Reminder About Bear Attractant Management

Photo by Peter Sulzle

We recently had an incident in Lac Le Jeune where a bear, reported to have to been feeding on garbage and dog food left outside, was shot by a local resident.

This is the time of year that we often see bears in our neighbourhoods as they descend from the mountains and begin their final feeding frenzy before winter sets in. It seems like a good time to remind residents that attractant management is the way to prevent conflict.

Obvious good practice includes ensuring garbage is secured inside a building, and feeding birds only when bears are hibernating. But some suggestions are less obvious. Did you know that petroleum products can attract bears? Also, consider that even though a bear might not be able to get into a compost or garbage bin, he was still attracted to the smell in the first place.

Yesterday I emailed Miranda Brooke, the Kamloops Bear Aware  Coordinator, to see if she had any data to share on bear deaths due to poor attractant management. Just by coincidence that information was published in the Kamloops Daily News today: "Bear Aware campaign ramps up after two killed" I wonder if it includes Lac Le Jeune, because it seems in some years we've had more bears killed out here than the totals listed for the area. Also mentioned in that article -- bears need 20,000 calories a day, the equivalent of 40 big macs!

I also asked Miranda for some help in crafting a clear message that would have some impact. I haven't heard back yet, but maybe these wonderful photographs from local photographer, Peter Sulzle, will help! (Thanks, Peter, for permission to share these on our blog.)

For heaps of good information about bears visit the Bear Aware Website. To report a problem, call the Conservation Officer: 1-877-952-7277.

Photo by Peter Sulzle

Photo by Peter Sulzle

Photo by Peter Sulzle