The Bear Facts (from the Bear aware information pamplet)
As the human population increases and people encroach on what was once wilderness, interactions and conflicts between bears and people become more common. These encounters can be dangerous - all too often they are fatal for the bear.
Bears are not the problem. We are the problem.
The prime reason bears and people come into conflict is improper care of garbage and other attractants. We need to eliminate the source of the problem - our behaviour. People and bears are sharing space all over British Columbia. The bears cannot change, but we can. We can prevent conflict by making a few simple changes in our daily routine. Make it your responsibility to make our communities safer and to prevent the unnecessary killing of bears.
Bears have an incredible sense of smell. They can smell garbage and other potential food sources over great distances. When bears learn that garbage means food, they come back to it again and again. Our odour remains on the garbage, so bears learn to associate peoplee with food. This is dangerous. These bears may become aggressive, expecting food every time they see or smell people.
Garbage is not healthy for bears. Their natural diet consists mostly of berries, green vegetation, roots, insects, grubs, and carrion. Garbage, on the other hand, can cause injuries - bears have been known to eat plastic, glass, chemicals and cardboard.
When bears become addicted to garbage and other non-natural foods, often the only practical solution is to kill them. Relocation is dangerous, expensive and often unsuccessful.
Remember - it is an offence under the BC Wildlife Act to attract dangerous wildlife. Offenders WILL be fined.
Tips
What to do if you see a bear in your neighbourhood:
This is Bear Country. Bears may be active from mid-March to November. Their constant search for new food sources may draw them into urban areas and into your backyard.
People and bears can live in harmony. Communities can be porous to bear activitiy, so that bears can pass through, but are not tempted to stop and get into trouble with people and their non-natural attractants. Be "bear aware" and follow these few, simple guidelines to ensure any encounters with bears are positive and free from conflict.
.
