I've done 15 BW trips since 2009 and I've seen only one bear - in our camp.  The story is in the trip report, which you can find here: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

It's on the second page.

Atwater wrote on Oct 28^th, 2016 at 12:07pm:


Where was the campsite? And if you can remember, where were the other bears?

- kypaddler

Approximately 25 Quetico Trips.  We have seen five bears.  One was a real problem bear.  We had to pack up and leave the campsite in the dark and in the rain.  He would not leave the campsite and would approach within ten feet of us.

I have made 40 trips into Quetico.  All of them entering from the north.  I saw one bear at the BH parking lot.  But there was a sign warning about a problem bear.  I also saw a yearling swimming across Quetico Lake.  My wife and I saw a pack of about 6 wolfs on the south shore of Quetico Lake.  But I have also seen a wolf a quarter mile from my house and on US 53 on the way to Virginia, MN.

I think there is a causal relationship between seeing bears and how often a campsite is used.  Bear learn about campers and that campers mean food.  After dealing with a few campers they also figure out that campers are harmless.  IMHO the best way to avoid contact with bears is stay away from well used campsites and portages.  I don't use well used campsites and I don't hang my food pack.  After 40 trips I have never seen a bear near my campsite.

One of the cubs from my research-trip-gone-awry tale, photo courtesy of a dude named Joe Munson.

- kypaddler

Great video!  It's strange how far apart they were swimming.  I assumed most animals with young would stay together on a lake.

thanks for the info.

it would be interesting to have answers from every QJ member and plot on a map where they've seen bears, and then of course factor in the month of the year.

Canadian park officials have probably done that, of course, but ...

- kypaddler

30 trips in Q and 5 bears inside the park while camping or paddling, not counting cubs with mom. Probably more on the road to/from trips.

This years Leaf River trip in Quebec we saw 8 during one morning paddle before our lunch stop. Lots of blueberries too. hmmm?
We had head high willows lining the banks, so it made for some nervous scouting.

At least four bear sightings over maybe 6 trips (all to Quetico).  All were while paddling, seeing bears in the water or on shore.  Never up-close.

I have had a few up-close encounters on adventures elsewhere.  While car camping, as we were loading the car to get underway in the morning, a bear strolled through our campsite completely ignoring us (food/kitchenware had already been stowed in the car). Another time what sounded like two bears wandered into our campsite (everything stored in bear-boxes) and we could hear them breathing from inside our tent.  My wife and son encountered one on a likeside trail on Glacier NP (while I and my other son were paddling down the lake).

Mad_Mat wrote on Oct 20^th, 2016 at 7:51pm:


"I'm sorry, Mr. Patrol Officer, I don't have my homework I mean park permit. A bear ate it."