Where do I find Bears?
Jun 7, 2013 09:41:23 #
tonyt
Loc: North west England, UK
Just arrived in Calgary from Uk. Will be spending week in Kootenay and week in Yoho. Where is best place to photograph bears?
Jun 7, 2013 10:09:23 #
I think your best bet would be to ask the park ranger at the Yoho park. When I was living In BC and I wanted to see bears I went to the local garbage dumb they hang around there and scavenge.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Jun 7, 2013 21:07:20 #
Jun 7, 2013 21:10:47 #
lighthouse
Loc: No Fixed Abode
On TV.
Bears are big and scary.
Bears are big and scary.
tonyt wrote:
Just arrived in Calgary from Uk. Will be spending week in Kootenay and week in Yoho. Where is best place to photograph bears?
Jun 7, 2013 21:11:01 #
tlbuljac wrote:
ZOO
Silly, there are no zoos in either the Kootenays or in Yoho!
But there are plenty of wild bears around there!
EstherP
Jun 7, 2013 21:35:22 #
tonyt wrote:
Where do I find Bears?
In the woods, where they, well, you know.
Jun 8, 2013 06:43:02 #
There will be a few down by the roadside on occassions and these can be easily spotted by the crowds of people around them ignoring every single bit of advice the park Staff have given out.
Otherwise they'll likely be higher up. Unlikely to be seen from the major trails as many people walk these with some sort of cowbell which the bears hear long before you see them.
Listen too and take heed of all the safety info. They are DANGEROUS, particularly when spooked.
Otherwise they'll likely be higher up. Unlikely to be seen from the major trails as many people walk these with some sort of cowbell which the bears hear long before you see them.
Listen too and take heed of all the safety info. They are DANGEROUS, particularly when spooked.
Jun 8, 2013 06:51:54 #
John N wrote:
Unlikely to be seen from the major trails as many people walk these with some sort of cowbell which the bears hear long before you see them.
Listen too and take heed of all the safety info. They are DANGEROUS, particularly when spooked.
Listen too and take heed of all the safety info. They are DANGEROUS, particularly when spooked.
Bear-bells are very much recommended if you go hiking. AND be very aware of any and all movement around you. There are other wild animals beside bears, and many of them are dangerous.
Even worse than a spooked bear is a Mommy-bear with cubs...
EstherP
Jun 8, 2013 08:37:54 #
Jun 8, 2013 08:38:25 #
EstherP wrote:
Bear-bells are very much recommended if you go hiking. AND be very aware of any and all movement around you. There are other wild animals beside bears, and many of them are dangerous.
Even worse than a spooked bear is a Mommy-bear with cubs...
EstherP
Even worse than a spooked bear is a Mommy-bear with cubs...
EstherP
EstherP, not being from bear country, I would think that the bells would help the bear zero in on you, let him know where his dinner is located. :thumbup:
Jun 8, 2013 08:38:40 #
lighthouse
Loc: No Fixed Abode
The National Park Rangers are advising hikers in Glacier National Park and other Rocky Mountain parks to be alert for bears and take extra precautions to avoid an encounter.
They advise park visitors to wear little bells on their clothes so they make noise when hiking. The bell noise allows bears to hear them coming from a distance and not be startled by a hiker accidentally sneaking up on them. This might cause a bear to charge.
Visitors should also carry a pepper spray can just in case a bear is encountered. Spraying the pepper into the air will irritate the bear's sensitive nose and it will run away.
It is also a good idea to keep an eye out for fresh bear scat so you have an idea if bears are in the area. People should be able to recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear scat.
Black bear droppings are smaller and often contain berries, leaves, and possibly bits of fur. Grizzly bear droppings tend to contain small bells and smell of pepper.
They advise park visitors to wear little bells on their clothes so they make noise when hiking. The bell noise allows bears to hear them coming from a distance and not be startled by a hiker accidentally sneaking up on them. This might cause a bear to charge.
Visitors should also carry a pepper spray can just in case a bear is encountered. Spraying the pepper into the air will irritate the bear's sensitive nose and it will run away.
It is also a good idea to keep an eye out for fresh bear scat so you have an idea if bears are in the area. People should be able to recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear scat.
Black bear droppings are smaller and often contain berries, leaves, and possibly bits of fur. Grizzly bear droppings tend to contain small bells and smell of pepper.
EstherP wrote:
Bear-bells are very much recommended if you go hiking. AND be very aware of any and all movement around you. There are other wild animals beside bears, and many of them are dangerous.
Even worse than a spooked bear is a Mommy-bear with cubs...
EstherP
Even worse than a spooked bear is a Mommy-bear with cubs...
EstherP
Jun 8, 2013 09:03:45 #
Do NOT rely on pepper spray to stop an angry bear!! It MAY work under just the right circumstances. Be sure to get the large sprayers designed for bears. Btw, bears can move incredibly fast when they wanna. Enjoy, but be very aware of your surroundings. =)
Jun 8, 2013 10:35:11 #
Jun 8, 2013 10:55:48 #
tejaswrangler wrote:
No, as long as they can hear you coming they'll stay away. EstherP, not being from bear country, I would think that the bells would help the bear zero in on you, let him know where his dinner is located. :thumbup:
lighthouse wrote:
Unless you are familiar with using bear spray, I would advise against that. By the time you have your spray-can pointed at the bear, it may too late, and many a well-prepared but ill-informed hiker has been sprayed with his own bear spray because the wind was the wrong direction....Visitors should also carry a pepper spray can just in case a bear is encountered. Spraying the pepper into the air will irritate the bear's sensitive nose and it will run away.
tonyt wrote:
Just arrived in Calgary from Uk. Will be spending week in Kootenay and week in Yoho. Where is best place to photograph bears?
Your best bet is to stop at a tourist office (look for the signs shown in the picture). They can tell you what the local situation is, if there have been recent sightings, and what the precautions are, not only for bears but for all wildlife. They can also tell you where there are some good photo-ops!
EstherP
http://www.hellobc.com/
Tourist Information Sigh
Jun 8, 2013 10:56:29 #
Nikon Newbie
Loc: Alberta, Canada
tonyt wrote:
Just arrived in Calgary from Uk. Will be spending week in Kootenay and week in Yoho. Where is best place to photograph bears?
Welcome to my side of the world! there will be lots of things to photography in those area's. You didn't state what area of the Kootney Plains you wil be in.
I have photographed bears just inside the park on hyway 93 just north of the Saskatchwan Crossong ( where hyway 11 meets 93 ) Also some on Hayway 11 by the Thomson Creek area. This area also has sheep and elk.
You could also travel hyway 11 toward Nordegg where there is wild horses.
Enjoy your stay and post some of your pictures when you can!
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