I Am Bear Safe

Training people not to train bears...to get into trouble!

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“I Am Bear Safe”™ (IABS) is a multi-partner Wildlife Coexistence Strategy designed to equip National Park and National Forest gateway town businesses ("Park Gateway Partners") and the tourism entities and chambers of commerce that support them to “train people not to train bears” to get in the trouble they are in now because of human behavior—a situation that is assuring bear demise. 

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Bears are a top attraction at many National Parks and well-managed within the parks to avoid human interaction. But communities at the park’s edge are not often sufficiently prepared or equipped for the increasing pressure of more visitors coupled with rapid development, naïve new residents, and a growing number of recreationists in bear country. 

Park Gateway Partner (PGP) businesses are the perfect intervention point and receive marketing benefits from participating in the IABS town-based bear stewardship effort. WRF provides customized tools (signage and SWAG) that equip PGPs to effectively intercept park visitors and recreationists and equip them to be bear stewards that act responsibly by securing attractants and following park rules for recreating in bear habitat. 

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The IABS goal is to benefit park gateway communities while assuring that bears can perform their natural behaviors and survive without risk and distraction caused by people.