Safety & Emergency Services

Bears are common throughout the region, so it is important that your team is well versed in bear safety. Mountainous areas, including the Dempster Highway near the Yukon/NWT border, require particular caution. Mountains provide prime food resources for bears. A lot of caribou are also harvested there and when hunters field dress their meat, they typically leave the entrails behind. Some bears have come to associate humans with easy meals and are quite aggressive towards people. There are also reports of bears that move toward the sound of gunfire because they associate it with food. Be aware that noise-based bear deterrents like bear bangers may actually draw bears to you in this area. Please be very cautious.

Regardless of where you are working, it is wise to have a trained wildlife monitor in your group. If you need to hire one, please contact the local Renewable Resources Council. When hiring a wildlife monitor, you should establish what equipment each party is responsible for providing (rifle, ammunition, rubber boots, hip waders, etc).

If you have problems with wildlife, you are encouraged to report them to NWT Environment and Natural Resources at 867-678-6650.