Quote Originally Posted by shootingstar View Post
It may sound farfetched to you, but if your teens are hanging out in a rustic lodge by edge of town, you should still warn them about the bears.

I know it sounds wierd..but you need to live in the Vancouver area where there have been strange incidents. City of North Vancouver, a highly urbanized city...has this bear warning to all residents on their website

http://www.cnv.org/server.aspx?c=3&i=419

There are incidents several times each year, where the errant bear or so, have wandered into nicely civilized neighbourhoods with lawns, etc. And these area areas right in the city.

Last week, I was amazed to hear someone mention a cougar in the area. And apparently regular sightings of coyotes aren't totally far-fetched. I have seen coyote several times on my bike rides within the city. By a busy car road.
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I have seen a wild bear each time, a total of 3 different times. All sightings in Western Canada, 2 times were each on bike. No wonder why some European tourists love Canada...we still have big wildlife.
When we were in the Tetons a bear had to be put down because it got on a picnic table to help itself to lunch while the people were still there. It's so sad. That place was the bear's home first. The town of Jackson,Wyoming was having bear issues too. Something about birdfeeders being used although residents were warned not to.
When I lived in Sussex, New Jersey I saw a bear go down an animal trail after pooping in the road. It didn't occur to me that it was a bear until I got right up to it and saw its' furry black butt disappear into the woods!
We have coyotes virtually in our back yard. They haven't bothered any people, but there are lots of small animals to eat here.
We will definately be studying up on bear safety, I think Glacier NP even has a bear training class. And all the stuff I used to do in the Appalachians doesn't apply here-being quiet on trails so you can see wildlife, etc.