A CKDM listener recently reported they saw a bear and two cubs at the Northgate trails south of Dauphin.
The Dauphin Derailleurs Cycle Club maintains the trail, and have offered some tips to help you stay safe when enjoying the outdoors.
Mick Lautt is a board member of the Dauphin Derailleurs Cycle Club and has a background in adventure guiding and leadership. He says the best thing to do to avoid a negative encounter is to make your presence known.
“The vast majority of times bears will walk or run off the trails. They’re not interested in having an interaction with humans. The best thing you can do is let them know you’re coming, and not surprise them. The rule of thumb is to travel in groups; the rule for black bears is to travel in groups of 3 or more.”
He says wildlife is part of what makes the trails exciting, however if you do run into a bear, there are a few things to do.
“You want to stand tall on your bike, be as big as possible, and be present, but you also want to be calm. You don’t want to be threatening, and you certainly don’t want to be panicked and run or ride away. You want to stop where you are, call out and talk to the bear. Then you can slowly start to move out of their space and give them the ability to take their own time to move off the trail – they will move off the trail.”
Lautt mentions that there is no need to report bear sightings at the trails, and says the most important thing is to be cautious and respectful of the wildlife in the area.
