The Conservation Officer Service (COS) has received eight reports of bears bluff charging both people and off-leash dogs in Whistler.
A bluff charge is when a bear charges at a person or dog and suddenly stops, or swerves, before making contact. It is a form of defensive behaviour and indicates that the bear feels threatened.
This behaviour is most often the result of sows protecting cubs, bears defending a food source or due to a surprise encounter, COS said.
The Conservation Officer Service offers these tips on how to best avoid a negative bear encounter:
Keep your distance: Always leave at least 100 meters between you and a bear, particularly sows with cubs.
Keep all dogs on leash: Dogs can provoke defensive and dangerous behaviour in bears.
Carry bear spray: This is your best defence in case of a negative encounter.
Remain alert: Remove headphones and look and listen for signs of wildlife activity. Make noise, especially when moving quickly or on trails with limited visibility.
Few weeks ago, Conservation Officer Service also issued a warning after receiving several reports of bears accessing backyard barbecues in the Sea to Sky communities.
“It’s not summer yet but that doesn’t mean people aren’t using their BBQ’s — and these can be attractants for bears,” the service said.
“Please clean your grill after each use and store your BBQ in a secure place.”
This is the time when lean and hungry bears are emerging out of hibernation.
Citizens can report human wildlife conflicts by calling 1-877-952-7277.
