📚 Guide by Safety Mom · Allstar Enviro Safety — The Bear Awareness is an online workplace safety course delivered by Safety Mom · Allstar Enviro Safety, Calgary’s Energy Safety Canada Authorized Training Provider. Self-paced, mobile-friendly, same-day certificate upon exam completion. Available across Canada.
🔗 Related Safety Mom courses & guides: Bear Awareness Calgary · Wildlife Awareness · Oil Sands Safety Certs · Instructor: Arliss Levine, CRSP, CHSC
BEAR AWARENESS ONLINE TRAINING
OVERVIEW:
Whenever you are hiking, hunting or enjoying recreational pursuits in the countryside, you might be in Bear Country. Relevant information is provided to establish awareness of your surroundings and avoidance techniques. Prepare yourself to understand what attracts bears and how to avoid and react to a confrontation.
WHO WILL BENEFIT:
Campers, employees in Bear Country such as seismic, surveyors, geophysical ,archaeologists, pipeline employees,, hikers and people living near bears will benefit from this information.
TOPICS:
Four Chapters are covered with a variety of topics:
- General Bear Characteristics
- Black bear and Grizzly bear differences
- Activities in Bear Country
- Confrontations with bears
COST: $39.95
LENGTH OF TIME:
Approximately 1.5 hours
CERTIFICATION:
Continuous testing is done throughout the program to reinforce the learning. Once you have achieved an 80% pass mark, a certificate of completion will be available for downloading and printing.
To purchase courses for multiple users, please contact us directly.
BEAR AWARENESS ONLINE COURSE PREVIEW
Additional Safety Knowledge
Bear Country in Alberta and BC
Alberta and BC field workers regularly encounter both black bears (Ursus americanus) and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis). Bear activity peaks between April and November, with heightened risk during spring emergence, summer feeding, and fall hyperphagia (pre-hibernation feeding). Oil & gas lease sites, pipeline right-of-ways, forestry blocks, and remote camps are all high-encounter zones.
Recognising Bear Sign and Distinguishing Species
- Tracks: grizzly toes align nearly straight; black bear toes form an obvious arc. Grizzly claws are 5–10 cm long and often visible in tracks; black bear claws are shorter and less prominent.
- Shoulder hump: grizzlies have a distinct muscular shoulder hump; black bears do not.
- Face profile: grizzlies have a dished (concave) face; black bears have a straight profile.
- Scat, torn logs, digging, day beds: all indicate active bear presence.
Encounter response differs by species — misidentifying the bear can be fatal.
Bear Encounter Response
If you encounter a bear, do not run — you cannot outrun a bear (35–55 km/h sprint). Speak calmly, back away slowly, give the bear an escape route. If a bear approaches:
- Defensive attack (surprised or protecting cubs/food): play dead if a grizzly makes contact — lie flat on stomach, hands behind neck, legs spread. For black bears, fight back.
- Predatory attack (bear stalks you, comes into tent): fight back with anything available regardless of species.
- Bear spray: deploy at 4–5 metres, aim at the bear’s face, sweep side to side. EPA-approved bear spray is 95% effective in preventing injury when used properly.
Bear Awareness — Prevention at Camps and Worksites
The most effective bear management is prevention. Store food, garbage, and scented items (toothpaste, sunscreen) in bear-resistant containers. Cook and eat at least 100 metres from sleeping areas. Report all bear sightings to camp management. Never approach a bear for photos. Alberta and BC both prohibit feeding wildlife — fed bears become food-conditioned and are typically destroyed.
Content reviewed by Arliss Levine, CRSP, CHSC — lead safety instructor at Safety Mom · Allstar Enviro Safety Calgary, an Energy Safety Canada Authorized Training Provider.
