(Whistler society)
Bear aware: is an education program that relies heavily on community volunteers to deliver our programs, and on municipalities and regional districts to support the Bear aware message and to support the Bear aware program logistically and financially.
Read Marty's newspaper articles here.
Read About Bears and Being Bear Aware for information on how you can become more Bear Aware.
Reports:
2007 Report
2006 Report
2005 Report
2004 Report
2003 ReportStatistics
Proposed Bear aware bylaws
Rossland Bear Hazard and Commumity Assessment
Becoming a Bear-smart community
- Interview with Ann Quarterman
- Interview with Tobe Sprado (Conservation Officer)
- Interview with Joanne Siderius (Wildlife Biologist)
- Interview with Aileen Zanier
- Interview with Colleen Matle (Program Delivery Specialist - Selkirk-Purcell)
- Interview with Dean Wyatt (Owner-Operator of Knight Inlet Lodge - Grizzly Bear Viewing)
- Interview with Ken MacQuisten (Vet - works with Coola and Grinder, the Grizzly Bears at the Grouse Mountain Wildlife Refuge)
- Interview with Simon Jackson (Founder of the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition)
Rossland Radio: Helps sponsor Rossland Bear Aware. www.rosslandradio.com Listen bi-weekly, Wednesdays, 2-3pm, to the Circumpolar Bear Cult - "Spoken word and a bit of music, not just about bears".
History: Rossland has had an active Bear aware program since the summer of 1999.
Black Bears shot in major communities from 1998-2005
Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Rossland 6 1 6 14 5 14 5 4 Trail 9 3 5 5 8 12 3 Nelson 7 7 18 Castlegar 19 30 10 Notes: No Grizzlies were shot in these communities. 2003 information incomplete - Bear aware program was cut early
In 2003, the numbers were high in most communities around BC due to the forest fires herding the bears into towns.
In 2005, it appears that in all communities around BC that the numbers of bear sightings and killings were very low. This may have been due to the plentiful year for berries and other food sources.
However, Rossland's numbers remained high due to 3 bears being shot at the new development sites at Red Resort.
Cause of Conservation Officer calls for bear sightings in Rossland:
Attractant 2003 2004 2005 Fruit 11 10 0 Garbage 39 7 2 Bird Feeders 8 2 1 Freezer 7 2 1 Rabbits 1 2 0 Compost 12 1 0 Pet Food 1 0 0 BBQ 0 1 0 Garden 3 0 0 Hand Feeding 0 1 1 Total Calls 82 26 5
Proposed Bear aware Bylaws:
2230-Bear Attractants
2222-Waste Removal RatesBecoming a Bear Smart Community:
The Rossland Bear Aware organization is encouraging and working with the City of Rossland to be certified as a "Bear Smart" community. What does this mean and involve?
British Columbia's Bear Smart Community Program is a provincial certification program that encourages communities to implement certain guidelines to be able to declare the community "Bear Smart". The goal of the program is to address the root causes of bear/human conflicts, thereby reducing the risks to human safety and private property, as well as the number of bears that have to be destroyed each year.
The steps to becoming a "Bear Smart" Community are:
- Prepare a bear hazard assessment of the community and surrounding area.
- Prepare a bear/human conflict management plan that is designed to address the bear hazards and land-use conflicts identified in the previous step.
- Revise planning and decision-making documents to be consistent with the bear/human conflict management plan.
- Implement a continuing education program, directed at all sectors of the community.
- Develop and maintain a bear-proof municipal solid waste management system.
- Implement "Bear Smart" bylaws prohibiting the provision of food to bears as a result of intent, neglect, or irresponsible management of attractants.
Other reading: