This means we must not force bears to leave their habitat, teach them to eat human foods, or place bears in situations where people or bears could get hurt. Preparation and education are essential to ensure our encounters with bears in the wild are positive and free from conflict.
Bears are everywhere.
We see them on the side of the highway, on logging roads, on the way to a campsite, near towns, or in the bush when hiking or working. British Columbia has about one-quarter of all black bears in Canada, and half of all grizzly bears. There are no grizzly bears on Vancouver Island, and there are few or no grizzlies in the heavily settled Lower Mainland or the dry, southern areas of the province. No hard and fast rules can be applied when dealing with a potentially complex situation. Respect all bears - they all can be dangerous.