A guy jogging past me and my son as we were biking the trails by the Mamquam River this weekend said, “There’s a bunch of fresh bear scat back there, so be aware.”
And then: “Saw 20 piles of bear poo on my bike ride this morning. Bears are out so be safe out there,” read a Facebook post from a Squamish friend, which spawned about a million comments and replies from local folks sharing where they, too, have recently seen bear droppings.
Is it just me, or do Squamish residents talk about wildlife crap way more than any other community in the world?
But I guess it goes with the territory when you live in a place that is both an outdoor recreation mecca, as well as prime habitat for everything from bears and coyotes, to deer, elk and cougars.
You see, that’s actually the tradeoff for living in this awesome area. You get to enjoy an amazing lifestyle full of biking, hiking, camping and other outdoor pursuits, but at the same time you have to share all those backcountry spaces with the plethora of animals living there.
And it isn’t always necessarily a harmonious co-existence, either.
Our summer has only just started, and already there has been a person attacked by a momma bear in the Garibaldi Highlands. Sure, these kinds of things are indeed infrequent occurrences, however, the possibility is always present. There have also been a number of cougar sightings in and around town, as well. And as my mother in Montreal likes to exclaim nervously when I tell her these things, “That is a freakin’ lion… like what they have in Africa. That’s crazy that you get those in your town, and you think it’s normal.”
But in Squamish it is normal. However, the problems arise when people start taking these shared spaces for granted, and forget how to co-exist with our furry neighbours.
So, although you’ve likely heard it all before, it does bear (no pun intended) some repeating. When you’re recreating in the backcountry make some noise. Talk, sing, carry some jingling keys or a bell. Minimize your attractants at home. Keep an eye on bird feeders and fruit trees, and get rid of whatever falls on the ground or would be easily accessible. And if you do encounter a bear or cougar, make yourself look big by raising your hands over your head and speak firmly to the animal, saying “Get out of here!” And remember to never turn your back or run. That just elicits a predatory response.
We can all – humans and forest critters alike – share and enjoy the glorious Squamish backcountry together, but it means not getting accustomed to the “normal,” staying aware, being proactive and, above all, showing respect for wild creatures.
And that’s the straight poop!
