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604-291-9990
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The BCWF would like to acknowlege the on-going support of the
BC Government.
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(Know and Do)
Key Points
- Avoidance is the priority but encounters may still occur.
- Define encounters as times when a bear and a person are aware of each other's presence. In most encounters the bear moves away.
- Ensure students know the two main aggressive behaviours towards humans: defensive and predatory. Most videos and brochures do a good job with the first behaviour and skim over predatory behaviour.
- Students must know the types of things bears may aggressively defend: a rich feeding area, a carcass, cubs, personal space, your barbecue, etc. They need to know what the behaviour looks like and how they should respond. Particularly important is the signs of stress in a bear. Stress is clearly linked to defensive behaviour.
- Equally, students must know what predatory behaviour usually looks like: curiosity, casual or intense interest, approaching, following, stalking, circling ö all without any signs of stress. They need to know how to respond to predatory behaviour.
- It is not always possible to identify a bear's behaviour. Encounters are not like a math equation, where a + b always equals c. Each bear is an individual as is each human that encounters a bear. No two encounters are exactly alike.
- Once students have this knowledge, get them active. People learn best if they physically do the activities.
- CORE Examiners may wish to caution novice shooters about usinga firearm to shoot a charging bear. In many situations bear spray may be the better alternative.
Learning Activities
- If possible, students should practice using bear spray. Counter Assault makes an "inert training canister" that contains everything except the pepper. Students should practice quickly drawing the spray canister from a holster and removing the safety. If you are unable to obtain the inert spray, have students practice with an empty can so they get the feel of drawing and removing the safety quickly. Emphasize the importance of preparing a defence at the start of an encounter.
- Set up a "charging" target and have students attempt to shoot it with a pellet gun, the Lazer Ed rifle and/or inert spray. Be certain of your teaching goal with this exercise. If you are trying to encourage novice and even experienced shooters to defend themselves with a rifle, students will need lots of practice sessions and some students may become very discouraged. The charging target works well to show the difficulty of hitting an erratically moving target and the stress of something coming fast at the student. If you are trying to encourage students to use bear spray as their first defence and the wind blows it back in their faces, they may decide bear spray is never worthwhile. All of these situations can lead to good discussions, safety thinking, an awareness of wind and environmental circumstances, the type of bear encounter, situations where a firearm is the best defence, etc.
- All experts agree that "playing dead" is a good last-ditch attempt to reduce injury during a defensive-aggressive attack when a person has no form of defence. (It is the completely wrong action in a predatory attack.) Have students get down on the floor and practice the position. There are two positions advocated by different experts ö curled into a ball laying on the side or face down on the belly with legs slightly spread. Both are designed to protect vital parts of the body and reduce the chance of life-threatening injury. The second position is the more recent expert recommendation. Teach both so students have options. Tell your students in the class prior to the activity to wear old clothes.
Teaching Aids
- Safety in Bear Country is the very best of all the videos. It clearly shows bear behaviours (defensive and predatory) and the appropriate human responses. There are many scenes of different bears showing both behaviours. The video lists correct actions step-by-step, then reviews them later. Finally, it simplifies it down to two sentences for any not-so-bright viewers. Firearms are treated just right in this video.
- Bear Attack: The Predatory Black Bear shows actual home video footage of a predatory black bear attack. Fortunately, the man was able to escape. Bear Attack: Encountering Grizzlies shows typical curious grizzly behaviour that can lead to predation on humans. There is also a detailed account by a Kluane National Park Ranger of a predatory grizzly attack. The film footage in both videos will enable your students to identify predatory behaviour if they ever see it. Both videos are well balanced and treat both bear spray and firearms as appropriate forms of defence in certain circumstances.
- A simple, inexpensive charging target can be set up. The attached sketch gives the layout. You may be able to set it up indoors but it works great outdoors. Use it outdoors with a pellet gun and inert training bear spray (no pepper). Follow up the activity with discussion.
- An alternative charging target for indoors can be made with a bucket and rope. Tie a 50-75 foot rope onto a bucket handle. Have the rope go between the student's legs. As a second student runs away with the rope, pulling the bucket towards the first student, the first student attempts to shoot the bucket with the Lazer Ed rifle or spray it with inert training bear spray (no pepper).
Suggested Evaluation
- Participation in activities. No "pass percentage" is required. The purpose is to expose the students to the activity, stimulate safety thinking and encourage follow-up learning on their own.
- Responses in a discussion or in a question-answer session or on a written quiz will ensure students know the correct actions for the type of bear aggression.
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