Bear Awareness & Safety


Course Price	$39.95

Online Modules	Self-Paced (est. 60 minutes)

Bear Safety and Awareness Course Summary

Table of Contents

Registration

Summary

Access

Modules

Overview

The Canadian wilderness and parks offer endless outdoor recreational activities for hikers, backpackers, climbers, paddlers, boaters, hunters, skiers, cyclists, motor sports, campers, and anyone who enjoys spending time outside. The more time you spend in remote and even some urban outdoor spaces in Canada, there is an ever increasing chance of encountering wildlife, such as bears. Black Bears, Grizzly Bears and Polar Bears are all native species to Canada, and expanding city populations and wilderness useage make interactions between people and bears more and more common every year.

During this online Bear Awareness course you will learn how to identify the different species of bears in your specific area, actions you can take to decrease your chances of having a Bear encounter during your outdoor Canadian outdoor experiences, and act with educated confidence in the event you or members of your group do encounter a bear.

Duration

Approximately 60 minutes. Online course is self-paced. Participants may leave the course at any time and can resume where they left off. The duration will vary depending on the individual learner and their prior knowledge of the subject matter.

Who should take this Course?

This course is appropriate for anyone who works or spends time in the Canadian outdoors including, provincial and federal parks and campgrounds, rivers, lakes, coastline, mountains, backcountry, or even rural communities where bear activity is probable. The content of this course is applicable for all provinces and territories across Canada, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, and the Northwest & Yukon Territories.

Course Developer

This online Bear Awareness course, content and certification is developed and owned by HSE Integrated Ltd.

Completion Requirements

At the end of the online module participants must successfully complete the test. Participants that do not achieve 80% can review the module content and try again twice, as necessary to advance and complete the course. Upon successful completion, there is a printable Certificate for your records.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this online Bear Awareness course, participants should be able to:

Become more aware of your surroundings in Canadian Bear Country
Identify and recognize the general characteristics of Bears
React appropriately in the event of a Bear encounter
Identify and recognize the different species of Bears indigenous to the Canadian wilderness, including Black Bears, Grizzly Bears and Polar Bears
Identify the significant differences between Black Bears and Grizzly Bears
Identify and practice Bear-Safe habits in the outdoors
Identify and practice steps to minimize the liklihood of Bear encounters
Identify and practice steps to maximize the chances of a positive outcome in the event of a Bear confrontation

Instant Access

Access Instructions

You will access and complete the workplace Bear Safety and Awareness online course modules through a secure personal profile you'll create within the online elearning platform.

As soon as you have registered and paid for your Online Bear Awareness course, you will have immediate access to the course and contents, which you can complete at your own pace from any web-capable computer/tablet/smartphone.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Click the "Register" button
Then click "Buy Now" or "Add to Cart" in the course window/tab that opens in your browser
Assign a username and password for yourself on the elearning platform, or sign in with your existing profile
Enter your billing information and click "Pay Now"

Once you've completed the steps above, you'll be able to assign, access and complete the course at your own pace. You'll also receive an email from the system with the login link and instructions, so you can close your browser any time, and restart where you left off later.

It's important to securely store and remember the specific Username and Password that you've assigned to your elearning profile, so you can login and resume your course from any device. You can save the link to your browser bookmarks, or just return to this page and click the blue button below.

You can also purchase and assign courses for other people, through your personal profile. You can easily assign, manage and track the training and certifications for yourself or your entire organization.

SafeTapp Training Record Management

You may also want to utilize the SafeTapp record management app, to keep track of all your online courses, training and certifications. The SafeTapp system allows you to syncronize your courses and certifiations in a central database, so you always have the most up to date records availalbe right from your phone. The SafeTapp App can be utilized to keep track of health and safety training for individuals, or for the all the staff of your entire organization.

Click here to learn more about using the SafeTapp training record management app to track all your online health and safety courses and training.

Online Course Modules

Bear Awareness Course Preview

Once you have completed the registration process and activated the online Bear Awareness course within your elearning profile, you will be able to move through the individual modules at your own pace.

You can start and stop as often as you like, and you can pick up where you left off later, from any web capable computer, tablet, or mobile device.

You will have three attempts to successfully complete the Bear Awareness course modules and achieve a minimum score of 80% on the final test. If you are unsuccessful after the third attempt, you will be required to re-purchase the course and start over with three new attempts. As long as you pay attention to the videos and read the written materials thoroughly, you should have no problem navigating the course and exam process.

Once you have successfully completed all the modules you can access, download and print your Bear Awareness training Certificate.

Bear Safety & Awareness

Chapter 1: General Characteristics of Bears

Online Bear Safety Course Chapter 1 — Characteristics of Bears

Bears share many common characteristics, with subtly differences between species and habitats, with regard to diet, breeding, hibernation, socialization, and sensory input.

Although every Bear and encounter is unique and cannot be accurately predicted based on common traits, there are several key factors that are universal to Canadian Bears which can assist you in making eductated, respectful, and sensible decisions regarding how you behave in Bear territory and interact with Bears when proximity is unavoidable.

The more educated and familiar you are with commonalities among Bear behaviours, the more likely you are to recognize hazardous situations, and identify the best possible response to a Bear encounter.

Canada is Bear Country
The chances of encountering a Bear
Encroachment into Bear territories
How to avoid, recognize and manage Bear encounters
Bears are strong, fast, powerful and agile
Bears will defend themselves, their territory and their young if they feel threatened
Bears are unpredictable
All Bears are inherently dangerous
The three most important rules to staying safe in Bear territory
Never feed a Bear
Do not come between a mother Bear and her cubs
Never turn your back on a Bear
Bear Characteristics
Bears are highly evolved and social
Bear size, weight, and colour varies from habitat to habitat
You cannot outrun a Bear
Bears are intelligent and curious
Bears have excellent memories, in particular with regard to food sources
Bears have good eyesight with colour vision
Bears have excellent hearing
Bears primarily rely on their sense of smell to collect information
Standing on it's hind legs does not necessarily indicate a Bear is aggressive
Bear Hibernation
Black Bears and Grizzly Bears sleep outside during the day in spring, summer and fall
Black Bears and Grizzly Bears generally begin to hibernate from October to December, gradually waking between February and May
Grizzly Bears generally excavate their own dens
Black Bears generally locate natural cavities such as rock crevices or hollow trees to utilize as a den
Polar Bears sleep on the tundra during summer months
Polar Bears sleep in shallow dug outs during the winter
Polar Bears are usually more active at night
Bear Diet
Black Bears and Grizzly Bears are omnivorous
Plant foods make up as much as 90% of a Bear's diet
Fish and meat provide protein and fat in Bear diets
Bears will move with food sources throughout the year
Springtime food sources for Bears include winter-killed animals, elk, deer, bison, ants, grasses, clover and parsnip
Summertime food sources for Bears include thistle, bistort, roots, trout, fireweed, mushrooms, berries and salmon
Fall food sources for Bears include fish, moths, pine nuts, injured animals, roots, berries and ants
Polar Bears are considered carnivores
Polar Bear food sources include seals, whales, walruses, birds, eggs, rodents, kelp and berries
Bear Breeding
Black Bears and Grizzly bears usually mate in June, with a litter of 1-4 cubs born in January or February
Polar Bears usually mate between March and June, with a litter of 1-4 cubs born between November and January and emerging between March and April
Bear cubs stay with their mothers for up to 3 years

Chapter 2: The Difference Between Black Bears, Grizzly Bears, and Polar Bears

Although bears of all species share some common traits, and physical characteristics, there are some distinct, significant and important differences between Black bears, Grizzly bears and Polar bears, all of which inhabit large areas of Canada.

In addition to the physical differences between these bear species and their corresponding tracks, there are also differences in their behaviours, territories and the geographic distribution of their populations throughout the Canadian wilderness.

Knowing and recognizing the difference between a Black bear and a Grizzly bear in your vicinity can be a very important factor in your bear awareness and overall decision making outdoors.

Physical Characteristics of Bears
Bear Behaviour
Bear Population Distribution
Identifying Bear Tracks
Misidentification of Bears
The three types of Bears found in North America (Black Bears, Brown/Grizzly Bears, and Polar Bears)
Grizzly bears and Black bears are the most common types of bear found in Canada
Grizzly bears are also known as Brown bears
Black bears and Grizzly bears can both have brown colouring, but have very different mannerisms
Polar bears always have white colouring
As Polar bears age, their fur can develop a yellow or brown highlight
Polar bears have elongated bodies, skulls, and snouts
Male Polar bears have longer fur on their legs, compared to female Polar bears
Polar bears generally have short legs and small, round ears
Male Polar bears can weigh up to 700 kg, while female Polar bears can weigh up to 350 kg
Polar bear claws are large enough to distribute weight, dig through snow and ice, and are webbed for swimming
60 % of the world's Polar bear population reside in Canada, and have a larger range compared to other bear species
A Black bear can have black, brown, blonde, cinnamon, or rust colouring
Most Black bears are either black or brown, with a light brown snout
Black bears have a straight face with a relatively long muzzle
Black bears generally have long, prominent ears
The rump of a Black bear is generally higher than it's front shoulder
Black bears range in weight from 45 kg to 140 kg
Black bears are usually between 75 cm ot 100 cm tall at the shoulders, when on all fours, and around 150 cm standing upright
Male Black bears are generally larger than female Black bears
The claws of a Black bear are good for climbing
The front claws of a Black bear are less than 5 cm long, curved, and dark coloured
The colouring of a Grizzly bear generally varies from blonde to black
The legs, hump and underparts of Grizzly bears are generally medium to dark brown
Grizzly bears usually have light-tipped, grizzled fur on their head and upper body
Grizzly bears are distinguished from Black bears by a dished-in profile between the eyes and end of the snout
The ears of a Grizzly bear are generally round and small
The average weight of a male Grizzly bear is 225 kg, but they can weigh up to 400 kg
The average weight of a female Grizzly bear is 170 kg
The distinct should hump of a Grizzly bear is a muscle mass utilized for digging
The claws of a Grizzly bear are ideal for digging at 5-10 cm long, with a slight curve
Black bears den in open spaces at low to middle elevations, and are mainly active between dawn and dusk
Black bears are very good tree climbers, and are generally less aggressive than Grizzly bears
Black bears usually stay within the shelter of trees, but are returning to many forested areas near major cities
Grizzly bears create day beds and are mainly active during dusk and dawn
Grizzly bears are exceptionally strong and the females in particular will aggressively protect their cubs
Grizzly bears are currently considered a "Special Concern" species
Bear tracks show five toes and may include claw marks, with the big toe print on the outside
The claw marks of a Black bear track will appear closer to the foot pads, compared to that of a Grizzly track
Size is not a reliable indicator when distinguishing between Grizzly bears and Black bears, as body position can affect appearance

Chapter 3: Bear Country Activities

Careful, deliberate planning on where to camp, routes in and out, what to bring, and how to set up your campsite can greatly reduce the risk of a bear confrontation while your are in the wilderness.

Hunters in particular may be at greater risk of bear confrontation as they are usually much quieter compared to other outdoor groups, and therefore more likely to surprise a bear in the wilderness. Hunters also generally spend a lot of time near freshly killed animal carcasses, which are compelling bear attractants.

When working in the outdoors, it is best to have at least one partner to act as lookout. It may also be beneficial to plan work for specific times of year to accomplish tasks in bear territories as safely as possible.

Safe camping in Bear Country
Safe hiking in Bear Country
Safey while hunting in Bear Country
Working safely in Bear Country
Sticking to designated campgrounds or tenting areas
Pitching your tent away from animal trails, the sound of rushing water or lake/stream shores
Camping near large, climable trees
Using noise and bright color in your campsite to deter bears
What to do when you spot fresh bear signs
Avoiding fresh, perishable foods and keeping your campsite clean
Food odours and garbage entice bears
Keeping food stored in secure caches or hanging away from your camp
Keeping your sleeping bag slightly unzipped for fast departure
Changing from the clothes you wore while preparing food before getting in your sleeping bag
Bears' attraction to synthetic materials
Use of bear boards on steps and window sills of trailers and campers
Communicating your expected departure and return dates
Keeping your dog at home or on a leash
Avoiding strong, artificial smells and cosmetics in Bear Country
Use of binoculars to look ahead for bears
Wind direction and bear awareness
Avoiding dead animals and animal carcasses
Reducing your chances of a bear encounter by avoiding areas favoured by bears
Hunters' use of stealth can put them at increased risk of bear confrontation
Presence of carrion birds as bear indicators
The scent of a freshly killed animal is a bear attractant
Storing a kill in a visible area to avoid surprising a bear on your return
Checking for bears from an aircraft when working in bear territories
Working in pairs while in Bear Country

Chapter 4: Bear Confrontations

The best way to manage bear confrontations is to take steps and make decisions that avoid them completely. However in the event that you do find yourself in an unavoidable confrontation with or close proximity to a bear, you will want to know what to do to ensure the best possible outcome.

Although no technique or approach to a bear encounter is guaranteed to resolve safely, it is always beneficial to remain and act calmly and back away quietly after setting your pack and belongings on the ground if possible.

If a bear does attack you, it is vital that you fight back as hard as possible, using every weapon and resource at your disposal until you can escape and seek immediate emergency medical care.

Bear Encounters
Calm behaviour and actions during a bear encounter
Screams, sudden movement, or throwing things at a bear can trigger bear attacks
Avoiding areas where bears have been sighted
Leaving bears an escape route
Body Language during Bear Encounters
Understanding bear body language
A bear standing on it's hind legs may or may not indicate aggression
A bear swinging it's head side to side indicates reluctance to engage
Agitated bear charges and bluff charges
You cannot outrun a bear and running may trigger an attack
Climbing a tree to avoid a bear confrontation, if it is your only option
Bear Attacks
Inadvertant bear attacks
Laying on your stomach and crossing your legs
When and how to fight back and protect during a bear attack
Do not "play dead" with Black bears or Polar bears
Predatory bear attacks
Injured, sick or hungry bears
Avoiding contact with a bear that is stalking you
Using any weapons available to defend yourself from a bear attack
Do not give up!
Medical attention following a bear attack
Use of bear sprays and cannister sizes and reach
Keeping the wind at your back during bear spray deployment
Where and when to shoot an attacking bear