The province British Columbia has the abbreviation BC, but these two letters can also be read in a different way: as Bear Country. That’s what British Columbia is. When hiking on Vancouver Island or up to the Yellowhead Mountain there are typically two potential threats: cougars and bears. While cougars and wolves are mostly shy and invisible, you’ll meet bears quite frequently; black bears more often than grizzly bears. On Vancouver Island alone there are around 7,000 of them and knowing how to react and which precautions to take is a must.
Bears typically don’t attack humans and don’t want to get in contact. They just want to have your food and the problem is rather that you might surprise a bear inadvertently. The most important rule therefore is: don’t let food lay around, when camping put it away from your tent and hang it into a tree. When hiking make sure that every bear hears you from far away. Some people put bells on their backpacks, but talking continuously also does the job. That’s connected to the next rule: never hike in groups smaller than four persons. Not only that you make more sound while talking in a group, if a bear appears he won’t attack such groups which he sees as one being when staying closely together.
If it’s black fight it back, if it’s brown lay down
If a bear shows up remain calm. Don’t run away as bears can do a speed of 56 km/h in sprint. Pick children up to protect them, make yourself big by putting your arms above your head and speak calmly to the bear to show that you’re a human. It is often said that you might need to treat the two types of bears differently: if a black bear attacks you can fight back. If a grizzly bear attacks you can only lay down and protect your neck to survive, probably with serious injuries. What definitely helps is bear spray – strong pepper spray mixed with color particles.
Bear spray shall be worn at your belt to be immediately available. You can get it in different shops and also at large retails like Canadian Tyre. You just need to keep in mind that it is classified as a weapon; you’re allowed to take it to the forest but not into the city center or even a restaurant. I tried to buy bear spray and unfortunately it was sold out during high season. In the end it didn’t matter. I was hiking solo but only on well-frequented trails that are avoided by bears. The ones I met I saw out of my car, next to the road. And that was adventure enough to see these giant, beautiful animals.
British Columbia
Canada
Loading map...
