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Sales soaring

Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jun 13/01) - Sales of bear protection devices have shot up in Yellowknife in the aftermath of Kyle Harry's death.

According to Dale Johnson of Wolverine Sports his sales of bear bangers and bear spray "immediately" rose 30 per cent after the tragedy.

Kyle Harry died June 2 after being attacked by a black bear while camping with friends about one kilometre east of the Prosperous Lake boat launch.

While Harry and his companions often brought a rifle with them while camping, they had not taken any measures to protect themselves against bears on this occasion.

Raymond Bourget, senior renewable resources officer for the territorial Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, says that while "it's human nature to put off purchasing such things, it's sad that it takes a tragedy like this" for people to start taking bear safety seriously.

A video called Staying Safe in Bear Country is available on loan from Bourget's office. He says Renewable Resources has "loaned out quite a few, around 12 of them" since the June 2 tragedy.

The Workers' Compensation Board was one of the corporate sponsors involved in the production of two bear safety videos. Teresa Sanderson, a public affairs officer for the WCB, says copies are regularly loaned out of the board's offices.

"We have a lot of companies that make use of the videos," said Sanderson.

Bourget says that campers are increasingly looking for secluded spots to pitch their tents, which increases the potential for human-bear contact.

"In many cases, they are going off the beaten path," said Bourget.