Bear complaints on the rise

Jun 13, 2019 | 3:51 PM

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says calls about human-bear conflicts in the province this spring are far higher than normal.

Deputy chief Chris Doyle said there was 3,826 calls for black bears in April and May, and 182 for grizzly bears.

“The average over the previous eight years has been 2,400 black bear calls and 82 grizzly bear calls, so definitely an increase there,” Doyle told a media teleconference.

Vernon Matters has requested the Okanagan human-bear conflict numbers from the Conservation Service.

Doyle said the reason for the increase is not clear.

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“It’s possible the cold, dry spring has led to poor availability of new growth for bears to eat as they emerge from the den,” he said.

Doyle said he and others remind residents to manage non-natural food sources such as garbage, fruit trees, bird feeders and barbecues.

“We need to manage those so they can’t be accessed by bears,” he said.

Doyle noted it’s unlawful to feed bears and other dangerous wildlife under the B.C. Wildlife Act.

“Conservation officers can issue fines as well as orders, which are called dangerous wildlife protection orders, requiring people to contain attractants,” he said.

Doyle said the conflicts range from bear sightings in areas of concern at the low end, to an attack on a person at the high end.

“The numbers are low for that type of conflict thus far,” he said.

Doyle believes the bear complaint call volume in May was the highest ever for that month.

by Pete McIntyre

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