Mr. John Merriman:

• Master of Education Degree, Simon Fraser University, B. C.
• 17 Years Instructing in Resource Management Officer Technology (RMOT), Malaspina College, Nanaimo ( now Vancouver Island University
• 17 Years as a B. C. Conservation Officer (1970 - 1987)
• 5 Years as a Committee Member and Chair on the BC Bear Aware Advisory Committee
• Currently Honorary Research Associate and Sessional Instructor in Wildlife / Human Conflict, RMOT program, Vancouver Island University

SPEAKING NOTES: (Flip Chart Page #2)

INTRODUCTION:

• Interest in bears - northern exposure

• o Leo Creek; 1980 - 12 Year old boy - discuss
• o Vancouver Island - Cougars; Most attacks in North America
• o SFU Bear Paper - Masters 1997
• § Grizzly attacks
• § 80% Sows defending cubs

• My talk - First Black and Grizzly Bear conflict, then Cougars on Vancouver Island

BLACK BEARS (MAP):

• Stream fishing season
• Vancouver Island Black Bear:

• o History - peaceful co-existence
• o Up to last year; 1 or 2 scratches, bruises ever recorded by Black Bears
• o Port Renfrew bear was isolated incident - unlikely repeated. Injuries were serious - fighting back works - predatory attacks

• Black Bear risk to people - in broad terms
• Note: Black Bears kill 1 person every 3 Years; Injure 3/Year in B.C.
• 110,000 to 160,000 Black Bears in B.C.

SPEAKING NOTES: (Flip Chart Page #3)

Black Bear Sows defend cubs:

• Cubs tree
• Sow:

• o Bluff charge, snort
• o Often wait nearby tree, or tree
• o Aggressive towards dogs

• Food conditioned:

• o Near homes - Have bitten / injured people, especially if threatened

 Male Black Bears:

• Most dangerous
• Often younger males 2-4 Years
• Predatory behaviour

• o Prolonged attacks
• o Victims partially consumed over +/- 1 hour
• o Discuss incident female tree planter north of Prince George

 Response to Single Black Bear That:

• Ø Shows no fear or disinterest
• Ø Approaches
• Ø Moves downwind or higher ground
• Get group together
• Get pepper spray / walking stick ready
• Move away - do not turn / run
• Maintain "gentle" eye contact
• Before contact - use spray, shout, aggressive - fight!

 Firearm As Defense:

• If legal, use 12 Gauge Remington with slugs
• 30.06 / .270 rifle or larger, bolt action
• Do not shoot Black Bear sow with cubs - usually bluff charges!

Dogs:

• Can deter bears from campsite
• Can deter bears when hiking - if on leash or controllable
• Can bring trouble back to owner
• Sow black Bears do injure or kill dogs

SPEAKING NOTES: (Flip Chart Page #4)

Relocation of Black Bears as a solution:

• Large males, adult females 'home' great distances, or reoffend at new locations
• Sows with cubs or juveniles - best success

Grizzlies:

• Note: +/- 6 Grizzly Bears - North Vancouver Island Now
• 80% of all attacks by Grizzly Bear sows with cubs
• Sow Grizzly Bears defend their cubs:

• o Slow to reproduce - every 4 Years
• o Male Grizzly Bears, Wolves, Cougars are major threat
• o Open, treeless terrain
• o Sow's defensive strategy:
• § Identify (perceived) threat
• § Contact threat away from Cubs
• § Neutralize threat quickly (1-3 Minutes)
• § Retreat; take Cubs away

Read: (1) - Purple Page 33 (attack example)

Strategies in Grizzly Bear Country:

• Do not photograph at close range

• o 150 Meters is too close

• Make noise - especially in dense terrain

• o Stream Noise = Surprise!

• Carry pepper spray
• Sighting - Leave quietly
• Group together
• Sow Grizzly Bear attacks:

• o Go passive
• o Protect core
• o Do not fight

SPEAKING NOTES: (Flip Chart Page #5)

GRIZZLY BEARS:

 Hunting / Firearms:

• Attacks are sudden - firearms often useless
• Where Bear is wounded; Injuries to person are much more severe

 Fighting Back With Firearm / Knife:

• Can be successful

 Read: (2) - Purple Page 23 - Knife as defence(attack example)

Read: (3) - Purple Page 27 - Firearm as defence (attack example)

Summary: AVOID close encounters with Grizzly Bears

 COUGARS VANCOUVER ISLAND: 

• B. C. - Most injuries and deaths by Cougars in North America
• Vancouver Island - Highest % of attacks in B. C.
• West Coast V. I. - Seem to be the worst
• Children most often attacked - Alone, Separate from adults
• Cougars are nocturnal - Ambush predators
• Safety in numbers - Large groups, children hike between adults

 Threatened by a Cougar:

• Walking stick, pepper spray ready!
• Gather group together
• Be aggressive
• Fight back - shout, harsh eye contact, use sticks, rocks, pepper spray
• Large, controlled dog good; They eat dogs / cats