Jasper National Park in Alberta is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, known both for its extensive trail network and abundant wildlife. Jasper and the surrounding towns have some of the best mountain biking trail systems in the world, with well-connected, well-maintained trails spread throughout the region.
53 species of mammals live in and around Jasper National Park, ranging from small squirrels to massive moose. However the park’s most iconic animal is the grizzly bear. Jasper supports a grizzly population of around 100–120 individuals. Adult females spend their lives in a 200 to 500 square-kilometer area, while adult males will cover up to 4,900 square-kilometers. With Jasper National Park taking up 11,228 square kilometers, encounters between grizzly bears and humans aren’t unheard of.
The video below shows a bear encounter on the Hochimini Bike Trail, a reasonably technical single track connecting Pyramid Beach and Patricia Lake in side Jasper National Park. The mountain biker in the video, though clearly nervous, manages to stay calm and speak to the animal while preparing his bear spray in case it decides to charge at him.
Avoiding an encounter in the first place is the best approach to staying safe in grizzly bear territory. When a close encounter does occur, behavior like this guy’s is pretty ideal. Keep calm to reassure the bear and do not scream or run away. If a bear is unaware of your presence, move away quietly without getting its attention. If it is aware of your presence, talk calmly and firmly to the animal to let it know that you are human and not a prey animal. Read more on safety in bear encounters below.
Parks Canada Bear Encounter Guidelines:
Stop and remain calm. Be ready to use bear spray. Do not run away.
OBSERVE:
Is the bear UNAWARE of your presence?
Move away quietly without getting its attention.
Is the bear AWARE of your presence?
Bears may bluff their way out of an encounter by charging and then turning away at the last second. Bears may also react defensively by woofing, growling, snapping their jaws and laying their ears back.
- Stay calm. Calm behaviour can reassure the bear. Screams or sudden movements may trigger an attack.
- Speak to the bear. Talk calmly and firmly. This lets the bear know you are human and not a prey animal. If a bear rears on its hind legs and waves its nose about, it is trying to identify you.
- Back away slowly. Never run! Running may trigger a pursuit.
- Make yourself appear BIG. Pick up small children and stay in a group.
- Do not drop your pack; it may provide protection.
If you must proceed, make a wide detour around the bear, move well off the trail or wait at a safe distance for it to move on.
If the bear APPROACHES
Stop and remain calm. Get ready to use your bear spray. Do not run away. Assess the bear’s behaviour and determine why it is approaching.
Is it DEFENSIVE?
The bear is feeding, protecting its young and/or surprised by your presence. It sees you as a threat. The bear will appear stressed or agitated and may vocalize.
- Try to appear non-threatening.
- Speak in a calm voice.
- When the bear stops advancing, start slowly moving away.
- If it keeps coming closer, stand your ground, keep talking, and use your bear spray.
- If the bear makes contact, fall on the ground and play dead. Lie still and wait for the bear to leave.
Is it NON-DEFENSIVE?
A bear may be curious, after your food, or testing its dominance. In the rarest case, it might be predatory–seeing you as potential prey. All of these non-defensive behaviours can appear similar and should not be confused with defensive behaviours.
The bear will be intent on you with head and ears up.
- Speak in a firm voice.
- Move out of the bear’s path.
- If it follows you, stop and stand your ground.
- Shout and act aggressively.
- Try to intimidate the bear.
- If it approaches closely, use your bear spray.