Bad year for hikers in Canada vs bears.

Cal Sibley · #1 07-05-2005, 03:12 PM

Any year can be a bad one for hikers in bear country, but this one seems particularly acute. We've had hikers and campers killed in Alberta, even one in Quebec, and 2 so far in British Columbia at Grouse Mtn. in Vancouver. There's probably more that I don't know about. I was in Vancouver training some people a few years back and decided to go up on Grouse Mtn. Not 10 minutes from the cable car terminus I spotted bear track near the chalet and decided to beat a hasty retreat. That's just too damn close for my liking. Sometimes I think we really tempt the fates and pay the ultimate price. Same thing for Banff Park. It's just noit my idea of the ideal place for a morning jog. One was killed there this year also. What do you think is the best way to put a halt to this type incident? Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

fabsroman · #2 07-05-2005, 07:36 PM

Stay out of bear country or carry a big handgun while you jog.

Cal Sibley · #3 07-15-2005, 04:55 PM

The main problem is that the joggers who insist on running in these areas frequented by bears are lacking in common sense. All animals, especially the larger carnivors are territorial in nature
and will come after you for alost any reason. It would seem to me that the joggers are the ones to remove, not the bears. A large nmber of the bears killed are not by hunters but by animals wardens because people infriged on the bears habitat, and the animals reacted to it as you would expect animals to. Lets get the damned joggers out of wildlife areas and keep them out then we wouldn't be reading about so many being killed. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

FIJI · #4 07-15-2005, 07:15 PM

from our northern Ontario fly in fishing trip. They had to shoot 3 bears in two days in our camp alone (repeat offenders)

We were told that since the spring bear hunts were eliminated the bear population has exploded !! I'd have to agree. We saw a few others besides the ones that were shot

Cal Sibley · #5 07-17-2005, 04:55 PM

Hello FIJI,

What general area is your camp in? We generaly fly in from near Atikokan. Great moose and bear hunting in that part of the
province. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

FIJI · #6 07-17-2005, 05:10 PM

Lake Kabinakagabi., We fly out of Hornepayne. Plenty of moose there too from what we saw.

gspsonny03 · #7 07-18-2005, 10:25 AM

I hear you Cal, A guy I work with just got back from Alaska where him and his wife spent 10 days on vacation. He said that while he was there, three people were killed by bears. He talked to another group of fishermen who had caught their limits but only had one fish to show for it because a bear came in and claimed their stringer of fish and they decided he was big enough to make the claim. He said it was beautiful scenery and seen lots of wildlife, but the bears were everywhere. BTW, all three of the people killed were hikers. Two of them were very experienced people when dealing with bears in the wild. They supposedly had spray and a large caliber pistol and neither had been discharged. But you are right if the hikers and joggers would stay out of bear country there would be fewer reports like this.

Darkwolf · #8 07-19-2005, 10:44 PM

Here's one for you Cal...

ghost stalker · #9 08-08-2005, 12:24 PM

i loved hunting in the koortenays, and one of the reasons was the wildness and a little bit of fear that it could be a life of death adventure. might sound idiotic but it is a dangerous (and should be considered as such) endevor. you shouldn't get into something your not prepared for. i try to learn as much as i can about my surroundings out there so i can make informed desisions. eg. when we shed hunt in the kootenays and come accross coyote,wolf,cougar,black bear sign we don't worry much cuz we know that in the area they are rarely a problem but keep our eyes open and stay away from any kills, but if we cut a griz track or pile of G-poop we stay out for a good while and monitor with glass. we know better. we also accept that if it goes south that we made the decision and we made a mistake. wanna go for a jog! then find a gym! or get informed and you'll probable realize that most predators can't pass up a tasty jogger and walk like i do.

attacks will continue without a doubt due to chance,bad decisions, and ignorance. the best thing people can do is learn as much as they can about these wildlife areas so they can eliminate at least one reason to become a chew toy. if not there are lots of fitness centers and zoo's to visit.

genek270 · #10 08-23-2005, 03:23 PM

You guys are over-reacting; I've been going to Banff at least twice a year since I was about 6 yo (and I'm 69 yo now) and, although I've seen at least one every time there, I've never been even close to a problem.
And you can't be serious about banning hikers and joggers from park trails; they are there just for that purpose. Considering all the untold millions of visitors that have been through Banff and the few bear incidents that have occured I bet you have a better chance being maimed by an automobile accident than by a bear.
When you go to the mountains just enjoy the scenery and make lots of noise when you hike!