Elk Valley Bear Aware Uses Social Media Platforms to Inform and Educate
Social media, a hot subject of late, is taking Fernie by storm. Even Elk Valley Bear Aware has recognized the benefits of sharing information this way, primarily through three mediums - a blog, twitter and facebook page.
"There is an increasing number of incidents involving people, dogs and bears on our trails and throughout the community," says Kathy Murray, Elk Valley Bear Aware. Coordinator "Basically, more people in bear country results in a higher chance of bear encounters! Our blog is an excellent community resource for residents and visitors to get up to date info on current bear activity."
The blog allows residents to easily share information about bear sightings, and includes facts and useful information such as bear-proofing your home, preventing encounters, etc.
By following Elk Valley Bear Aware on Facebook and Twitter (@Evbearaware) you will receive automatic alerts whenever a sighting is reported along with creating an open platform for residents to utilize when heading out onto the trails.
Murray's goal is that the regularly updating of sightings will enable residents to be aware of how many bears pass through the area. “We live in bear country and we all have to work together to ensure bears aren’t attracted into our communities, where they may get conditioned to human food sources and become dangerously bold in their efforts to get to them," she days. “That’s why it’s important to ensure that garbage is kept inside, bird feeders are removed in summer, ripe fruit is picked and compost is kept carefully to keep it odor free.”
The blog has been donated to Bear Aware by Rebecca Edwards at Mountain Words.
Elk Valley Bear Aware Blog: www.elkvalleybearaware.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/elkvalleybearaware
Twitter: @evbearaware
