Don't even think of leaving your green bin out overnight, especially unlocked, or you could face warnings and hefty fines.
With bears waking up from hibernation more wildlife will be seen in the area and local authorities will be patrolling neighborhoods and businesses in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody looking for open bins that could spell trouble for hungry bruins.
Under the B.C. Wildlife Act, homeowners, business owners and even condo stratas could get $230 fines if garbage or other attractants are left out, and for repeat offenders, it could get costly - up to $575. Coquitlam has a similar $500 fine for garbage scofflaws but will focus first on education with warnings for first-time offenders, who promise to clean up their act.
"If you are continuously leaving out garbage, and bears are coming to your neighborhood and it could lead to mortality of bears and danger to public we're going after you with tickets," said Sgt. Todd Hunter of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service "It's a progressive system," he added, "and $230 is the minimum fine for just having attractants."
Last year 30 people were fined in the Tri-Cities for leaving out attractants and in Coquitlam, 600 warnings were handed out by the city.
BUSINESSES TARGETED
This year COs will be focusing on business and industrial firms that leave open bins containing food waste. Other years blueberry farms were the target, but Hunter said there are fewer problems in Coquitlam's agricultural zone because most farmers have fences up.
"It's improved," he acknowledged, "but we need the businesses to get on board and to help out, they are contributing to a major factor of attracting wildlife to the cities and it does lead to public safety issues."
Schools are also a problem and last year, conservation officers visited most schools in School District 43, especially those near green belts.
They also chatted with students in the hopes they would bring the message of bear safety to home to their parents.
"Our major goal is to reduce the amount of conflict and make it safe and encourage these communities to be bear smart," Hunter concluded.
SMELLS MATTER
In a matter of days or weeks, denning bears will be up and about but the smell of food left unwrapped in a green bin could lure them away from their natural food - currently, grass and skunk cabbage roots .
"Having it (the green waste bin) unlocked as few hours as possible is the key there," said Drake Stephens, Coquitlam's Urban Wildlife Coordinator.
Last year, four bears had to be destroyed in Coquitlam, fewer than in previous years, but still Drake says the destruction is unnecessary if people look after their attractants.
OTHER CRITTERS
Keeping green bins indoors and wrapping up food so it doesn't smell not only keeps bears away but other animals as well. "We're creating a bigger problem with all species if we provide them with lots of food. It [securing waste, keeping green bins clean] is a good practice to have everywhere."
But it's not just spring, summer and fall when attractants have to be managed. This winter some bears were up early or they didn't bed down in the woods at all, which could lead to problems. According to Ministry of Environment statistics, there were 63 bear sightings between Dec. 31, 2014 and March 2, 2015, with more than half of the sightings in the city of Coquitlam.
Stephens recommends that food waste be stored in a shed or garage all year around.
