Conservation officers are warning Port Coquitlam residents to lock up their garbage and get rid of attractants after a bear family was treed near Minnekhada middle school on Friday.
Tranquilizers failed to subdue the bears, which have been eating garbage from homes near the school all winter, and one homeowner has already been fined for leaving garbage out.
"Friday was the second week in the row we've had them in close proximity to the school," said Const. Cody Ambrose, who said the sow and three cubs were chased into the woods but will likely return, potentially causing more problems.
The four bruins were also spotted last Thursday climbing the fence to check out fingerlings in Hyde Creek rearing pond, according to Hyde Creek Watershed Society volunteer Jean Peachman, and it took a lot of noise-making to scare them away.
Const. Ambrose said education has failed to stop people from leaving their garbage out and he anticipates handing out more $231 fines under the Wildlife Act.
"With this hot weather that we've seen, we're going to see more bears coming out of hibernation," Ambrose predicted.
Drake Stephens, urban wildlife coordinator for the city of Coquitlam, says he's aware of the PoCo bear family even though their area of refuge is outside of his jurisdiction.
"If mom taught them garbage is their prime food source, they are going to be problems where ever they go," Stephens said in an email.
People living close to green belts are encouraged to adhere to their city's garbage bylaws, to secure garbage bins and eliminate other attractants, especially now that bear season has started, both Ambrose and Stephens say.
"If residents don't want harm to come to these bears, they will need to be diligent about not feeding them intentionally or unintentionally. Bird feeders should be taken down, barbecues cleaned, pet food should not be left outside and, most importantly household garbage must be stored in a secure place that bear can not access," Stephens said.
Last year was a below-average season for bear incidents in the Tri-Cities because many troublesome bears from the previous year had been shot or relocated.
In Coquitlam, for example, no bears were destroyed because of being habituated to garbage, and only four bears were destroyed at all, compared to eight in 2011 and 9 in 2010.
Bear incidents should be reported to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.
