Bear Safety is not a very active topic in Newfoundland. After living and playing here for over 10 years, I have yet to hear more than 1 story of an encounter that was bad. And fingers crossed, I won’t hear another bad story for another 10 years! But those stats do not help us or the bears if we take it for granted.
Although the majority of those who enjoy outdoor recreation never have a bear encounter, its nonetheless wise to be prepared whenever you’re in the wilderness.
One of the most important things to realize when developing a bear defense strategy is that although the majority of bears are predictable, there is always about a 5 percent wild card with bear behavior. Also, even though bear populations are most concentrated in rural parts of the United States and Canada, they have been known to penetrate urban areas when they are pushed out of their habitats by urban sprawl.
Making a habit of carrying bear protection spray as part of your camping, picnicking, and hiking bear safety strategy minimizes chances of actual bear attacks during periods of outdoor recreation.
The following slideshow is brought to you by St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. (SABRE). Please feel free to contact SABRE for more information on bear safety products.
Following are several bear safety tips designed to keep you and your companions as safe as possible while spending time in the great outdoors.
Bear Safety Tips created by SABRE, retailer of personal stun guns.