Bear safety on the trails

Both black bears and grizzly bears live in Whistler. Bears prefer to avoid people; even if a bear appears comfortable, stay at least 100 metres away. Bears can be motivated to go near people if they smell food or a scent they believe is edible.

Trail tips:

• make noise by clapping or talking loudly to make sure any nearby bears will hear you
• travel in a group of four or more when hiking, especially in grizzly habitat
• avoid trails at dawn and dusk
• carry bear spray and understand how to use it
• keep dogs under control and on leash — dogs can provoke defensive behaviour in bears
• never feed a bear

If you see a bear:

• give the bear as much space as possible; back away slowly
• check around for other bears, cubs or a food source
• back away slowly the way you came or give the bear a very wide berth, if you must continue
• speak calmly and firmly to show you aren’t threatening

Aggressive bear behaviour

If threatened, a bear may pop its jaws or swat the ground with its paw and blow and snort. Bears can also bluff charge toward someone, to intimidate them into leaving. This is more likely with a mother bear with cubs, a bear defending their food, or if the bear is surprised.

If a bear is too close, Get Bear Smart recommends unlocking your bear spray and leaving the area quickly, but calmly.

If a bear is about to attack, use bear spray to defend yourself. Spray towards the bear from the ground to shoulder height to create a wall of bear spray. The bear should stop when it reaches the wall. If necessary, spray the bear’s face when the bear is five metres away. Read more about bear spray.

If a bear is defensive and you are knocked on the ground, lie on your stomach using one hand to protect your neck and the other to protect the back of your head. Keep your elbows and legs wide to avoid being flipped over. Wait for the bear to leave.

If the bear bites or claws you, fight back with bear spray, a rock, stick or any other weapon you have. Attack its eyes and nose. Wait until the bear leaves before leaving the area.

Storing wildlife and bear attractants

Bears are attracted to smells they think are food. Bears that become comfortable in our community are more likely to become a danger to people. This leads to the animal’s death when it becomes a public safety risk.

Calling the B.C. Conservation Officer Service when you see a bear in a residential area means they can work to encourage the bear back to the wilderness. Unfortunately, a bear that’s becomes a danger to people will be destroyed.

Bears have an incredible sense of smell. Grizzly and black bears are estimated to be able to smell food 32 kilometres away — so a bear in Pemberton can smell a barbecue in Whistler. Bears are most motivated to search for food when they come out of hibernation in the spring and before hibernation in the fall.

In Whistler, securing wildlife attractants is the law. Contact the Bylaw Department to report any attractants.

Wildlife attractants aren’t just food. They include:

• Food, garbage and recyclables. This should be stored securely indoors.
• Compost (other than grass clippings, leaves or branches). Compost can be disposed of at Whistler’s waste depots or in a bear-proof composter. Compost shouldn’t contain fish or bone meal.
• Barbeques. Clean these and remove all grease from the grease trap after each use.
• Pet food. Feed pets indoors.
• Vegetable gardens
• Seeds and hummingbird feeders
• Citronella candles
• Hot tub covers. Use an aluminum cover.
• Grease
• Oil
• Antifreeze
• Paint
• Petroleum products
• Remove fruit and berries before they ripen on trees and bushes. Remove fallen fruit.
• Mountain ash trees and shrubs
• Blueberries and huckleberries
• Clover, dandelions and grasses. Mow and weed lawns.

Wildlife attractant plants

Remove ripening fruit and berries that could attract wildlife, or ideally remove the plant.

Mountain ash trees and shrubs (Sorbus aucuparia and Sorbus sitchensis), blueberries and huckleberries (Vaccinium) and clover are all very attractive to bears and should be avoided in landscaping plans.

Dogs and wildlife

Keep your dog on a leash and under control. Dogs can provoke defensive and dangerous behaviour in bears.

Geese

Whistler has a Goose Management Strategy to support ecosystem health by making sure there’s a suitable geese population. You may notice fences in our parks to discourage geese from nesting in those areas and from gathering on the lawns and beaches where they leave feces.

We monitor water quality at local swimming beaches and the number of geese nests in the area.

If you are experiencing geese problems on your property, contact stewardship@whistler.ca for information and tips on managing geese.

Cougars and bobcats

If you see a wild cat, such as a cougar or bobcat:

• Stay calm and keep the wild cat in view.
• Pick up children immediately. A child’s noise and movements can provoke an attack.
• Back away slowly. Keep the cougar in front of you. Make sure the animal has a clear way to escape.
• Make yourself look as large as possible.
• Never run or turn your back on a cougar. Sudden movement may provoke an attack.
• Keep pets on leashes.

If a wild cat follows you, be aggressive to convince the cat you are a threat and not prey. Maintain eye contact, show your teeth and be loud. Use rocks, sticks as weapons. If you are attacked, fight for your life and attack the wild cat’s face, eyes and nose by punching, kicking or using any weapon you have.

Read more about cougars.

Wildlife safety on construction sites

Construction sites have many potential attractants for bears. These must be stored in a secure building or bear-proof container. Attractants, such as food, should be thrown away in a bear-proof garbage or recycling container that meets Solid Waste Wildlife-Proof Enclosure requirements.

Read about Bear Smart practices for construction sites.

Bear management in Whistler

The Resort Municipality of Whistler has worked to reduce the chance of human conflict with bears since 1995. We are proud to have been a Bear Smart Community since 2011.

The Resort Municipality of Whistler coordinates our Bear Smart Program alongside the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, RCMP, Whistler Blackcomb, Whistler Bear Working Group, Grizzly Bear Foundation, Cascade Environmental Resource Group, GFL Environmental, provincial wildlife biologists and recreational specialists. The program focuses on reducing human-bear conflict in our community.

In addition, Whistler’s Human-Grizzly Bear Conflict Management Strategy guides our work to support the provincial grizzly bear recovery program and keep the public safe. We created the strategy with input from Recreation Sites and Trails BC, Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRO), Sea to Sky District Biologist and the Conservation Officer Service (COS). Whistler’s Bear Response Plan has non-lethal management guidance for grizzly and black bears.

Fishing, ice fishing, trapping and hunting

Fishing, trapping and hunting is managed provincially. Discharging a firearm is prohibited in the Resort Municipality of Whistler.

Report a poacher to the BC Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.

Ice Fishing

Ice conditions change quickly, due to our temperate climate, but are not monitored. Please be cautious before attempting to stand or walk on ice.

The place to ice fish in Whistler is Lost Lake Park, which is dedicated to Nordic sports. In addition to paying for access to Lost Lake Park, a fishing licence and compliance with provincial fishing regulations, anyone wanting to fish is required to sign a user agreement at the Ski Patrol Hut. Commercial operators are also required to have a business licence.