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Part of Living in bear country

Bears and fire lookouts

Strategies are in place for reducing human-bear encounters at Alberta's wildfire lookout tower sites.

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Living in bear country

Fire lookouts and bear conflict

127 wildfire lookout sites are located throughout Alberta's boreal forest and along the Rocky Mountains. Each site is staffed by a lookout observer whose job is to watch for wildfire all day, each day, generally from April to October.

Wildfire lookout sites are isolated and the staff that work them must be prepared for a wide range of possibilities, including an encounter with a curious bear.

To help prevent conflict with bears, Wildfire staff with Agriculture and Forestry have adopted a number of Alberta BearSmart recommendations for many of their sites, key amongst them is the installation of electric fencing.

Electric fencing and bear deterrence

Electric fencing has been shown to deter bears, reducing the chance of immediate conflict between people and the bear and teaching the bear to stay away from people and their things in the future.

Permanent electric fencing has been installed at priority wildfire lookout sites, enclosing the residences, lookout towers, outhouses and generator buildings. Materials for the fence were selected for their portability and ease of repair.

High visibility painting on the fence posts alert backcountry visitors to be cautious year-long. In winter, the fence is de-energized and the wires lowered to ground. This helps prevent potential entanglement and injury to wildlife as well as reduces the likelihood of snowpack damage to the fence.

wildfire lookout slide 1 - wildfire lookout tower in the forest

Wildfire lookout sites in the boreal forest are typically distant from neighbouring communities.

wildfire lookout slide 2 - black bear invading an outhouse

This black bear feels no reluctance in checking out the facilities at a wildfire lookout site (before electric fencing was installed).

wildfire lookout slide 3 - mother bear leads cubs through a wildfire lookout site

A mother bear leads her cubs on a short cut through wildfire lookout site (before electric fencing was installed).

wildfire lookout slide 4 - newly installed electric fence running along a treeline, the top wire is coloured to enhance visibility

A newly installed electric fence runs between the tree line and the outhouse at the wildfire lookout site.

The top wire is coloured to enhance visibility and safety for those passing near it.

wildfire lookouts slide 5 - yellow steel rods on an electric fence

Yellow steel rods and insulating posts help increase the visibility of the electric fencing.

Related

Read about more BearSmart strategies and Fire Towers:

Previous Bears and hunters
Next Bears and agricultural producers