How to React if Encountering Wildlife

By Katie, Digital Marketing Coordinator

Wildlife is always unpredictable, but how can we be more prepared if we ever encounter wildlife in Manitoba? There’s a few things to remember!

Dangerous Encounters

Spotting wildlife in Manitoba is an amazing experience, especially if it’s safe, in the Zoo, wildlife sanctuary, or through a window. However, if you encounter wildlife on their own territory, it may become dangerous.

There are four main factors that can contribute to dangerous encounters with wildlife; an animal caught off-guard and in close range, an animal attracted by the smell of food; animals that have become habituated to humans and have lost their natural fear; and food conditioning, the result of humans feeding wildlife. 

Manitoba Wildlife

As wonderful and beautiful as Manitoba animals are, we have to remember that they are wild, and unpredictable. Get to know some of Manitoba’s most famous animals.

Deer Family 

White-tailed deer, moose, and elk are widely distributed through southern and mid-range Manitoba. Breeding occurs in the fall. Females are more protective of their young in the spring, and males are more aggressive during the fall. Your risk of a negative encounter increases at these times. Therefore, never approach the young. 

What to do during a deer family encounter:

• Stay 30 metres away (Deer and elk will leave their young for hours at a time  while looking for food, and human scent on a deer could cause it to be abandoned).
• Stay upright if attacked. You are at greater risk of serious injury on the ground.
• Cover your head with your arms and move to shelter.
• Never approach their young.
• Signs that the animal is agitated or stressed include foot stomping, snorting, and thrashing bushes with their antlers. 

Coyotes

Manitoba has an abundant coyote population. Coyotes are found throughout southern and central Manitoba as far north as Thompson. 

Here’s what to do during a coyote encounter: 

• Be aggressive and continue hazing the coyote until it leaves the area. 
• Maintain eye contact and continue facing it at all times. 
• Make yourself loud and large. Yell, clap your hands, and stomp your feet. 
• Raise your jacket over your head to appear larger.
• Throw objects such as rocks or sticks if necessary.

Wolves

Manitoba is home to approximately 4,000 grey wolves. They prefer to live in forest habitats and are more active at night. 

• Wolves are typically between 70 and 130 pounds (with females about 20 per cent smaller than males). 
• Wolves can run for long periods of time and reach speeds up to 65 kilometres per hour. 
• A wolf that feels that you pose a threat to itself or its family could display defensive behaviours. Typically, this happens when a person or dog approaches a den, rendezvous site, or kill site, when pups are nearby, or if it feels cornered.
• Defensive behaviours include grappling, barking, or snarling.

Here’s what to do during a wolf encounter:

• If a wolf displays defensive behaviours, make yourself as nonthreatening as possible. Slowly wave your arms over your head and speak calmly while backing away from the area.
• If a wolf approaches you or follows you, haze the animal to ensure it associates humans with being a threat.
• In the unlikely event that a wolf does attack, fight back aggressively using any weapon available, including sticks or rocks. Strike at the animal’s eyes and nose. 
• Climb a nearby tree or elevated surface at least two metres off the ground.

Cougars

There is currently a growing presence of cougars in the province, and Manitoba is on the cusp of having an established breeding population of cougars. 

• Cougars are large, solitary mammals and adept tree climbers
• They prefer to stalk their prey using cover and relying on the element of surprise and a short, intense burst of energy to secure their prey. 
• Cougars have been known to attack people.

Here’s what to do during a cougar encounter:

• Maintain eye contact and do not turn your back on the animal. A cougar’s preferred hunting method is to launch a surprise attack from the rear.
• A cougar that feels you pose a potential threat could display defensive behaviours such as growling or hissing.
• Move away slowly and calmly. A cougar that is staring intensely, following you, and hiding is assessing its success of a potential attack.
• Make yourself large and loud to convince the cougar that you are a threat. 
• A cougar will attack with its paws and then shift to grasp with its teeth if it is met with no resistance. Being particularly aggressive at this point makes it more likely that the cougar will break off its attack. 
• Always fight back during a cougar attack. 

Black Bears

Manitoba has three species of bears: polar bears, grizzly bears, and black bears. There are approximately 30,000 black bears in Manitoba. Black bears have an excellent sense of smell — they have 100 times the nasal mucosa of humans and can smell potential food up to eight kilometres away. They are superior climbers and strong swimmers and can reach speeds of 50 kilometres per hour when running. Black bears are focused on finding food. They have only about seven months to consume enough food for the year, which often leads them to food sources left accessible by humans. 

Prepare to Avoid Wildlife

While preparing for a hike or an outdoor adventure remember these tips to help avoid a wildlife encounter:

• Have a bear bell on your backpack
• Be in a group
• Make lots of noise
• Stay aware of your surroundings
• Listen to music outloud rather than headphones (helps you hear your surroundings and scare off animals)
• Leash any pets

What to do if you see wildlife?

Do: 

• Remain calm and assess the situation. Try to understand what message the animal’s behaviour is sending before you act.
• Carry deterrent spray during all outdoor excursions.   
• Get inside a nearby vehicle or building if possible. 
• Pick up small children and pets. Sudden movements or noise could attract the attention of the animal.
• Keep the animal in sight at all times.  
• Keep your backpack on for protection if attacked. 

Don’t: 

• Don’t approach or try to crowd an animal.
• Don’t drop your pack or throw food to try and distract the animal. This provides them with a food reward and that encourages the animal to approach other people in the future.
• Don’t run unless you are extremely close to safety. Predators can run very fast, and fleeing could trigger a chase response.
• Don’t turn your back on the animal. This can trigger an attack, particularly with cougars.
• Don’t make direct eye contact. This could be perceived as a threat. 
• Don’t crouch down. This could make you look more like prey.

Learn More:

Watch our webinar hosted in 2021 with Janine Wilmot, a Human-Wildlife Conflict Biologist with the Province of Manitoba who helps deliver Manitoba’s Wildlife Smart program.

Learn more the Province of Manitoba.