With reports of bear activity territory-wide, Yukon conservation officers are asking the public to be mindful and practice bear safety.
Living in the Yukon means living in bear country. It is common for bears to pass through areas inhabited by people. Bear encounters can happen anywhere and at any time. Being bear aware helps maintain your safety and wellbeing, as well as theirs.
Conservation officers are offering the following reminders:
- Carry bear spray, know how to use it and keep it accessible. Check the expiry date and replace it if it is expired.
- Stay alert, look for signs of bears and know what to do in an encounter.
- Never feed bears. Not only is it illegal, but it also causes them to seek out further easy food sources from humans, often making them bolder and more aggressive as they become habituated.
- Regardless of where you live or work, please lock away garbage, compost and recycling, remove bird feeders, pick off fruit or berries from bushes and secure any other smelly items that might attract bears. A secure yard or camp helps keep bears from coming into communities and out of conflict situations. Do an attractant audit of your yard or camp.
- People that have larger attractants such as beehives, backyard chicken coops, outdoor composts and larger gardens should consider installing electric fences to protect both their property and the bears.
- If viewing bears roadside, always practice stop, look, leave.
- Follow Yukon Conservation Officer Services on Facebook for information on upcoming bear safety courses, watch the bear safety video online or download the staying safe in bear country booklet.
One of the joys of living in the Yukon is getting to see our wild neighbours when they pass through. I encourage every Yukoner to brush up on their bear safety knowledge, check their bear spray expiry date and to do their part in managing their attractants. Let’s keep each other and our territory’s bears, safe.
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Human-wildlife conflict is any contact between humans and wildlife that causes harm to the person, animal or property.
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Last year conservation officers responded to approximately 167 human-bear conflicts. This number varies year-to-year and is influenced by human activity, environmental factors and bear activity.
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Attractants, which are items that attract animals, are the leading cause of conflicts in the territory.
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In Whitehorse, approximately 50.3 per cent of human-bear conflicts in 2024 included an attractant. Out of the conflict calls involving an attractant in 2024, 42 per cent included garbage and 17 per cent included natural food such as ornamental berry bushes.
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Managing attractants at home or while camping is one of the most important things we can do to reduce human-wildlife conflict. Keep attractants in secure containers, hard-sided vehicles and trailers, bear-proof canisters, locked buildings or behind electric fencing.
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Items that may lure bears onto your property or campsite include:
- Garbage, compost & recycling
- Berry or fruit-bearing bushes
- Birdfeeders & birdseed
- Food, dishes and coolers
- Pet food
- Barbeques & smokers
- Outdoor fridges & freezers
- Petroleum products
- Livestock & backyard chicken coops
- Toiletries
- Anything with a strong smell
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Call the 24-hour TIPP line at 1-800-661-0525 or submit a report online at Yukon.ca/TIPP to report aggressive encounters with wildlife, unusual animal behaviour or situations that could be a concern to human or wildlife safety. Please submit reports before posting on social media so that conservation officers can respond quickly and/or monitor the situation.
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
[email protected]
Linea Volkering
Communications, Environment
867-332-2688
[email protected]