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How To: Prevent Conflicts with Jasper Wildlife
Although Jasper’s park animals appear unconcerned, all wild animals are unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

Families of bighorn sheep relax in Jasper.

1. Do NOT feed or disturb wildlife.
2. Never leave food attractants out for wildlife. Food attractants include:
- coolers (they are NOT bearproof!)
- food scraps or leftovers
- dishwater
- dirty dishes, pots or barbecues
- empty bottles, cans or wrappers
- toothpaste, soap or other toiletries
- pets
- pet food dishes (full or empty)

3. Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Because it is impossible to predict how wildlife will react in any situation, avoiding encounters is the only sure way to keep people safe and wildlife wild.
- Always watch out for animals or signs of their presence.
- Carefully supervise children whenever outdoors.

4. Always keep your distance.
Do not approach or entice wildlife. Use binoculars or a telephoto lens instead. Remain at least:
- 100 metres away from BEARS, COUGARS and WOLVES
- 30 metres away from ELK, DEER, SHEEP, GOATS and MOOSE

5. When Driving:
Be on the lookout for animals near the road. Drive with utmost caution, especially at dusk and dawn, when many animals are most active, and visibility is poor.

If you see an animal by the road:
* Slow down. It could run out into your path at any time.
* Warn other motorists by flashing your hazard lights.
* Where there is one animal, expect others nearby.

If you wish to stop and view roadside wildlife:
* Pull safely out of traffic.
* Remain in your vehicle.
* Move on after a few minutes.

Insider Tips: ABOUT JASPER’S ANIMALS

Be mindful that Jasper’s wildlife is truly wild–unpredictable and potentially dangerous. And therefore, you must act according to the rules of nature.

PREDATORS.

Coyotes roam wild in Jasper.

If a cougar, wolf or coyote approaches you, send a clear message that you are NOT potential prey.
* Pick up small children immediately.
* Yell.
* Do anything you can to make yourself look bigger.
* Be prepared to use pepper spray if you have it.
* Fight back aggressively if attacked.
* DO NOT crouch, play dead, run, or turn your back to the animal.

PETS.
To a carnivore, your PET may look appetizing.
* Keep dogs on a leash and walk them in open areas during daylight hours only.
* Do not leave pets unattended outside.

Enjoy elk from a distance.

ELK.
As docile as they may seem, elk are wild animals too. Getting too close to elk may incite attacks, which have occurred at any time of the year. Females are most aggressive during the May/June calving season, and males are especially dangerous during the September/October period.

BEARS.
What should I do if I see a BEAR?

1. If you are driving: stay in your car, and consider not stopping.
2. If you are not in a vehicle:
* Stay calm. If a bear rears on its hind legs and waves its nose about, it is trying to identify you. Remain still and talk calmly so that it knows you are human and not a prey animal. Bears may also run toward you and turn away at the last moment. A scream or sudden movement may trigger an attack.
* Pick up children, stay in a group.
* Back away slowly. Do not run.
* Leave the area. If this is impossible, wait until the bear leaves; make sure it has an escape route.

3. Reduce your risk of a surprise encounter:

Make sure you are bear-wary.

* Make noise. Clap, sing or yell to announce your presence, especially where a bear might not otherwise smell, hear or see you coming. (Bear bells are not very effective.)
* Travel in groups, on established trails, and during daylight hours.
* Minimize odours by proper storage of food, garbage and toiletries.
* Leave the area if you see a bear or fresh tracks, droppings, diggings; or if you come across a large dead animal (a bear may be nearby).

4. If you surprise a bear and it defends itself:
* Use bear spray if you have it. PLAY DEAD, let it know you are not a threat: lie on stomach with legs apart, cover back of head and neck with hands, keep pack on to protect your back.

5. If a bear stalks you and then attacks, or attacks at night:
* Try to escape, use bear spray if you have it. FIGHT BACK, let it know that you are not easy prey. (This kind of predatory attack is very rare.)

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Moose Are Not Cute!

The moose is among the wide variety of wildlife which can be found in North Idaho. Contrary to what you may have heard about moose, they are not cute!

Do not be fooled by the masses of cute, cuddly moose items found adorning the shelves of many Northern Idaho gift shops. These shops may carry everything from stuffed moose toys to moose print pajama pants. Local shops also pride themselves on the handmade gifts you can purchase, such as (but not limited to) moose signs for your house or yard, jewelry, and occasion cards.

These kinds of items may give a visitor who has never seen a moose the wrong idea. Moose are very dangerous animals. Seeing a moose standing in the middle of the road is not uncommon in Northern Idaho, but do not, ever, get out of your car and approach the moose. If they feel threatened they can attack.

A moose can weigh as much as 1500 pounds and stand taller than you. They have huge antlers and sharp hooves. A female moose with her young is probably one of the worst times to happen upon a moose, as well as Bull Moose in mating season. If you happen to come upon one while hiking or taking a walk, back away slowly and get behind something until it appears safe to get away. Try not to panic and scare the moose.

It is important to know that moose do not like dogs. Moose are harassed by wolves and coyotes, therefore your pet is also a threat to them. Use caution when walking in the wilderness with your dog. As much as we all love our animals, if a moose attacks while you’re with your dog I would suggest to let your protector take care of it and run away.

Do not try to feed moose, they are not friendly and it is illegal.

Your best bet, if you see a moose is to keep your distance. If you see one in the middle of the highway or side roads than stop a good distance away and wait for it to move, sometimes it may take a while but they will eventually move.

Aside from the dangers, it is amazing to see the wildlife which roams Northern Idaho. Have fun and take pictures with caution!

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One thing this article is missing is the use of pepper spray. If you’re hiking in an area where dangerous wildlife is common, its best to have that handy.

ANIMAL ATTACKS – AVOIDING AND DEALING WITH THEM

 

Wild animal attacks are not common. Dogs that live among us are a much more common danger. But there is something about being attacked by a wild animal that is especially disturbing. Of course, we want to avoid this nightmare, and if unavoidable, we want to survive it. Some tips on doing both follow.

Moose Attacks

More common than bear attacks, moose attacks can be just as dangerous. A bull moose can weigh over 1500 pounds. Attacks in the fall, during the mating season, are most likely. Winter is the second most common time – they are just pissed off because of all the snow and lack of things to eat.

Be especially watchful during fall and winter then to avoid an attack. When you see a moose, watch closely. Do its ears fold back, or the hair on its neck stand up? Does it clench it’s teeth? These signs show that it is upset and may attack you.

Go behind something big, like a boulder or tree. If possible, run and get into a stand of trees, but be sure they are not too bushy – you need room to maneuver, in case the moose continues the chase. The good news is that most moose attacks are “bluff attacks,” which end shortly after they begin.

Mountain Lion Attacks

These animal attacks are not normally a bluff. Fight with everything you’ve got, using rocks, your walking stick, a knife – anything. A jogger in Colorado successfully got a cougar to let go of his head (it was in the animal’s jaws) by sticking his thumb into the cat’s eye. You have to convince the mountain lion that you’re too not the easy meal he thought you were.

Before an attack – when you and the cat are looking at each other – your goal is the same. Let him know you’re trouble, and look big, by standing tall with your jacket opened up. Yell, and slowly back away while looking for a weapon. Whatever you do, don’t turn and run or crouch down – these behaviors will trigger the mountain lion’s instinct to attack.

Bear Attacks

These come in two forms. The classic bluff attack is meant to scare you away, but may also kill you due to the size and strength of most bears. You can often survive by curling up on the ground and holding your hands around the back of your neck (to protect it).

The animal attacks when you surprise or threaten it – or its cubs. Bears in these circumstances make a lot of noise and may charge you repeatedly, stopping before contacting you. Avoid eye-contact and back away slowly.

The other type of bear attack is predatory. These are rare, but both black bears and grizzlies occasionally prey on humans for food. Such attacks are quieter. The bear will have its head down and come straight at you, watching you closely. He is assessing whether you are an easy meal or not.

In this case, don’t play dead or you will be dinner. Yell, make noise, and look for a weapon. In a worst-case scenario, you might have to fight for your life. Fortunately, most adult grizzly bears can’t climb trees, so if there is a lot of space still between you (these bears are fast), you can try climbing to safety.

Various Other Animal Attacks

Elephants may swing their trunks, kick up dirt and hold their ears out before an attack – and make noise. Get yourself behind a large rock or tree. If that isn’t an option, run downhill – elephants are slower going downhill.

Snakes usually are just warning you, so step away slowly. It is very unlikely that a snake will chase you. Avoid the problem to begin with by watching the trail carefully and probing with a walking stick before stepping over logs.

Get between mother baboon and her baby, and the whole troop may attack. Back away, while shouting and clapping. Drop any food you have in your hands, and don’t yawn or stare – these are signs of aggression to baboons.

Don’t feed wild animals, or provoke them. Learn to use the zoom function on the camera instead of getting closer to dangerous animals. Basically, just use common sense to avoid animal attacks, and the rules above to deal with them.

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This is why you definitely shouldn’t be walking around back behind Walmart. Especially if you have dogs with you. Apparently they have hired guard Moose. Just so you know, Moose consider wolves and coyotes to be their natural enemies, so having a dog with you when you encounter a Moose can really rile them up and make them angry. It’s discouraged.

A Prince George, B.C., man suffered only minor injuries when he was trampled by a moose on the weekend.

The middle-aged man was trying to call off his dogs when the moose attacked, according to conservation officer Todd Hunter.

The moose and her calf were roaming in a wooded residential area behind the Wal-Mart in the B.C. Interior city and had already fended off the two dogs.

When the dogs’ owner tried to catch up with his canines to call them off, the moose cow charged the man.

“He was kind of blindsided by it. I think it happened pretty quick and I think he obviously felt shocked,” said Hunter.

The man’s forearm, hip and calf were injured in the attack, but he didn’t need to be hospitalized.

“This person is lucky they didn’t receive serious or life-threatening injuries. They can inflict a lot of damage,” Hunter said about the moose attack.

Conservation officers were not able to track down the cow and calf after the incident.

Moose attacks are very uncommon, according to Hunter, but they do occur. In 2007, a Prince George woman was injured by a moose while walking her dog. In that incident, the moose killed the dog.

Conservation officers said moose are in the city looking for food, and advised people to keep their distance from the animals and keep dogs on a short leash.