Prince George, B.C.- The bird seed feeders should be long gone from your yard by now.  That’s the word from  the Northern Bear Awareness Society in Prince George.

(at right, black bear in a mountain ash tree – photo courtesy Northern Bear Awareness)

Dave Bakker of the Northern Bear Awareness Society  says so far this year, there have been  about 95 sighting  of bears reported in Prince George and  about 7 have been destroyed.

The number of sightings is down from previous years.

Bakker says  while he  would like to believe the  reduced number is a result of people  being more bear aware and the animals are not  accessing  garbage,  he  is concerned it may be the result of people  being afraid to report  a bear for fear of being fined.

“The Conservation Officer Service is now enforcing the  Wildlife Act of B.C.  that means  people could be fined  for leaving  a bear attractant out on their property.  So people may be afraid to call because they are afraid of getting a fine, or they don’t want to see a bear destroyed.”  Bakker says the fine for leaving out a bear attractant  is $230 dollars but can be as high as $345 if the attractant was intentionally  put out to attract  wildlife.

Of the calls coming in about bears,   Bakker says 70% are garbage related, “There are very few just sightings, the next  most common call is about bears trying to access a bird feeder.”

Northern Bear Awareness  calls on residents to keep their garbage cans  stored indoors and to follow the city bylaw  which calls for garbage cans not to be moved to the curb  before 4am on garbage pick up days.  Bird feeders should be down by now,  and  come late sumer the hummingbird feeders should be removed as well.  Of course,  in the fall, all  fruit  must be harvested.