Safety in Bear Country
Bear conflicts in the NWT
The Northwest Territories (NWT) is home to black, grizzly and polar bears.
Bears normally avoid contact with people. However, any wild animal can attack if cornered, threatened or wounded. The best bear safety method is prevention.
Bear encounters can be expected when people and bears occupy the same land. These encounters can result in the bear being destroyed.
As the human population expands, and industrial development causes more widespread disturbance in bear country, conflicts between humans and bears are likely to increase. Habitat loss, particularly from wildfires, forces bears to travel longer distances in search of food and shelter, often bringing them into nearby communities. As a result, dealing with bears in communities is becoming an increasingly bigger problem in the NWT, particularly during the spring and summer months.
Bear behaviour indicators and what they mean
- Bear climbing tree = The bear is frightened, seeking safety or escape from potential danger.
- Bear running away from you = The bear may be frightened and actively avoiding confrontation.
- Bear walking away, looking behind = The bear is escaping but checking to see if the danger persists, showing caution.
- Bear ambling haphazardly = The bear is likely unconcerned, relaxed, or unaware of any immediate threat.
- Bear looking at you = The bear could be curious, trying to assess the situation from a distance.
- Bear standing on hind legs and looking at you = The bear is likely curious, possibly trying to get a better view or more information.
- Bear approaching, stopping periodically = The bear is curious but hesitant, unsure whether to approach further or retreat.
- Bear pawing the ground and/or snorting = The bear is displaying aggression or defensive behavior, possibly due to a perceived threat.
- Bear walking directly toward you with head down = The bear is likely in a predatory stance, possibly preparing to attack or view you as a threat.
The Northwest Territories (NWT) is home to black, grizzly and polar bears. When you're in the NWT, you're in bear country. Remember to follow basic bear safety precautions. Also, you are advised not to feed wildlife in the NWT.
Bears normally avoid contact with people. However, any wild animal can attack if cornered, threatened or wounded. The best bear safety method is prevention.
Unplanned bear encounters can be expected when people and bears occupy the same land. These encounters often results in the bear being destroyed.
As the human population expands, and as industrial development causes allows for more widespread penetration into bear country, conflicts between humans and bears will increase. Dealing with nuisance or problem bears is becoming an increasing bigger problem in the NWT during the spring and summer months.
Bear safety at home or cabin
Bear safety at home or cabin
The easiest way we can help protect both bears and people is simple: don’t extend the invitation!
- Bear proof your garbage. Bears can consume up to 25,000 calories a day, and the smell of garbage is a dinner bell they’ll remember. If you don’t have a bear-proof container—a bin with a locking mechanism that reduces food odors—keep your garbage indoors or in a shed until collection day.
- Make loud noises to scare them away (air horns, bear bangers, yelling etc.) and let them know not to come back.
- Consider not planting berry bushes right by your home or harvest the berries as soon as they’re ready.
- NEVER leave garbage, fuel, food, or harvested wildlife outside close to your home or cabin – preventing bear encounters starts with not attracting them.
- Clean up litter and roadside garbage when you can.
- Dispose of fish remains (offal) in fast moving streams or the deep part of a lake, never along stream sides or lake shores.
Bear safety on the land
Avoiding encounters with bears is the best approach. If you’re hiking or on the land remember to:
- Make noise! Let bears know you're there. Call out, clap, sing or talk loudly especially near streams, dense vegetation and berry patches, on windy days, and in areas of low visibility. Bear bells are not enough.
- Watch for fresh bear signs. Tracks, droppings, diggings, torn-up logs and turned-over rocks are all signs that a bear has been in the area. Leave the area if the signs are fresh.
- Keep your dog on a leash at all times or leave your dog at home. Dogs can provoke defensive behaviours in bears.
- Larger groups are less likely to have serious bear encounters—hike in groups of four or more when possible. Teach children how to stay safe in bear country, and always keep them within sight.
- Use officially marked paths and trails and travel during daylight hours.
- If you come across a large dead animal, such as a moose or caribou, leave the area immediately and report it.
- Carry bear spray, an air horn, and/or bear bangers on you, know how to use the deterrent and keep it accessible.
- Pack it in / pack it out – don’t leave garbage or food waste behind
- When camping make sure food, garbage and anything with a pungent smell is bear proofed or kept away from your sleeping area.
Public safety and bear management: tools and approaches
ECC uses many tools and approaches to manage bears when they are impacting public safety. In each situation, a risk assessment is conducted to determine which management tool is appropriate.
DETERENCE: Air horns, bear bangers, and/or rubber bullets can help bears keep moving if they are on the outskirts of town.
TRANQUILIZERS: Can take more than 10 minutes to take effect, and bears can become unpredictable – which is why they’re used only if it’s safe for people in the area. An unpredictable animal is a dangerous animal.
RELOCATION: Moving bears is a good option in some situations but may not work in others. Bears will often continue seeking out human food if the initial attractant is not secured. DISTPATCHING: Public safety is our top priority. ECC officers must assess each situation and the immediate risk to public safety. Dispatching is a last resort to keep the public safe (especially in community situations) and is never a decision taken lightly.
Be safe
When you're in the NWT, you're in bear country. Remember to follow basic bear safety precautions. Also, you are advised not to feed wildlife in the NWT.
Report a sighting
A sighting is not an emergency, as long as the animal is where it’s supposed to be and not behaving in a predatory or aggressive way.
REPORT A BEAR SIGHTING IF: The bear is near a populated area where people frequent, like a campground, community or dump, or if the animal is behaving aggressively. Report sightings to your local Environment and Climate Change office and report a wildlife emergency using the 24-hour emergency wildlife numbers.