The Bear Facts
Last Review/Updated: July 9, 2002
- Two species of bears live in Alberta: the black bear (Ursus americanus) and the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos). To learn how to identify the bears and where they live in Alberta, go to Know Your Bears.
- Although many people enjoy seeing bears, they can be dangerous!
Bear attacks are rare in Alberta, but they do occur. Many attacks can be prevented by excercising caution and common sense. - Never feed bears or any other wildlife! The likelihood of injury is great. As well, you are conditioning the animal to lose its natural fear of people and to develop a taste for human food—increasing its danger to the public.
- Bears eat whenever they can. They are opportunistic feeders, eating whatever is readily available. They search for their food by exploring and rummaging all possible food sources: plants, animal prey they have killed, remains from previous kills, garbage carelessly discarded, and human food.
- Whether in a campground or in the back country, never approach a bear. Bears will defend their "personal space"—a buffer zone surrounding them — if they are surprised or feel threatened.
Go to the following pages for further information:
We Need Your Help
Alberta Conservation Officers must occasionally remove a nuisance bear from an area by live-trapping it. If you should come across a trap do not approach it.
Warning signs are posted wherever a problem bear is known. Leave the area immediately.
Want to learn more about Alberta's bears? Go to Bears in Alberta.
