Q & A: Wildlife Safety with WildSmart Program Director Nick de Ruyter
It was an overcast day, and our group was hiking out of the Elk Lakes Cabin. Our hearts were full after spending two days off-the-grid with eight babies, but we were excited to get home to running water and a proper night’s sleep.
On the 10-kilometer trail in, we’d seen lots of signs of bear activity including: fresh bear scat, large paw prints with big claws, and a sighting from a TransAlta employee. While we hiked up to Elk Pass, we chatted loudly and let out bear calls in between pants. When we crested the false summit of the pass, we came across a juvenile grizzly bear digging for roots and tubers about three bus lengths away from us.
We stopped and continued to speak loudly, so that we could alert the bear of our presence. I pulled my bear spray out from the easily-accessible thigh pocket in my leggings (another reason to love Lululemons). From one moment to the next, the bear abandoned eating and decided to walk down the logging road towards us. I must point out that a grizzly walk is akin to a human jog; The distance was quickly narrowing between us!
The bear’s behaviour did not appear aggressive… But when you have your baby strapped to your chest, it definitely elevates your emotions. Everything appears as a threat! In fact, I wonder if that’s how the “mama bear” expression was coined?
A member of our group calmly suggested that we move into the forest to give the bear space, which involved post-holing in knee-deep snow through deadfall and losing sight of the bear; However, our last sighting had the bear continuing along the trail (about 10 metres from where we entered the thick forest). Once we were another 10 metres into the forest, we regrouped.
Rose woke up to what must have been my palpitating heart and panicked breath, so I fed her and tucked her into her rain suit as it had started to pour. Forty-five minutes had passed (adrenaline sure makes time fly!), and we decided to strap on our snowshoes and hike along the forest.
We sent one person ahead with bear spray, and kept chatting loudly with them as they surveyed the area ahead. No bear in sight! The bear had likely continued west in that time. We emerged from the forest back onto the trail, and hooted and hollered the remaining 6 kilometers back to the trailhead.
That was the closest grizzly bear encounter I’ve had in my thirty years of living, working and recreating in the Bow Valley. Oh!...And I happened to have my six-month-old baby with me.
After our close encounter, I debriefed with the Biosphere Institute’s WildSmart Program Director: Nick de Ruyter.
How did we handle this bear encounter?
According to Nick, we followed all the steps to avoid a surprise bear encounter! We hiked in a group, made lots of noise, took note of bear signs and carried bear spray.
He reminded us that when heading out with littles, it’s important to think “What would we do if we encountered wildlife?”. He suggested playing out different scenarios in our minds before they have an opportunity to happen in reality.
What actions can we take to avoid wildlife encounters?
Be loud. The louder, the better! So make sure to travel in groups (of at least 4!), stay close and make noise.
Mom hack: You’ll be surprised by how much your toddlers enjoy hollering “WOOT!” and “HEY-OOO!” along the trail, or how adorable it is when your baby imitates you. Turn these bear calls into a game by singing, cheering, or pointing out colours in nature.
Be aware of your surroundings. Avoid wearing ear buds. Look for signs of wildlife activity (i.e. scat, dig marks, paw prints).
Mom hack: Get your toddlers in on the fun! Teach them signs to look out for and have them narrate what they see along the trail. Propose a scavenger hunt in which scat is the grand prize! Poop always wins.
Be mindful of your pet. Either leave it behind or use a waist leash so that you can have your hands free. You should be able to reach and access your bear spray with one hand!
Be respectful of closures and warnings. Even if you’re allowed to go to an area, consider whether you want to expose yourself and your child(ren) to the risk of a wildlife encounter.
See the weekly Biosphere Institute Bear Report.
See the latest Alberta Parks advisories.
See the latest Banff National Park bear report and important bulletins.
In case we do have a wildlife encounter, what steps should we take to be safe?
First off, always carry bear spray.
Ensure it is not expired.
Keep it in an easily-accessible place. For instance: on your waist belt or chest strap, and not inside your backpack under a mountain of layers, snacks and diapers.
Practice getting it out. Especially, while you are wearing your baby(ies) and/or toddler(s). If you are hiking with young children, pick them up or get them to move behind you.
Learn how to use it correctly. Watch this Bow Valley Wildsmart video on how to properly deploy bear spray.
Add a travel-sized bottle of baby shampoo to your first aid kit. If you deploy bear spray and the wind blows it into your or your child’s eyes/face, you can use it to counteract the effects until seeking medical care.
Secondly, know how to address wildlife encounters. With all wildlife encounters (bear, coyotes, cougars, wolves, elk, etc.) remember this strategy: “STOP, TALK, and WALK”. Watch this video to see it in effect.
STOP: Come to a halt. Do not run! Gather your group together and pull out your bear spray.
TALK: Speak calmly, but continuously to the animal. Additionally, talk to your group about what you are doing or plan on doing.
WALK: Back away slowly. While doing so, keep the animal in sight without directly making eye contact. Give them space to escape.
When it comes to specific species of wildlife, proceed with the following steps:
Bears:
Initially, “STOP, TALK and WALK”.
If the bear charges at you or you feel like your life is in danger, use your bear spray!
Cougars:
Initially “STOP, TALK and WALK”
If the cougar continues to approach or makes contact with you:
Do not run, turn your back or play dead.
Get big (pull off your jacket and flail it in the air).
Maintain eye contact.
Act dominant (convince it that you are not prey, but a threat to it).
Ungulates (i.e. elk, deer, sheep):
Initially “STOP, TALK and WALK”
If the ungulate continues to approach you or makes contact with you:
Do not run, turn your back or play dead.
Get big (pull off your jacket and flail it in the air).
Maintain eye contact.
What times of year should we be most aware, given these animal’s behaviours?
Wildlife encounters can be very common in the spring - And even more so this year! With the snowmelt behind schedule, animals are congregating in the valley to seek food sources and find mating partners. Calving season makes for territorial moms (i.e. elk, bears, sheep, deers) who are on alert protecting their babies against potential predators (i.e. cougars, bears, wolves).
Additionally, the period running from mid-July to September is one to be extremely aware of, as lots of shrubs start bearing fruit and bears focus on eating as much as possible before the long winter ahead. One could say they start acting like “hangry” toddlers!
Lastly, the fall marks the start of rutting season, in which male elk assert their dominance by aggressively defending their harem of female elk. It’s crucial to give herds lots of space!
Any specific advice for parents with babies, toddlers and/or young children when it comes to wildlife safety?
Teach wildlife safety to your children. Keep it simple! Remind children to stay close (within eyesight!). Instruct them to stay calm and to never run, but instead to leave the area slowly.
Keep bear spray in an easily-accessible location within your home. For you! Not for your toddler. If you live in the Rocky Mountains, your backyard is wildlife territory; So be sure to grab it and sport it, even in the nearest of walks from your doorstep.
Watch ‘A Beary Good Day’, narrated by Parks Canada interpreters of Banff National Park.
Read the Alberta Parks Bear Smart Colouring Book. Print it off, pull out the crayons and get crafty before your next adventure.
