Disclaimer: The whole subject of bear behavior and what to do in bear country is very controversial. You should consider a wide range of information from different sources and have your own plan in mind before traveling in bear country.
Although there is still significant debate regarding actual population numbers, B.C. has up to 25% of the world's grizzly bears. British Columbia also has about one-quarter of all black bears in Canada and half of all grizzly bears in Canada.
Both species are found throughout the province with the exception of Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlottes where there are no grizzlies. Grizzlies are also few or none in the heavily settled Lower Mainland or in the dry southern areas of the province. In general, grizzlies tend to frequent remote and higher altitude areas, were black bears prefer lower and more wooded areas.
The black bear is the smallest of North American bears. Body weights of adult males average 100-150 kg (220-330 lb.) and adult females average 70-100 kg (150-220 lb.), but there is much seasonal and regional variation. Individuals in excess of 275 kg (600 lb.) have been reported. Bears are long-lived (up to about 30 years) and are not fully grown until 5-6 years of age.
Grizzlies are large and powerful bears. An adult male grizzly averages 180 kg (400 lb.), but may reach 325 kg (716 lb.) or more in the better habitats. Like black bears, the female grizzly is about two-thirds the size of the male with extremely large individuals weighing as much as 640 kg (1,400 lb.) probably because they have a readily available supply of protein-rich food such as salmon in their diet.
Bear identification page Take the Bear identification test
If you spend any amount of time in the outdoors in most parts of B.C., and it doesn’t have to be extreme wilderness areas, you will have encounters with at least black bears. Remember just because you don’t see a bear it does not mean a bear is not in the area or that it hasn’t seen you. This is even truer for animals like the cougar, as you may never see a cougar in the bush, but there’s a much bigger likelihood that one has seen you.
So what’s the real chance of a bear attack? Small, but they do happen. The government of B.C. records show far more deaths in the wilderness are caused by hypothermia, falls and drowning than are caused by wild animals, but bear attacks are always sensational. Statistics show almost as many people die from anaphylactic reactions to insect bites in this province as do from bears.
In most cases, bears are not a threat, but it’s an established fact that bears are unpredictable and they definitely deserve our respect and attention, so be aware and enjoy the opportunity to see these magnificent animals in their natural habitat.
Bears may harm you for several different reasons, bears attack other bears, other animals, and people because they have genetically programmed types of aggressive behaviors that pertain to population regulation, survival defense, and predatory aggression. This doesn't mean that there aren't other factors involved in some attacks, or that people don't contribute to some attacks.
These are the situations that are most likely to cause a bear to attack. By knowing what they are we can work to avoid getting into these types of situations.