Cochrane residents will have an opportunity to learn how to properly use bear spray during a hands-on demonstration this weekend.
Wildlife Coexistence Cochrane is adding a bear spray demonstration on Sept. 5 to its Discovery Days activities at The Station, 360 Railway St., giving participants a chance to experience a simulated bear encounter and practise deploying inert training spray.
Hendrik Bösch, who heads Wildlife Coexistence Cochrane, says the idea came from repeatedly meeting people who carry bear spray but have never actually used it.
“Many people said, ‘Yeah, I have been carrying it in the mountains for years but never used it, don’t really know how to use it,’” Bösch says.
Bösch says the goal is to make sure people are prepared before they find themselves in a close encounter with wildlife.
From carrying spray to knowing how to use it
The demonstration will use a bear ramp supplied by the Mountain View Bear Smart group. The device gives participants a sense of how quickly a bear can approach and how little time there may be to draw, unlock and deploy the spray.
Bösch says the training will cover where to carry bear spray, how to remove the safety and how to practise using it.
“A lot of people also don’t know that bear spray only holds like 6 to 8 seconds of a load and that they are not supposed to spray the whole thing at once.”
Fish and Wildlife representatives and members of Mountain View Bear Smart will also be on hand to answer questions about wildlife encounters and safe recreation.
Avoiding an encounter comes first
The training will also emphasize avoiding wildlife conflicts in the first place.
“Make noise, especially in areas where there is no clear line of sight and there’s a risk of surprising a wild animal,” Bösch says.
Bösch says carrying bear spray can be appropriate in some areas within Cochrane, particularly along wildlife corridors and trails near waterways and forested areas.
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He points to the Bow River, Jumping Pound Creek, Big Hill Creek and other forested areas as places where people may encounter wildlife.
Bear spray can also be effective against other wildlife threats, including cougars and coyotes, he says.
Training runs Saturday afternoon
The free training is for people aged 16 and older and will be held Saturday only, with sessions at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. on the lawn outside The Station.
Each session is limited to 25 participants. Sign-up sheets will be available at the Wildlife Coexistence Cochrane booth inside The Station.
People who don’t get a spot can still watch the demonstration and learn about bear spray. The training uses inert spray, so there is no risk if some is carried by the wind.