How to be Bear Safe on Vancouver Island

Learning some basic bear safety is absolutely essential for anyone planning to explore beyond Victoria’s city streets.

While bear attacks remain incredibly rare – you’re actually more likely to be hit by lightning – it is crucial to know how to avoid a negative encounter and what to do in the very unlikely event it does happen.

This guide will cover essential bear safety tips to help you feel confident to discover Vancouver Island, whether you’re visiting for the first time or a long time resident exploring the outdoors for the first time.

Bear safety basics

It’s totally normal to be frightened at the prospect of encountering a bear, especially if you don’t live in Canada or are new to outdoor activities.

I grew up in a place where the most dangerous creature is a rarely seen snake. So I get it. It took me a long time to get over late night tent paranoia, where every rustle and crunch sounds like a bear!

Now, I’m deeply fascinated by bears and always hope to see one from a safe distance. I do, however, do everything I can do minimise the case of seeing a bear at close range.

Having some fear of bears is healthy (these animals deserve our respect), but it shouldn’t stop you from exploring the outdoors. The best way to reduce this fear is to learn the basics of bear safety – exactly the purpose of this guid

Knowledge is power

What has helped me become more comfortable when exploring bear country is knowledge.

These are the facts that have helped me:

• Bears prefer to avoid people
• Humans are NOT on the menu – bears are actually mostly vegetarian!
• The vast majority of bear encounters are a positive experience
• There are ways to proactively avoid encountering a bear
• When used properly, bear spray is extremely effective

Bears on Vancouver Island

This guide will cover how to avoid bear encounters and what to do if you see a bear. To start, let’s talk about the bears that live on Vancouver Island.

An estimated 7000 black bears call Vancouver Island home. They live throughout the Island and are considered an integral part of the ecosystem. Vancouver Island’s black bears are considered a sub-species of those living on the mainland and are slightly darker in colour and also a little bit bigger.

Vancouver Island does not have a resident grizzly bear population. In the last few years, a handful of grizzlies have been sighted in northern Vancouver Island communities, where it is possible for them to swim from island-to-island from the mainland. Also known as brown bears, grizzly bears usually travel further than black bears. If you want to see grizzly bears, your best chance is to take a boat tour from Vancouver Island across to the mainland.

Diet

Vancouver Island’s black bears are omnivorous, meaning they eat plants as well as other animals. For the most part, they are pretty opportunistic – they eat anything that is available! This includes berries, roots, grubs, insects, carrion (already dead animals) and sea life.

In the spring, you may spot a black bear eating grass and dandelions on the roadside. The reason is simple – grass is easy to find and also easily digestible for a bear that has been asleep for a few months.

Habitat

Being that they prefer to go for readily accessible food, black bears usually spend most of their time along the coast and in low lying forest. They do sometimes venture up into the alpine but not for long.

During the winter months (December to March), food is less available and so Vancouver Island’s bears find a den and go into a deep sleep. This is not true hibernation for them as their metabolic activity is still relatively normal and their body temperature doesn’t change much. They may wake up and move around at this time also.

How to avoid a negative bear encounter

The best way to stay safe around bears is to proactively avoid negative bear encounters. Follow these tips:

• Research your destination first. Find out about the local wildlife. Check for any restrictions or recommended safety precautions
• Read and follow all trailhead signage. Respect trail closures and wildlife warnings.
• Make noise in the backcountry. More info below
• Remain alert at all times. Watch for fresh bear signs like tracks, diggings and scat (bear droppings)
• Stay on the trail and traveling in daylight – bears are most active at dawn and dusk
• Avoid animal carcasses. Wildlife, bears included, are attracted to dead animals
• Keep pets on a leash. Dogs can provoke defensive behaviour in bears
• Pack out everything you bring with you, including all garbage and biodegradable items such as apple cores and bananas peels
• Travel in a group. The larger the group, the fewer recorded attacks
• Store food safely when camping. Bears are curious and will inspect odours to see if they’re edible
• Learn about bear behaviour. Being able to interpret their postures and vocalisations can be incredibly helpful
• Know how to respond during an encounter or attack
• Carry bear spray. More info below

Making noise on the trail

Just as you may not want to meet a bear on a hiking trail, bears don’t really like to encounter humans either!

Bears have good hearing and are thought to associate voices with humans. If they hear you, they will usually avoid you.

• The easiest way to alert any potential bear of your presence is to call, sing, clap or talk loudly
• Talking or singing loudly may make you feel a little silly at first, but it is a tried and tested method for avoiding bear encounters
• Increase the volume when it may be more difficult to hear – on windy days or close to streams and dense vegetation
• It’s a good idea to be especially vocal in areas with low visibility. Don’t surprise a bear when coming around a blind corner! Oh, by the way, it’s a myth that bears can’t see well

Like Parks Canada (and other sources), I do not recommend the use of bear bells. They are not considered to be an effective way to communicate a human presence to bears. The repetitive sound can be like background noise (like a bird call or a stream) for bears. It’s also really annoying for other hikers around you!

Bear spray

Bear spray is an aerosol deterrent made with chili pepper oil. It’s designed to be deployed at close range (less than 10m) towards the face of an aggressive or charging bear.

It causes the eyes, nose and lungs of a bear to swell, restricting their breathing and sight. In most cases, the bear will then retreat. This allows the user to leave the area safely.

Bear spray is a ‘last resort’ tool, used only when other methods have failed. When deploying bear spray, you use the entire 225g cannister. It empties in around 7-9 seconds.

Some studies have shown that bear spray is more effective than shooting a bear with a gun. There has been further debate regarding the truth of this, however, but the fact remains that bear spray is the one of best defenses the average person can have against an aggressive bear.

When carrying bear spray, you should have it stored in an easily accessible place and know how to use it. If the occasion arises, you want to be able to deploy it fast.

What to do if you see a bear

In the event you see a bear:

• Stop
• Stay calm
• Have your bear spray ready (take the safety off)
• If in a group, stay together

Never:

• Run
• Drop your bag
• Scream
• Make sudden movements
• Turn your back on the bear
• Block the bear’s escape route

Always remember that bears are stronger and faster than you. Bears can see well (especially at night) and their hearing is twice as good as ours. They generally do not want to attack you, however.

If the bear is in the distance

• Do not approach
• Give the bear plenty of space
• If the bear is moving, wait at a safe distance 
• If you can, make a wide detour around the bear
• Move slowly away without getting it’s attention
• Be prepared to turn around and go back the way you came if necessary

If the bear is close

If the bear was surprised or has cubs/food, it is likely to react defensively. It may appear stressed or agitated (swatting the ground, blowing, snorting). A defensive reaction is most common.

A non-defensive bear could be curious, looking for human food, testing its dominance or in very rare cases, predatory. The bear’s attention would be clearly directed at you with head and ears up. Standing up on its hind legs is a sign of curiosity (the bear is using it’s senses to identify you).

How to respond to a defensive bear

• Remain still and calm
• Talk in a soothing voice
• Start backing away
• Avoid eye contact
• If the bear approaches, stand your ground and prepare to use bear spray
• If the bear makes contact, drop to the ground and play dead. Cover your neck and the back of your head with your hands
• Most defensive attacks last two minutes or less. Remain still afterwards and wait for the bear to leave the area
• If the attack doesn’t stop, fight back

How to respond to a non-defensive bear

• Remain calm
• Talk in a firm voice
• Move out of the bear’s way
• If the bear follows, stand your ground and switch to aggressive behaviour
• Look the bear in the eyes, shout, stamp your feet, make yourself look bigger, hit it with whatever you have, take a step towards the bear
• If the bear still approaches, use your bear spray and fight back
• Concentrate your attack on the bear’s face (nose, and eyes specifically)

There is no perfect strategy to responding to a bear attack. That is why it is so much better to avoid a negative encounter in the first place. For more information, check out BearSmart

How to camp safely

Anything that has an odour can attract wildlife. Avoid inviting a bear or other wild animal to your campsite with the following tips!

Frontcountry camping

Also known as ‘car camping,’ this style of camping is accessible by vehicle. A frontcountry campground usually has facilities including (but not limited to) allocated campsites, water, outhouses (or flush toilets), trash bins and even showers.

The easiest way to be ‘bear-safe’ at a frontcountry campground is to think ‘bare’! Your campsite should look almost empty when you’re not there, with only camping furniture left (tent, chairs etc).

• First, research the campground you are planning to go. Are there any restrictions or recommendations relating to bear or other wildlife activity?
• Store all food, food related items and toiletries in a hard-sided vehicle (RV, car, van) when not in use. This includes cooking equipment, garbage, dishes, coolers, drink containers etc.
• Campers without a hard-sided vehicle (such as cyclists) should be prepared to hang their food if storage lockers are not provided. More information in the ‘backcountry camping’ section below
• Do not leave pets unattended. They can attract coyotes and wolves as well as bears! Pet bowls and food should be stored securely too
• Keep your campsite clean. Wash dishes soon after eating, wipe up any food spills, pick up food scraps and dispose of any garbage in the provided bins

Backcountry camping

A backcountry campsite is one situated in a wilderness area, only be accessed by foot, bike, horse, boat or plane. Facilities are limited.

• First, research the backcountry area you are planning to go. Are there any restrictions or recommendations relating to bear or other wildlife activity? Is food storage provided?
• If you’re not staying in an established backcountry campground, pick your tent spot carefully. Avoid berry patches, game trails or thick brush. Look for animal carcasses nearby
• Don’t cook or eat where you sleep! If there is a designated cooking shelter or cooking area, use it. If not, head at least 50m (preferably 100m) downwind from your tent
• Disperse graywater properly. Strain food particles with a metal screen and add them to your garbage bag. For the graywater itself, use the disposal pit (if provided) or bury/scatter away from water sources
• Clean up thoroughly after cooking, being sure to pick up all garbage, food scraps and crumbs (even if ‘biodegradable’!)
• Never burn garbage or food in a campfire. The smell can linger and attract bears
• Keep your sleeping bag, tent and sleeping clothes away from the food preparation area. Clothes with spilled food on them should be stored with other smelly items (see below)

Storing food in the backcountry

When backcountry camping, one of the most important aspects of bear safety is storing food and smelly items properly. When not in use, food, toiletries, cooking equipment and garbage should be stored securely, away from your tent.

• Some established backcountry sites will have a food cache (a metal bear-proof container) or bear pole system
• Be prepared to create a bear hang, in the situation there is no food storage system provided at the campground (or it is unusable). You’ll need a carabiner, dry/stuff sack and at least 15m (50 feet) of nylon cord
• Alternative solutions include the Ursack (a lightweight, collapsible puncture-resistant bear bag) or a bear barrel/canister. The latter is thick plastic container with a bear-resistant lid

When storage facilities aren’t provided, JR and I usually build a bear hang. For trips heading to alpine areas (where trees can be scarce), we bring our Ursack.

Safe roadside bear viewing

The most common way to see a bear on Vancouver Island is from your vehicle. Seeing a bear by the road is always exciting but the experience can hazardous for both you and the bear. Here are some tips:

• Consider not stopping at all. Undisturbed bears are able to forage more successfully, enabling them to build up needed fat reserves
• Driving by slowly (when safe to do so) is the next best way to minimise your impact
• If you decide to stop, pull off the road safely without blocking other traffic
• Stay a respectful distance away from the bear and make sure it has an escape route
• Do not leave your vehicle!
• Remain aware of other vehicles – move on if the situation becomes crowded
• Keep your observation time short

Bear safety essentials

Bear spray, as you may guess, is an absolute given. JR and I carry one cannister each. Some may say this is overkill but I like having a back-up.

Bear spray should be stored somewhere with convenient access. We personally use holsters to secure the bear spray to our hip, using a belt. When I’m wearing leggings, I often wear a waist belt and attach the bear spray to that.

To buy bear spray, head for an outdoor gear store. I love to support local when I can, but you can also reliably find bear spray at MEC, Canadian Tire, Cabela’s etc.

When you purchase bear spray, you’ll need to sign a waiver to assume all risk when using. The propellant in bear spray loses its potency over time – brand new bear spray will typically expire after 2 to 2.5 years.

If you’re flying to Vancouver Island, be aware that you cannot bring bear spray onto a plane.

We also sometimes bring a mini air horn. It delivers a shockingly loud sound that would startle any nearby bear. It could also be used to send a distress signal if needed.

Please see the backcountry camping section for more information about additional equipment required for multi-day adventures.

Bear encounters: my experience

One question we get asked a lot about our outdoor adventures is ‘how many bears do you see?’

The truth probably sounds pretty boring – not many.

And that’s OK with me. Don’t get me wrong; bears are beautiful, extraordinary creatures. It’s an incredible experience to be able to see them from an appropriate distance.

We have, however, only ever seen one bear on an official hiking trail. And even then, we saw just the back end of this black bear as it ran away. This was on the Della Falls Trail in Strathcona Provincial Park back in 2016.

In October 2019, we had three different (close-contact) bear encounters:

• Arriving into the Cape Scott parking lot after an overnight 34km backpacking trip, we found a black bear standing about 20m from our vehicle
• Walking a friend’s dog in a local park in Courtenay, I noticed two black bears sitting in a tree. There was a river nearby, filled with salmon
• While returning to our vehicle after attempting to harvest oysters in Nanoose Bay, a black bear was walking towards us on the path. We were about 600m from our parking spot

The thing that all these experiences have in common is that we were not in a wilderness setting. Cape Scott is reasonably remote but when we saw the bear, we were in a ‘developed’ area of the park, somewhere that anyone with a vehicle could access.

Bear encounters are uncommon, and dangerous ones even rarer. But bears live and travel closer to humans than you may expect. This is why bear awareness is so important. And also the reason why I carry bear spray on all trails, even short ones!

Preparation, proactive avoidance and knowledge are key when it comes to bear safety. Never be complacent.

Bear safety: further reading

All of the information contained in this post is based on first hand experiences, discussions with Parks Canada Rangers and the following sources:

BearSmart

WildSafeBC

Parks Canada

BC Parks

Alberta Parks

AdventureSmart

This article is adapted from one that first appeared on offtracktravel.ca.