While it’s true that there are just three weeks of summer left, there’s still plenty of time to get out and explore in British Columbia.
However, as you plan your late-summer and fall adventures around the province, BC Parks says it’s a time of year that you need to be hyper aware of bears.
“Bears are entering their hyperphagia phase, which means they’re busy fattening up to prepare for the winter denning season,” explains a social media post from the government agency.
According to BC Parks, bears can consume up to 24,000 calories a day during this phase, so they’ll have their heads down and are very focused on eating.
And while that means they’re not paying as much attention to humans, it also increases the chances of an incidental run-in between an unsuspecting bear and an unsuspecting hiker.
The biggest thing that outdoor recreationalists can do to avoid bear encounters is to always store attractants securely.
Anything with a scent, like food, garbage or toiletries, should be stored in a hard-sided vehicle, a food locker or cache where provided, a certified bear-resistant canister or a properly-constructed food hang.
BC Parks says people should also pay attention to their surroundings when hiking or trail running, which means no headphones, carry and know how to use bear spray, never feed wildlife and respect area closures.
“During the fall, we may close some areas so bears can continue to use their preferred habitats,” the BC Parks social media post notes.
An example of that is the annual Taylor Meadows Campground closure in Garibaldi Park from Sept. 1-Oct. 31.
The Taylor Meadows area is an important feeding ground for black bears, with lots of wild blueberries and black huckleberries,” BC Parks says.
“Hikers are still able to hike through, but the campground is closed. By closing the campground, bears can forage for their own natural food instead of being tempted to access human food.”
According to BC Parks, there has been “a dramatic reduction” in negative human-wildlife encounters in the Taylor Meadows area since the annual fall camping closure was put in place.
