Grizzly and black bears are unpredictable at the best of times. Whether you are seeking recreation in bear country (hiking, camping, fishing, hunting) or you’re involved in an industry that requires you to work in bear country (seismic, logging, forestry), you need to be aware of what to do in the event of a bear sighting or encounter.

Knowing the appropriate response to a bear sighting/encounter could save your life and the lives of those you are with. The Bear Awareness and Avoidance program was created to provide the most recent available information on bear avoidance for members of the public and industry alike.

See linked PDF for all ASC Workplace course dates.

Bear Awareness & Avoidance Student Course (1 day).

While the best defense against a bear encounter is to avoid it altogether, this is not always possible.This program provides guidance for pre-planning before you enter bear country and on-site situations. Learn how best to handle a bear encounter using the knowledge and experiences of experts from the field.

Course content includes:

• knowing how to recognize potentially dangerous situations and the understanding of the best methods to diffuse them
• distinguishing between types of bears and their mobility as well as their diet, distribution and annual cycle
• an in-depth look at available deterrents (bear pistols, sprays and noisemakers) and applicable legislations
• discussion times so that class participants can learn from the knowledge and experience of others

The student program is 4-6 hours in length. Students receive a participant workbook and a Bear Awareness and Avoidance Graduation Card upon successful completion of the program.

Bear Awareness & Avoidance Instructor Training Course (3 days)

The Instructor Course provides presenters with the tools necessary to effectively impart critical information to participants in an effort to help them minimize and/or eliminate the potential risk involved in traveling in bear country.

In addition to in-depth discussions on bear behaviour and activities, the program focuses on:

• techniques of delivery
• presentation skills
• facilitation practices.

Instructor candidates will participate in a shortened student program and then move into instructional content, during which time they will plan and practice-teach from the Bear Awareness and Avoidance curriculum.

The Alberta Safety Council will certify successful candidates. They will receive an Instructor Certificate and be recognized provincially as an Instructor in the program. The Instructor Kit includes the Instructor Manual, a program DVD and a set of program overhead slides on CD-Rom for projection or printing purposes and the Participant Workbook and accompanying forms and documents.

Bear Awareness & Avoidance Instructor Recertification Course (half-day)

The Bear Awareness and Avoidance Instructor Recertification Course is taken every three years. This course is mandatory to maintain certification status with the Alberta Safety Council.

Course content includes:

• New legislation
• Changes in reporting procedures
• Evaluation of new training resources