A recent bear attack on a man in the Water Valley area highlights the need for visitors to the west county to put safety first - and that includes taking action to prevent wildlife encounters from happening in the first place.
That's the message from Mountain View BearSmart Society officials following the July 2 attack on a man geo-caching (a treasure hunting game) west of Water Valley.
"It's very important in bear country that you travel in groups and make as much noise as you can," said society secretary Jane Bicknell.
"A single person travelling by himself or herself doesn't sometimes make enough noise to forewarn wildlife of their presence. When you are talking or laughing together you tend to make more noise and wildlife can then hear you coming."
All adults in any group travelling in the woods should carry bearspray, she said, noting kids might be advised to carry air horns or whistles.
On July 2 a bear charged a male travelling alone in the Harold Creek area. The man reported that the bear had attempted to drag him into the bush.
The man managed to free himself and get into his vehicle. He received non-life-threatening soft tissue injuries throughout his body, said Adam Loria, EMS spokesperson.
Cyclists also need to make sure they make noise when travelling along isolated forest pathways, said Bicknell.
"You've got the extra speed there. You can surprise a bear and there may be contact and that's something you need to avoid," she said.
"Ring your bell on a regular basis. If you've got a good sightline along the trail you may not have to ring the bell as often. If you are in an area that is kind of curving, the element of surprise is very much an issue."
Bears are very active in the region at this time of year, with the berry crop starting to mature, she said.
Fish and Wildlife officers have been trying to capture the bear since the July 2 incident.
"We haven't found it yet. Officers are attempting to capture it and they would make a final determination in terms of what happens next at that point," department spokesperson Brendan Cox told the Gazette on Friday.
"A single person travelling by himself or herself doesn't sometimes make enough noise to forewarn wildlife of their presence."Jane BicknellMountain View BearSmart Society
