Mette's Question:
This summer I am going to British Columbia with my children, ages six and three. Because I am European, I am not used to the risks of bears and other large animals. How concerned do I need to be about the risks of attack? Should I be particularly concerned about the high-pitched, noisy voices of my children?
We plan to drive the Icefield Parkway between Banff and Jasper and do some accessible day trips. We will be tent camping, but only on campsites accessible by car, so we are not heading for real back country. I find it difficult to find the balance between necessary precautions and unnecessary worries. I do not want to convey any sense of uneasiness to my children.
Mette Duekilde
Denmark
Alice's Answer:
Mette,
You are right to be thinking about what precautions you and your family might need to take while camping and trekking in"Bear Country," and you are also right not to want to alarm your young children.
Don't Scare the Kids
First, let's discuss what you might say to your kids. Yours are so young and bears are such a popular "bad guy" in children's literature that you definitely don't want to scare them, or they're likely to not want to leave the car. Last summer at Yosemite National Park my then six-year-old son was definitely nervous about grizzlies. His fears didn't thwart our activities, but they easily could have gotten out of hand if we hadn't been careful.
My recommendation would be to say as little about bears as possible. Instead, I would simply give them a little talk about the dangers of all wild animals—about how they should never be approached or fed, whether they're chipmunks or moose or whatever. You should also tell them that they should listen closely for instructions from mom and dad if a wild animal ever comes close—how they shouldn't panic, scream, or run away, because this may frighten the wild animal. In this way you can give your family all the safety information they need to know without scaring them to death.
Of course, if one of your children—especially the older one—asks you point blank about bears, be honest and say, yes, there are bears here, but we are going to be careful about not encountering them in a dangerous situation, and those bears don't want to see us any more than we want to see them—unless we're far away and in a safe viewing area.
Let Their Voices Ring Out
What can you do to avoid close encounters with other wild animals?
The great news, Mette, is that the voices of your kids will provide some of the best protection available. Encourage them to sing, chat and talk, because all of this din helps scare away wild animals. Such noise is the principal behind "bear bells," which hikers sometimes wear so bears will hear them coming. Also, keep your kids close to you: because they're small, they're more vulnerable to attack than you are. However, at this age you don't want your kids out of your sight anyway, so you would be taking this precaution even if wild animals weren't around.
While camping, be sure to store all of your food in any bear-proof containers provided, or in your trunk. Never take food or pungent lotions, etc., into your tent either. Make sure the kids don't sneak treats in either, because you don't want wild animals to come searching.
As long as you're traveling on popular trails, you probably don't need to be overly worried about encounters. The Canadian Park system has an excellent web page (www.worldweb.com/parkscanada-banff/bears.html) devoted to safety in bear country. Familiarize yourself with these suggestions and be sure to follow them during your trip. Wherever you hike or camp, similar regulations will likely be posted. Read and follow these regulations carefully, and you and your family should have a wonderful time.
For more on bears check out Bear Madness for all things bear on GORP.
