How you can stay bear-aware this fall
Did you know that fall is a busy time of year for bears? Here are some tips to keep yourself and the bears safe this season.
At The Weather Network, we’re always saying how important it is to be weather-aware, but now that it’s fall, you should also be bear-aware.
Fall is the time of year when bears are in their final stages of preparation for winter hibernation. They need to fatten up before heading into their dens, not only for warmth, but also because they won’t be eating or drinking during this period. Female bears will also give birth during hibernation, so they rely on the nutrients stored in their body fat to recover from the process and feed their newborn cubs.
The fall months aren’t known for their abundance of fresh berries and plants, however, so they are more likely to make their way into communities in their quest for food. This greatly increases the chance of encountering a bear when going outside.
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Here are some tips to keep yourself safe from hungry bears this fall:
Tip #1: Avoid attractants
Bears are on the hunt for food so they can fatten up before they go into several months of hibernation.
Around your home, be sure to:
Clean up any fruit on the ground from fruit trees (this will also help keep wasps away)
Keep your garbage in a secure building or bear-resistant container
Avoid putting up bird feeders
When out camping, you can store your food and garbage in bear-resistant containers that are hung from a tree when not in use. Avoid leaving any garbage or cooking grease out as well.
Tip #2: Don’t surprise the bear
“Bears can be so preoccupied eating that they may not be aware of your presence,” says Parks Canada on their website. “Let bears know you are there. Call out, clap hands, sing or talk loudly, especially near streams, dense vegetation and berry patches, on windy days, and in areas of low visibility.”
Parka Canada also notes that bear bells are not an effective way to let bears know you’re there.
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It’s also recommended that campers and hikers in bear country should travel in groups and keep dogs on their leashes at all times.
WATCH: Crucial safety tips for bear encounters
Tip #3: Carry bear spray
When outdoors in bear country, you should always keep a can of bear spray on you in a place where you can quickly and easily access it.
“If something does go wrong, bear spray can be the best tool you can use to ensure that you and the bear, or whatever other animal, can get away unharmed,” said Mike Badry, a Provincial Wildlife Conflict Manager, in a 2024 interview with The Weather Network’s Mia Gordon.
When using bear spray, it’s important to always make sure you are upwind of the spray and use it in short bursts.
There are also many bear safety courses you can take that are run by professionals and will provide training on how to use bear spray.
Being bear-aware isn’t just to keep yourself safe but to keep bears safe as well while they go about their own daily lives. It only takes one bad encounter for you to get hurt and for the bear to lose its life. So keep these tips in mind this fall—it’s the ‘bear’ minimum you can do!
Thumbnail image taken by Mia Gordon/TWN