By Corey Fischer

Time To Be Bear Aware

Apr 13, 2018 | 6:50 AM

The warmer weather means it’s time for bears to be waking up from their winter slumber.

Chris Doyle from the BC Conservation Service says the animals have been emerging from their winter dens.

“When they come out they will be hungry and in search of available food sources as they try to fuel up again to gain weight. So It’s super important for people to ensure there’s no non-natural food for bears to find.”

Doyle says it’s easy to take precautions.

“It’s time now to put bird feeders away. They should only be used in winter. And clean up any seeds and nuts that have fallen on the ground. The use of bear resistant waste containers is important, or keep garbage secured in the house, garage or shed until pickup days.”

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Doyle says the higher than normal snowpack around most of BC could have an impact on bears this spring.

“Some bears may stay in the den longer, but what also might happen is the bears that do emerge will be searching out whatever food they can find, so that may drive them to residential areas if all the natural food is covered with snow.”

There were over 20-thousand human wildlife conflicts in BC last year, about 14-thousand of those involving black bears.

About 470 black bears had to be destroyed last year in BC due to conflicts with people.

by Corey Fischer