Wildsafe Program Could Expand

A program that reduces human-wildlife conflicts could expand in the North Okanagan.

Frank Ritsey, provincial coordinator of Wildsafe BC, says they are asking the city to continue supporting the program, and to consider a joint application with the regional district in 2018.

“I will be doing a presentation to them (RDNO board) in January and the hope is we can combine forces so we deliver education throughout the area.”

Ritsey says without having the region on board, they can’t deal with a wildlife problem outside the city’s boundaries, such as bears in Coldstream.

“The bears don’t know where the civic boundaries are,  so it’s really important that we deliver a program that addresses the entire area.”

The city pays about 41-hundred dollars a year to be part of the program, which includes a coordinator working with residents to reduce conflicts with bears, deer, coyotes, cougars and other wildlife.