Dave Bakker, president, Northern Bear Awareness Society – photo 250News

Prince George, B.C. – Fewer bears were put down by conservation officers in the Prince George area this year.

Dave Bakker, president of the Northern Bear Awareness Society, says from April 1 to October 30, 20 bears were destroyed, compared to 45 over the same stretch last year.

He attributes the drop to favourable weather this summer. “Natural feed became a phenomenal source of food.”

Bakker says a bountiful natural food source meant fewer bears were rummaging around people’s garbage cans.

Stats for the past six years in Prince George

2010: 85 bears destroyed
2011:12 bears destroyed
2012: 30 bears destroyed
2013: 32 bears destroyed
2014: 45 bears destroyed
2015: 20 bears destroyed

He notes the abundance of natural food was reflected in the drop in calls for service – which plummeted from about 1,100 calls in 2014 to just 600 this year.

Bakker says it’s interesting to note the majority of those calls though, 382, came in from September 1 to October 30.

“13 bears were destroyed during that time period and all of them were healthy,” says Bakker.

“They had lots of body fat, they had good coats and good teeth. So it’s more a matter of the bears knowing where they can get more easy, accessible calories for the winter.”

So is the importance of bear awareness not getting through then?

“Over the years we’ve noticed awareness has risen so they’re sort of getting the message,” he says.

“But people know that if they call, maybe there’s a chance they’ll get a fine or maybe they don’t want to be responsible for the death of a bears, because there aren’t relocated. If a trap goes in, that’s basically the end of the bear.”

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