A rich berry crop has kept most of the local black bear population in the mountains this summer. But as fall arrives that could change and the bruins could head into Tri-City neighbourhoods looking for food unless efforts are made to control garbage, ripe fruit and other attractants.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service reports a drop in bear complaints compared to 2011, and Const. James Kelly suspects the bountiful berry crop is the reason why. But he warned that a poor salmon run and an end to the berry season could mean more bears around over the coming weeks.
And people who don't manage their garbage properly could be facing stiff fines.
The B.C. Wildlife Act was changed this year to make leaving attractants out a fineable offense and Const. Kelly said some Tri-City residents have already been slapped on the wrist for poor garbage management. The fine of $230 can also be levied for each day garbage or other attractants are left unsecured.
"Basically we want to make sure we're going a step further than the (city) bylaws, and the province is saying 'no garbage out at all,'" Const. Kelly.
He's been responding to complaints and patrolling neighbourhoods to make sure nothing has been left out and while some people are securing their carts with bear proof locks, others are not, resulting in garbage habituated bears, a few of which have had to be shot.
So far this summer, five bears have been destroyed in the Tri-Cities and five were relocated. The relocated bears were trapped in a blueberry farm inside a newly-installed electric fence and then let go in the area. But since then, the farmer hasn't had any trouble with bears compared to other blueberry farmers who have left their crops unsecured.
Const. Kelly is worried that a poor salmon run will force bears to turn to garbage so he's urging residents to be especially vigilant this time of year as bears will be fattening up before hibernation.
"We really endorse people tighten up there garbage so we aren't getting garbage-fed bears."
CLEAN YOUR BINS
Bears have good noses and can sniff out food anywhere - even recycling bins.
The City of Port Moody is encouraging residents to clean out food containers before putting them into their recycling cart and to rinse out the containers regularly. These carts are not bear-resistant and are attracting bruins, the city says.
Want to do the job properly? Here's how, according to the city:
Rinse your cart on your lawn or a graveled area for filtration purposes
Use water and vinegar to clean your cart; vinegar neutralizes odour and kills bacteria
BY THE NUMBERS
City Complaints Deaths Relocation
Coq. 556 2 5
An/Bel 23 1 0
PoCo 335 1 0
PoMo 303 1 0
