Conservation
Avoiding Bear Tourism
Sighting data exists to help you stay safe — not to help you find wildlife. Here is why that distinction matters.
What is bear tourism?
Bear tourism is when people deliberately seek out bears to watch, photograph, or film — often using sighting reports, social media tips, or roadside congregations to locate them. It sounds harmless, but the cumulative effect is one of the leading causes of bear euthanasia in BC and Alberta.
When bears repeatedly encounter people who are not threatening, they learn that humans mean food rewards (dropped snacks, open cars, garbage) or simply that humans are not a threat. This is called habituation. Habituated bears lose their natural wariness, start approaching people and campsites, and eventually become a public safety risk. Conservation officers are then required to destroy them.
"A fed bear is a dead bear."
This phrase is used across BC and Alberta wildlife management agencies. Habituation almost always starts with food — but it can also start with repeated, low-consequence human contact. Dozens of well-meaning tourists watching a bear from the roadside teaches it the same lesson as an improperly stored garbage bag.
Signs you might be participating without realising
- •You drove to a location specifically because a bear was reported nearby
- •You stopped your car on a road or highway to watch a bear, even briefly
- •You approached or waited near a bear to get a better photo
- •You shared the precise location of a sighting on social media
- •You lingered near a bear to see if it would come closer
How to use TrailBear responsibly
Check before you hike — then put the map away
Use sighting data to choose a trail, adjust your route, or decide whether to carry bear spray that day. Once you are on the trail, be aware of your surroundings rather than checking your phone for bear locations.
Do not share precise locations publicly
If you see a bear and want to share it, report it here so wildlife managers can monitor activity — but avoid posting GPS coordinates or specific trail markers on social media. Sighting coordinates in TrailBear are offset to reduce this risk.
If you encounter a bear while hiking, leave
Back away calmly. Do not wait, do not take photos. Getting a good shot is not worth habituating an animal. Report the sighting once you are clear of the area.
Report bear tourism when you see it
If you see people crowding a bear on a road or trail, you can report it to BC Conservation Officer Service (1-877-952-7277) or Alberta Fish and Wildlife. You can also flag it in the app using the report feature on any sighting.
Cougars deserve the same respect
Cougar sightings are rarer and more alarming than bear sightings, which means people rarely seek them out deliberately. But the same principles apply. Cougars are ambush predators — if a cougar allows itself to be seen, it is typically a young or stressed animal. Do not investigate or follow. Leave the area and report.
For wildlife conflict reporting in BC: 1-877-952-7277 (24 hrs). In Alberta: 1-800-642-3800. TrailBear sighting coordinates are offset up to 500m to reduce risk of wildlife harassment.
Check the map. Then go outside.
Use the data to stay safe — and leave the wildlife to the wild.
Open the Map