Wildlife Safety

All Wild Animals are considered dangerous, and can be very unpredictable at any time. There are some pointers that you would be good if you were able to look at regarding safety around animals.

Signs to indicate serious stress

Bears -- If they sense danger, they will stand upwards to try and identify who you are, and if you're a threat or not. Also, this group will grunt, roar, smacking teeth etc.

Felines (bob cats, cougars) -- when in pouncing stance

Ungulates (moose, deer, elk, caribou) -- will either stomp, or start kicking and also raising their hackles (antlers)

Rodents (squirrels) -- start rattling their tail like a rattle snake  (beaver, muskrat, weasel), slapping their tails, mice and other smaller rodents run like crazy, (racoons) start crying

Skunks -- will lift their tail up and emit a very foul smelling odor

Dogs (Coyotes, Wolves, Foxes) Most of these dogs will start to herd or surround you with a bunch of them.

Birds -- will come down and try and swoop on top of you or around you

Snakes -- depending on the type will get in their defense state.

There are many other types of animals out there as well, but these are just a few of the more common animals that you might run into, and some that might cause the most problems within the wilderness of BC.

Please note that if you have seriously stressed an animal, and it either attacks you, or attacks someone else, BC Conservation Officers will either have to destroy the animal, or will have to relocate the animal.

For further information about Contacting a wildlife conservation officer, please click here

Below are some pointers of what you can do to PREVENT stressing wildlife

*** Keep your distance.  A safe distance for most animals are at least 50-100 m. If you want to photograph, please use a telephoto lense, or one that has the capability of being able to take pictures from extreme distances.

*** Do NOT cook, camp, or rub your hands on your pants of fish smell in any wilderness area, especially around berry patches and fast moving water, as bears love these areas. Also, clean your fish in a fast moving stream, so that it is carried away that way.

***Do NOT go too close to the very young, or the eggs of birds etc., as the mothers will be guarding the nests and other nursery sites to ensure that no one is bothering their young, and they will attack if necessary.

*** If you want to get that good picture of a wildlife, then either go to a resort where there is a porch that you can sit and wait, or for those who are more experienced or advanced, then through a blindfold tent that you will take photos from, but you will not show them that you're there.

*** Heed ALL WARNINGS that are posted by Parks Staff, and other people. These are for your safety, and for anyone else that might be visiting the Parks and other areas of BC.

*** DO NOT FEED ANY WILDLIFE FOR ANY REASON. You may want to feed smaller animals like squirrels, racoons etc., but that will come back and backfire, as the smaller animals, are the ones that can bring the larger animals back to you.

*** Keep your PETS at home. They will stress the wildlife, and make it so that they could attack!!!

*** Pack your common sense with you! If you're NOT safe doing it, do not do it!