosmetics at home • Store toiletries and personal items with food. • Use Bear Resistant Canisters

24. Grizzlies Attacking Your Food 1. Abandon the food 2. Get the %@!# out!

25. Not Approaching • Doesn’t see you • If it hasn’t seen you, don’t let it! • Immediately pick up small children and stay in a group • Try moving without it seeing you • Shouting at or attempting to scare away a bear that is unaware of you could provoke an attack. • Does see you • Remain calm – most don’t want to attack they just want to be left alone • Don't drop your pack b/c it can provide protection • Keep it in view • Avoid direct eye contact b/c it’s a sign of aggression • Back away slowly - Likely to chase you if you run • Or wait until the bear moves away

26. On its hind legs & waving its nose • It’s getting better view or a better smell of what is ahead of them. • Talk calmly and firmly so it knows you are a human and not a prey animal • Remain still • A scream or sudden movement may trigger an attack • Don’t run unless you are very close to a secure place.  • Then move away slowly, keeping it in view without looking at it in the eyes • Dropping your pack or an object may distract it to give you more time.  • Consider climbing a tree.  • Bears do not charge on their hind legs

27. Attacking • Displaying aggression if it’s staring at you in a low stance with its ears flat, and occasionally slapping their feet on the ground. • Woofing, growling, hissing, huffing, panting, roaring, and jaw-popping • Your response depends whether it is being defensive or offensive. • Bears often will bluff so stand your ground • Do not try to out swim or outrun a bear

28. Attacking defensively • Feels surprised • Feels that its cubs or its food or itself are threatened • Attacks by defensive mothers account for 70 percent of human deaths from grizzly bears. • Play dead 1. Assume the 'cannonball position' with hands clasped behind neck and face buried in knees 2. Lie flat on your stomach with legs apart. Protect your face, the back of your head and neck with your arms. • Remain in these positions even if the bear drags you. • < 2 min • Continues • bear thinks you are food and you need to fight back.

29. Attacking Offensively • Attacks after stalking you or attacks you in your tent – very rare • Don’t play dead! • It sees you as food….it will eat you. • Escape to a secure place • car, building, or tree • If you cannot escape, try to appear dominant • Shout, jump around, wave your arms, look big, and use noisemakers • Use bear spray if it continues to approach. • Gets to you – fight back • Use tree branches, rocks, a baseball bat, a rake, a tent pole, or an axe • Best protection is a gun • Shoot to kill

30. Grizzly Encounters – Stories

31. Played Dead • Survived b/c she played dead. • Charged from behind while hunting. • She suffered broken facial bones, needed stitches from ear to chin and also suffered injuries to her chest, legs & arms.

32. Baseball Bat Fury • 1999 - Nelson • Sleeping in their tent when a young and very hungry grizzly came in the tent • It came in through the tent and bit the man on a shoulder. • He had a on heavy coat and there was a pillow in the way so he wasn't bitten deeply. • The man grabbed a baseball bat from his truck and smashed it’s face.

33. Retreated Slowly • 2005 – Alberta • Followed a woman out taking pictures. • She retreated when the bear looked away and stopped when it looked at her. • After 10 minutes, she was far enough • It was relocated.& put a radio collar on the bear. • It returned to the area. • They didn't worry about it.

34. 1 week later…same area… • Three women were jogging near the SilverTip Golf Course – which uses a grizzly as its logo – when they spotted a grizzly 20m away. • One climbed a tree, while the other two slowly backed away, then ran for help. • It pulled the one down from the tree, and by the time wildlife officials arrived, it was too late. • "There's no doubt she was aware this could happen," one surviver said. "Like the rest of us, you don't stop living because it may happen."

35. Exciting Links • My Complete Presentation http://www.greyhavens.ca • Grizzly sound 1 http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/creature_feature/0010/brownbears.html • Grizzly sound 2 http://www.ecologychannel.com/profiles/baroar.wav