Living With Bears: Practical Ways to Share the Wild and Avoid Conflict

Bears both shape and rely on their habitats — turning salmon into fertiliser, dispersing seeds, and keeping plant and animal populations in balance. Human activity, though, is crowding out these keystone species, fracturing landscapes, and making the line between “wild” and “settlement” thin. In bear encounters, the outcome depends more on knowledge and preparedness than on physical strength or size

Join us to discuss:

• Bears as ecosystem architects: cycling nutrients, spreading seeds, controlling prey.
• Preventing conflict: how species-specific safety and avoiding bear attractants reduce dangerous encounters.
• Building coexistence: responsible waste practices, education, and supporting policies that protect both people and bears.