In the vast majority of cases, people just catch quick glimpses of these animals. But very occasionally people are injured or hurt in encounters with bears, so bear safety is an important topic for Yukoners.
Bears are intelligent creatures that can respond differently at different times.
The more people know about the behaviour of bears, the safer they will be in bear country. That s why bear biologists are now working on a video about bear safety that will put a strong emphasis on the biology and behaviour of bears. John Hechtel is one of five bear specialists working on the production, which is supported by the International Association for Bear Research and Management. Hechtel, an Alaskan biologist now working on secondment with the Yukon Department of Renewable Resources, has taught bear safety on numerous occasions during the more than 20 years he has worked as a bear biologist. He points out that it is not possible to run controlled tests to see what strategies work best when humans encounter bears.