The ski season is officially over at Lake Louise Ski Resort in Alberta, Canada and resort staff are hard at work prepping for the June 6th start of their summer gondola rides which will take guests over Banff National Park’s most scenic and wildlife-rich corridors, where grizzly bears and other animals are often spotted roaming below. A few of these workers had a run in with on of Lake Louise’s resident grizzlies yesterday morning:
“Winter is over and the bears are already out! Our Lake Louise team spotted this one passing through on Friday. Only a few weeks until the summer gondola starts, a great way to spot bears from the comfort of your chair, starting June 6th!”
Lake Louise Ski Resort Bear Encounter Guidelines:
It’s tough to predict the best strategy if you ever face a wild bear. That’s why it’s so crucial to focus on avoiding an encounter in the first place.
But if you do find yourself in that situation, here are some tips to help you handle it.
Keep Yourself Calm
Bears are usually just curious creatures. If you see one standing on its hind legs, it’s probably just trying to catch your scent. This isn’t necessarily a sign of aggression.
Running might seem like a good idea, but it can actually trigger a chase response. Bears can outrun you without breaking a sweat. So, take a deep breath and keep your cool.
If you have kids with you, pick them up to prevent them from panicking or running.
Use Your Bear Spray
Bear spray should be your last resort, but it’s a must-have when you’re in the Banff National Park. It can be really effective if a bear gets too close. Just make sure you know how to use it.
Keep it handy and get familiar with how it works. Lake Louise Ski Resort has a Bear Awareness Program where you can learn how to use bear spray properly. It’s a great way to feel more confident and safe during your visit.
Back Away Slowly
If you spot a bear in your path, the best thing to do is make a wide detour. Give the bear plenty of space to avoid making it feel threatened. Slowly begin to back away, talking in a soft, calm voice. Staying in a group can also be reassuring and make you appear larger to the bear.
Avoid direct eye contact because bears can see that as a challenge. Instead, look at the bear’s forehead or shoulder. It shows the bear that you’re not a threat, giving it the chance to move away on its own.
Do NOT Drop Objects
When you encounter a bear, it might seem like a good idea to drop objects to distract it, but this can actually make the situation worse. Bears are curious and may come closer to investigate what you dropped.
Also, never feed the bears. If a bear receives food, it gets rewarded for its aggressive behavior, making it more likely to approach humans in the future.
Keep your snacks to yourself, and make sure to pack out all your trash for bear safety.
