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	604-291-9990 1-888-881-2293 The BCWF would like to acknowlege the on-going support of the BC Government.		Core "Bear Safety" Lesson Component Introduction As CORE Examiners we have a responsibility to teach new hunters and other students safe behaviour in the outdoors. We do an excellent job with firearm safety and probably a good job teaching survival and other aspects of outdoor safety. Most of us, however, may not be putting enough emphasis on safety around bears. In a just-published study, bear biologists Stephen Herrero and Andrew Higgins reviewed all data on bear attack victims in British Columbia who were either killed or required at least 24 hours of hospitalization. (Data for lesser injuries was collected by agencies in different ways across B.C. and therefore could not be statistically analysed.) The paper is highly relevant to the CORE course. Here are some of the many important facts from it: Serious injury/death rates between 1960 and 1997 are relatively low: total of 49 (8 of these deaths) from grizzlies; total of 22 (8 of these deaths)from black bears. Even though there are 10 to 12 times more black bears than grizzlies in B.C., black bears have inflicted far fewer injuries and just the same number of deaths. This counters the common myth that black bears are more dangerous - at least regarding serious injuries and deaths. Serious injury/death rates from both species are rising: an average of less than 1 per year in the 1960s, just over 1 per year in the 1970s, 2 per year in the 1980s, 4 per year in the 1990s. In the 1990s, there were 9 in 1994, and 5 to 6 each year for 1995-1997. Hunters (17 of 49) have the highest rates of grizzly injuries and deaths of any outdoor activity group, despite a steady decline in the annual number of hunting licences issued. Hikers are just behind with 16 of the 49 grizzly-caused injuries and deaths. In 88% of the cases, people were hunting, hiking or working in the bush, usually in the backcountry, when seriously injured or killed by a grizzly. In only a relatively small number of incidents, access to human food or garbage was associated with the incidents for both species. For grizzlies, being startled or surprised at close range (less than 50 m) accounted for 62% of grizzly-caused injuries and deaths - mostly by females. Carcass defence accounted for 19% of injuries and deaths. Eleven percent were considered "possible predation." For black bears, 83% of injuries and deaths were attributed to "possible predation" on humans. All predatory black bears (where the sex was known) were males. Most black bear incidents occurred in front country locations. Clearly, there is a need for a bear safety component within the CORE course. Toward that end, a workshop was held on March 24, 2001 during the CORE conference in Chilliwack. Several keen CORE Examiners contributed their knowledge, views and energy in the "Developing Bear Safety Lessons" workshop. Most of the following learning objectives, key teaching points, learning activities and instructional aids were generated during the workshop for your use in the classroom. We have tried to make these objectives learner-centred rather than just a list of instructional points. For your benefit, we have identified the objectives as knowledge (marked "Know"), skill ("Do") or attitude ("Attitude"). This helps keep it clear what you want the students to learn. Several key points, activities, aids and methods of evaluation are suggested so that your bear safety lesson becomes more memorable than just another lecture. You can use these objectives in two different ways. First, you can teach them one by one in the order listed here. This works well because the objectives follow a clear progression and build on the previous objectives. Second, you can integrate them into a lesson you build. In this case, the objectives tell you the important things to include and you plot the course for how your students will learn them. You could work on two or more objectives into any learning activity, if you use them this way. Examiners teach CORE in several different time frames. Many CORE Examiners must cover the course material in a set number of classroom sessions. Others can add more hours to the course they now teach. If you are in the first group, you may be able to include a 45 to 90 minute bear safety component. This will not let you cover all of the objectives – you will have to select the ones most relevant to your students' needs. You may be able to include more by putting portions in several sections of your program (ethics, survival, hunting laws and regulations, animal identification), rather than trying to contain everything in the bear safety lesson. If you are an examiner with more flexible course times, you are fortunate. You can include all of the objectives and many of the activities. Plan on adding one more evening or two to two and a half hours to complete the lesson. Whether your courses have limited or ample time, you will find student interest in bear safety is very high. Your students will definitely benefit from all efforts you put into bear safety. And why not use your lessons for teaching members of your rod and gun club? Clubs are always looking for a drawing card to attract members to meetings and bear safety generates lots of interest. Each of us could do a presentation or a series of short presentations prior to or at the end of meetings. It's a good way to "bear-proof" hunters, anglers and other outdoors men and women – the people most at risk. Please feel free to adapt this material to your lesson plans so that you can prepare your students and club members for safety in bear country. Dave Eyer, 0344 Eyer Training Services Return to Bear Safety Workshop Table of Contents »
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