VIU conservation expert outlines risks of bear and cougar attacks

Hikers, campers and others who venture into the wilds of


B.C. can learn ways to reduce the chance of bear and cougar attacks at a free


public lecture Wednesday, Jan. 13, at Vancouver Island University.

John Merriman, a former B.C. Conservation Officer and


instructor for VIU’s Resource Management Officer Technology program (RMOT), will


outline strategies to avoid conflict in the wild and appropriate ways for


humans to respond if there is an encounter with large carnivores.

The lecture and slide show from 7 pm to 8 pm will include real-life


attack examples, followed by questions and answers. Merriman has conducted grizzly


bear attack research and served for five years as educational advisor to the provincial


Bear Aware program.  The lecture is in


Building 355, Room 203 at the Nanaimo campus.

Merriman’s presentation is part of the Science and


Technology Lecture Series at Vancouver Island University. This free public


series runs Wednesdays (excluding Feb. 24) until April 7. For more information,


visit the series web page: web.viu.ca/simmsw

For those interested in learning more about the RMOT program,


there will be an information session Wednesday, Jan. 20, 7:30 pm in Building


180, Room 134 at the Nanaimo campus.

-30-

For more information, phone 250-753-3245 local 2453 or


email rmot@viu.ca