Bears are leaving their dens in search of the nearest food source and B.C. residents are urged to be bear aware to help reduce bear-human conflicts.
Last year, the Ministry of Environment’s Conservation Officer Service received 23,240 reports of bear sightings (between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011).
During that time, conservation officers attended 2,827 incidents in which bears were acting aggressively or public safety was an issue. As a result, 120 bears were relocated, while 675 bears had to be destroyed.
Though there has been a downward trend over the last 15 years in the number of problem bears killed, last year’s number was higher because of poor availability of natural foods, which meant bears were searching out other, non-natural food sources.
The most effective and natural way to prevent conflicts with bears in urban areas is to put away food attractants such as garbage, bird seed, compost and fruit. In communities where attractants are managed properly, there has been a decline in related bear-human conflict and the number of bears that have to be destroyed.
In communities around the province where there are high incidences of human-bear conflict, residents can learn more about avoiding conflict by talking to their local Bear Aware community co-ordinator.
More information about how to be Bear Aware can be found at www.bearaware.bc.ca.