Allow bears to pass by your camp undisturbed. Pay attention to the bear’s behavior and respect its right to feed and travel undisturbed. While many bears seem to be tolerant of human presence at distances farther than 100 yards, each animal and situation is different. If it stops eating and looks up, sniffs the air with ears erect, trying to locate you, you are too close! Bears only have 6 - 8 months to acquire the calories and fat reserves needed for the entire year. Disturbance is evident whenever a bear changes its behavior because of you. Move out of the area or quietly observe the bear at a safe distance without approaching or otherwise disturbing it. If you see a bear and it does not see you, back away out of sight and change your course. Minimize Bear Disturbance and Displacement Always ask yourself, “Is there room for a bear to get around us?” Or “Can I quickly get all this gear under my control?” Keep your gear together - minimize the amount of space that you occupy. Cook and eat as close to the water as possible so cooking smells and any food particles will then be washed away by the next tide.īe prepared to quickly stow all food back into the BRFC if a bear should suddenly approach. If camping in a coastal park, prepare and eat all food in the intertidal zone, that area below the seaweed debris line and the waterline. Try to select cooking areas where you can see a comfortable distance to minimize the risk of a surprise encounter with a bear passing through the area. Prepare and consume food at least 100 yards from your tent site and food storage area. At night, store your BRFC and clean cooking gear off of main animal trails, (in coastal parks above high tide line) and at least 100 yards from your tent and hidden in thick brush or behind rocks. It is not a good idea to store food in tents or kayaks overnight. that were used while kayaking or hiking into the BRFC before entering your tent. Place any snacks, wrappers, lip balm, sunscreen, etc. Keep all food and cosmetics in the BRFC when not in use. Ask yourself: Can a bear walk by and pass my campsite and cooking area unhindered?īear Resistant Food Containers (BRFC) are required for all backcountry camping in Wrangell-St.Avoid areas with restricted visibility and make noise when exiting your tent. Neither you nor the bear want to be surprised by the other.Remember that at high tide a bear will not have as much room to pass between your camp and the high water line. And a noisy stream may lessen your ability to hear a bear or for a bear to hear you. Avoid salmon streams! Bears like fish.Large dug up areas could be forage sites, day beds, or belly holes.A tree or log that has bear hair or claw marks may indicate that it is a repeatedly used bear rub-tree.Bears will often follow the path of least resistance, for example, lakeshores and ridgelines. Trails are formed because of consistent use.Narrow beaches with steep cliffs or dense brush which do not allow a bear to pass safely.Bear scat or tracks that seem very recent or are extremely abundant.Here are some signs to be on the lookout for: Select a campsite with the least amount of bear sign and away from seasonal bear foraging areas. ![]() Bear signs are easy to find if you know what to look for. It is important to be “bear aware” when camping and hiking in Alaska’s national parks and to avoid seasonal bear foraging areas (sedge meadows, berry patches, etc.). It is likely that bears and campers will encounter one another, but by remaining calm and following the basic advice of experienced bear behaviorists, you increase the odds of a positive outcome for both you and the bear.īear Signs to Watch for and Areas to Avoid ![]() ![]() Inland parks are also home to bears and it is important that campers respect their space. Bears prefer these areas because they often contain abundant vegetation for grazing and make travel easy, while campers prefer these areas for cooking and because they offer easy access to kayak travel. In coastal parks, both tend to spend time on the beach, the narrow band of land found between the sea and the brush, forest, or steep cliffs. ![]() (pdf format, 1.9 MB)īears and campers often frequent the same areas in Alaska’s national parks. Scroll down further or download this brochure and learn how to be "Bear Aware".
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