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Many of us watch and listen to wildlife as a means of re-establishing contact with the natural world, to escape the noise and hectic pace of our busy life styles. The sight and sound of migrating geese, a glimpse of a deer, or the call of a loon are special experiences that highlight our memories, marking our passage. Without such experiences, our world would be a much less interesting place.

Alberta is richly blessed with an abundance and variety of wild plants and animals. It is the only place in North America where the prairie, boreal forest and mountain ecosystems meet. As a result, over 300 bird, 90 mammal, 18 reptile and amphibian, 50 fish and 1,700 flowering plant species occur during at least part of the year.

In southwestern Alberta, you'll find coulees, praire, foothills, mountain slopes; a remarkable variety of landforms and climatic conditions which produce an exceptional diversity of sites for viewing wildlife. Coulees, such as those found in Lethbridge, are steeply eroded draws and valleys which harbour sufficient moisture to create distinctive oases of trees and shrubbery in the midst of the southern prairie. These locations sustain an abundance of flora, birds and mammals which are otherwise uncommon in the prairie region. In the Crowsnest Pass, you may visit open stands of limber pines, bent and weathered by the wind, fast flowing trout streams and mountain meadows. The greatest diversity of wildlife species in the province occurs in Alberta's southwest corner, where prairie and mountain meet in Waterton Lakes National Park. The two species in the Canadian Rockies that hold the most interest are bear and elk. The former because of their power and amazing character, and the latter because they are so prolific within the area.

Bears

It sounded like a bulldozer crashing through the forest on a collision course with my tent. She stopped just feet from me, and I could hear her breathing while she examined the camp. Then as quickly as she came, the bear left, leaving me terrified and completely unharmed. The next morning I followed her tracks; it was a grizzly. She disturbed nothing in the camp and continued up into the subalpine to feed on marmots and ground squirrels. I have never known such intense fear, yet this remains one of my strongest and most precious memories of the wilderness.

Bear attacks are among the rarest and most publicized dangers in the wilderness. Bears, particularly grizzlies are an indication of true wilderness. At one time the grizzly ranged as far east as Hudson's Bay and south into Mexico. As European settlement expanded, the grizzly's habitat decreased to the few pockets of remaining wilderness large enough to survive in. Remember this is the bear's home, you are the visitor and owe your host due courtesy. Always treat bears with the greatest care and respect. Most confrontations are avoidable. Given the opportunity bears will usually leave the area if they are given adequate warning and do not feel threatened.

Hiking in Bear Country

It is best to avoid an encounter by avoiding the bear. Common sense and careful observation will greatly reduce the risk of a bear attack.

• Be observant of any signs indicating the presence of bears, such as footprints, droppings, and diggings.
• If you see a bear give it a large detour (several hundred metres). Never approach a bear. Retreat if it is not possible to totally avoid the bear.
• Never approach a carcass, it may have already been marked and claimed by a bear.
• In areas of poor visibility make noise to alert the bear of your presence.
• Travelling in larger groups reduces the risk of an attack, with six or more appearing to be the magic number to discourage a charge.
  

Camping in Bear Country

It is very important to keep a clean camp. Improperly stored food and abandoned garbage may attract bears. If a bear becomes used to finding food and feeding in a camp, and it becomes habitual behaviour, the chance of attack is much greater. Too many bears have been killed by the parks service because campers were careless.

• Cook one hundred metres down wind from the tent.
• Store food and any scented materials (soap, tooth paste, cosmetics, etc.) at least one hundred metres downwind of camp. Hang the food at least four metres off the ground. If you are above treeline store food in plastic abs cylinders, or air tight bags at least one hundred metres from camp. Many backcountry campsites in the Canadian Rockies have bear poles to hang food. Often these are very close to camp, and not always down wind. Use them at your own discretion.
• Keep the camp clean. Store all garbage in air tight bags and hang it with the food. If the camp is littered when you arrive, clean the area and pack out the litter.
• Plan a possible escape route. Find a suitable tree near by to climb, or camp in the open to avoid surprising a bear.
• Leave the pack outside and away from the tent.
  

Bear Encounters

With these precautions, the chance of startling a bear or being attacked are extremely remote. If you ever should encounter a bear:

• Stay calm and do not run.
• Talk softly, avoid direct eye contact, and watch for signs of aggressive behavior. Snapping its jaws, making a woofing sound, a lowered head, and laying its ears back are all aggressive gestures.
• Look for an escape route. Are there any trees nearby suitable for climbing, can you slowly back away and give the animal more room?

If the bear attacks there are no sure methods to prevent, deter, or reduce the mauling. Each situation is as unique as every bear. The following are only recommendations that have shown to be effective more often than not.

• Don't run.
• If you can climb up a tree before the bear reaches you it may be a good defense. Drop your pack and climb up as high as you can.
• Divert the bears attention by dropping or tossing an article ( hat, camera, this book, etc. ) off to the side. Keep your pack on.
• Play dead. Put your hands behind your neck, and curl up with your knees pressed against the chest. Keep your pack on to protect the back.
• While some have claimed to have successfully fought off bears, in reality this may only intensify the attack. In general do not fight a grizzly, unless all else fails and there is nothing else to lose.

Bear behavior is very complex, and it is impossible to predict how an individual will react. Bears are fascinating animals and the more you learn about them, the easier it is to travel in bear country with confidence. There are many sensational and inaccurate stories concerning bears, but there are also quite a few reputable books that can help you understand the animal.

Elk and Moose

While seemingly benign on occasion these animals have the potential to be dangerous. Elk in particular have been known to attack hikers with little warning. The aggressive behaviour is usually associated with protecting their offspring or their reproductive cycle. In the late spring and through the summer hinds (female) Elk are giving birth or raising a young calf. If they feel threatened they may charge. From late August to the end of November, the stags (males) are in the rut, and at this time they are very aggressive. Never approach these animals or come between a mother and its young, they will fight. Elk are responsible for more attacks on people than any other animal in the mountains, yet almost all of these are provoked by careless people. Moose can display similar aggresive characteristics for the same reason.