Bear Attacks in Canada

Beryl Hamilton is a freelance writer in Thunder Bay who specializes in
home gardening.

McCloskey offers a clear disclaimer: “This book is not a guide as to how to survive a bear attack but simply a compilation of information intended to be a reasonably comprehensive reference based on the best available current knowledge, and it should by no means be considered authoritative.” Knowledge, McCloskey argues, is the best means for reducing the likelihood of a bear attack. It is true, McCloskey tells us, that bears have injured or killed humans; it is also true, however, that humans have created nuisance bears and have encroached upon bear habitats. The book aims to increase the public’s understanding of bears so that casualties of attacks are reduced, while also making clear that the number of such attacks is, statistically, very small.

Canada’s three bear species—the black bear, grizzly bear, and polar bear—are covered in separate sections. The book provides information on basic identification of the species, its geographical location, its preferred habitat types and the time of year it uses them, its food sources and how to recognize them (there is a plant index), and its hibernation times. McCloskey offers detailed summaries of common bear behaviour and the warning signs that indicate whether a bear is likely to attack, bluff charge, or act offensively. He breaks down the different types of attack (predatory, defensive, or offensive) and gives advice on how to react appropriately to each, explaining avoidance techniques and deterrents for people who may be in the areas where bears range. In addition, the book furnishes a wealth of anecdotal evidence on bear attacks.

This book should prove to be a very valuable resource for anyone interested in bear attacks and their prevention. McCloskey’s research is impeccable, and there are wise lessons here for anyone interested in bears or who finds themselves in bear country, which it seems nowadays can be one’s own backyard. The author makes it clear that every bear is potentially dangerous, and one should never become complacent.