Prince George, B.C.-  This year has proven to be a far more active year for bears in Prince George when compared to both 2008 and 2009.

 

There have already been nearly 400 complaints this year, that’s four times the number for the same period last year and twice the number of complaints received in 2008.

 

The number of destroyed black bears in the same period has doubled, from 8 animals in 2009 to 16 animals in 2010.

 

The evidence that this is a particularly busy bear season has also been noticed anecdotally. Northern Bear Awareness has heard from a number of locals who have had sightings of mother bears with up to three and even four cubs this spring, and have had complaints from long-time residents that they have never had a problem with bears before but are having issues this season.

 

Northern Bear Awareness says this is the time to start thinking about what to do with all that fruit that is just weeks away from being ripe.

 

If you have too much fruit (berries, apples, crab apples, etc) but don't want to see it go to waste, and don't want to attract bears into your yard, give Northern Bear Awareness a call and you can be signed up for the 11^th Annual Fruit Exchange Program.

 

NBA will find someone who wants your fruit and will even come to pick it for you.