1. If you see a bear on or around school property:
- GO INSIDE the school right away
- TELL the first adult you see
If you are walking home, or just getting off the school bus and you see a bear:
- Get to the nearest house
- Tell the first adult you see
2. If the bear sees YOU:
- DON’T APPROACH the bear
- SLOWLY BACK AWAY toward the school or house while watching the bear
- DO NOT TURN AND RUN
- TELL the first adult you see
3. If the bear MOVES TOWARD you:
- SLOWLY BACK AWAY toward the school while MAKING NOISE
- REMOVE and drop your backpack if it contains food
- YELL at the bear to GO AWAY!
- If the bear continues to move toward you, stop and keep shouting at the bear. Keep moving slowly toward the school whenever the bear stops
- DO NOT “play dead”
- DO NOT turn and run
- GET INSIDE the school as soon as you can, without running
- TELL the first adult you see
4. Help keep bears away:
- Keep your lunch inside the school
- Do not leave food, wrappings or lunch bags in the schoolyard. Take them inside the school to throw away
- Tell your teacher if you see food or garbage left in open bins or in the schoolyard
- Encourage your school to purchase bear-resistant garbage containers
- Encourage nearby residents to be Bear Wise
Download a PDF version of this fact sheet.
TO REPORT BEAR PROBLEMS: contact the Bear Reporting Line at:
1-866-514-2327 (TTY) 705 945-7641
In a life-threatening emergency, call your local police or 911.
