Dear Visitors, 



Animals, especially bears, need 

 space just like you and me. 

 Learning to enjoy wildlife 

 safely & responsibly will help ensure 

 that wildlife thrives for years to 

 come. 



Follow the easy safety tips in this 

 brochure and share what you learn 

 with a friend or family member. If you 

 are a teacher or a youth group 

 leader, teach these techniques to 

 your students or group members and 

 ask them to teach others. 



Enjoy your travels while visiting 

 our forests, parks and refuges. 

 Remember, it's our responsibility to 

 keep wildlife wild. 



How Close is Too Close? 



General H. Nonnan Sc 



rzkopf 



Spokesman for the National 

 Bear Conservation, 

 Education & Wildlife 

 Stewardship Campaign. 

 www.bebearaware.org 



t 



Animals that live in ixir forests, parks and retuges are 

 wild. Even though the\' mav look or act tame-they are 

 not Always remain 100 yards away from bears and 

 25 yards from other large animals. 



The consequence? i <i jppi caching wildlife can be 

 ^"^erious. You are responsible for your own safety as well as 

 the safety of wildlife. Wild animals should be allowed to for- 

 ^ age for food, care for their young, sleep and play without 

 ' human disturbance. 



Animals that are approached too closely may: 



T Run into traffic and gel hii by \ chicles. 



T l-ose footing on cliffs and tall, 



▼ Be separated from their young > h forced to 

 abandon their nests or dens 



T Become more vulneiabk to pridjtors because they 

 are distracted by people or acqiiiic a 

 human scent. 



T Abandon an important food source, leducing their 

 chances for sunmal 



^ 



Etiquette for Viewing and 

 Photographing Wildlife 



T View and photograph from an established 

 observation area or the trail when hiking. If 

 an animal approaches, back away in order to 

 maintain a safe distance. 



T Use binoculars, spotting scopes and telephoto 

 lenses to view and photograph wild animals to 

 avoid stressing them. 



▼ Remain alert to potential danger while viewing 

 or taking pictures. 



T Avoid diiect eye contact with bears, even through a 

 lens, because it may be interpreted as a challenge 

 or threat, 



▼ Allow other visitors to enjo\' wildlife— avoid block- 

 ing others' views. 



T Stay away from newborn or young animals, nests 

 and dens. 



T Never sneak up on or otherwise surprise an 

 animal, especially a bear. 



T Never surround, crowd, chase or follow an 

 animal— it may respond by charging. 



T Never try to make an animal inove to a 

 different location, 



T Don't make sudden loud noises around 

 wild animals. 



T Watch other people in the area— are they 

 putting you in danger? 



T Cany bear pepper spray for your 

 protection. It is not a substitute for 

 following appropriate safety techniques. 



Professional photographers 

 get great photos by: 



T Using appropnate telephoto lenses. 



1^ ▼ Photographing in controlled u:'''r 

 ■* ment areas with special access _ 



T Being patient, practicing low-imnact photog- 

 raphy and devoting many year? Uing 

 desired photos. 



T Using captive and conditioned animals at 

 zoos and game farms. 



T Cropping their photographs. 



Your safety is 

 your responsibility! 



^ 



