BACKGROUND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 712

WILDLIFE AND YOU
British Columbia's abundance of wildlife is one of its biggest draws. To help pre-
serve this unique resource, obey fishing and hunting regulations and use common
sense.
• Do not feed the animals. Many animals may seem tame, but feeding them en-
dangers yourself, the animal, and other visitors. Animals become aggressive
when looking for handouts.
• Store food safely. When camping, keep food in your vehicle or out of reach of
animals. Just leaving it in a cooler isn't good enough.
• Keep your distance. Although it's tempting to get close to animals for a better
look or a photograph, it disturbs the animal and, in many cases, can be danger-
ous.
• Drive carefully. The most common cause of premature death for larger mammals
is being hit by cars.
BEARS
Bears are dangerous, and while bear-human encounters happen regularly, their in-
famous reputation far exceeds the actual number of attacks that occur (in the last 20
years, black bears have accounted for 12 fatalities, and grizzly bears for 5, within
British Columbia). That said, common sense is your best weapon against an attack.
First and foremost, keep a safe distance, particularly if cubs are present—the pro-
tective mother will not be far away. Never harass or attempt to feed a bear, and
resist the temptation to move in for an award-winning close-up photo; they are wild
animals and are totally unpredictable.
Before heading out on a hike, ask local park or forest-service staff about the like-
lihood of encountering bears in the area, and heed their advice. Travel in groups,
never by yourself. Out on the trail, watch for signs of recent bear activity, such as
fresh footprints or scat. Make noise when traveling through dense woods (take a
noisemaker—a few rocks in a soft-drink can or a bell—or let out a loud yell every
now and again to let wildlife know you're coming). Bear spray has become popular
in recent years, but don't trust your life to it by taking unnecessary risks.