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The bear necessities

Last week, my husband and I grabbed our beagle Copper and hit the trails at the Cold Lake Provincial Park. This is something we do often, weekly in fact. But unlike every other visit to the trails, we had some unexpected company.
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Last week, my husband and I grabbed our beagle Copper and hit the trails at the Cold Lake Provincial Park.

This is something we do often, weekly in fact.

But unlike every other visit to the trails, we had some unexpected company.

 Meagan MacEachernMeagan MacEachern The MacEachern Mindset

As we came around a bend my husband stopped, turned around and simply said, “I think we’ll go a different way.”

In a clearing to our right he had spotted a black bear.

I wasn’t too concerned at first, it was minding its own business, we were minding ours, so I suggested we just mosey on.

Just as we turn the corner, I hear scratching and spot a young cub clambering his way up a tree, just as taken aback by us as we were by him.

After noticing a second bear cub, the three of us decided it was better if we found a different way back.

This scenario made me wonder how many trail users know what to do when they come across a family of bears.

We were lucky. The cubs were merely curious and were much more afraid than mamma bear would have been, and she didn’t seem too bothered by us retreating.

We hear horror stories of run-ins with wildlife gone wrong. People trying to pose for photos with bison, moose, or even bears, only to end up in the hospital, or worse.

It makes me wonder if they’re aware that by hiking, visiting, and camping at provincial parks, we’re kind of trespassing on their home. The purpose of a provincial park is to have a dedicated space for wildlife to do what it does best: be wild.

I think sometimes we forget that it’s their natural instinct to protect their young and their territory, just like humans. If my husband and I had stopped and attempted to take a selfie with one of the cubs, which is tempting because they’re actually really cute, you can bet mamma bear would have made her way out of her hiding place and given us a piece of her mind.

But rather than think about posing for a quick photo, or seeing how close we could get, my husband and I knew we were disturbing them in their natural habitat, not the other way around.

Sure we were just out trying to enjoy a gorgeous summer’s day, but so are they.

I know if it were the other way around, I wouldn’t want someone interrupting my afternoon tree climb to take a selfie.

We need to be a bit more considerate of wildlife, and we need to be smart about it.

We live in northern Alberta after all. It’s known as bear country for a reason, so if you’re big on getting outdoors and enjoying Mother Nature like we are, then maybe read up on precautions you can take when out on the trails.

Be considerate, and be smart. Unless you’d like to become the next viral video, remember to be “bearable.”




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