Sharing Space with Bears

So far this year, communities throughout BC including Fernie have seen an increase in the number of bears in residential areas. This can be attributed to a combination of factors. Productive berry crops the last couple of years have resulted in an increase in birth rate and black bear population. It is not uncommon to see a female bear with three cubs. With more people choosing to visit and live in bear country and sharing habitat, it is especially important that we make an extra effort to ensure peaceful coexistence.

So called “problem bears” are not born, they are created. Bears in pursuit of an easy meal may damage property, break and enter a home or, in rare cases cause injury to people. Bears posing a potential threat to human safety have to be removed. Bears generally avoid humans, however, a hungry bear will enter a backyard if lured by smell. They have a legendary sense of smell with a muzzle with 100 times more nasal mucosa than humans, enabling them to smell food sources from great distances.

A black bear and her three cubs have been seen throughout Fernie Alpine Resort, Alpine Trails and by the Chamber of Commerce since late May. Bears compete for space and food. Dominant male bears often push sub adults and females with cubs further afield for food. Bears have always and will continue to pass though Fernie, but it is important that we don’t entice them to reside in our neighborhoods. If there are no attractants, bears will move on and return to the wilderness to feed.

Fernie has made significant progress the last few years in taking a proactive approach to mitigating bear human conflict. 49 bears were destroyed in 2004, an average of five bears per year destroyed between 2005 and 2008 and no bears destroyed in the City of Fernie in 2009. Increased awareness regarding the responsible management of attractants combined with power of enforcement have proven effective in reducing the potential for bear/human conflict. In 2007 the City of Fernie adopted a bylaw restricting the availability of attractants to bears.

In the City of Fernie it is unlawful to:
- Place your garbage on the curb prior to five am on the day of collection.
- Accumulate, place or store wildlife attractants (garbage, food products, food waste) under your carport, on your deck, in your backyard or in such a manner as to promote an increase in bear activity.
- Commercial waste dumpsters containing wildlife attractants must be kept closed during the day and secured at the end of each business day to prevent access by wildlife.

Let’s keep working together to ensure that Fernie remains safe for people and bears by taking a bit of time to bear proof our homes, managing and securing the following: garbage, fruit trees, bird feeders, BBQ’s, compost, pet food and petroleum products. By being Bear Aware, everyone benefits, including the bears.

For more information visit www.bearaware.bc.ca