Bears Out, Province Announces Funding

Monday, May 05, 2008 01:13 PM

The photo of this female bear was taken earlier today just moments after her two cubs darted into the bush (photo Opinion250 Staff)

Prince George, B.C. - Just as the Province announces funding to protect bears, the sow in the picture above was spotted off Foothills Boulevard in Prince George. The Province has announced it is putting nearly half a million dollars into the B.C. Conservation Foundation to prevent bears from getting into harms way.

The B.C. Conservation Foundation (BCCF) will use a $250,000 grant to sign up more municipal partners for the provincial Bear Aware education program, and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) will receive a grant of $200,000 for communities to pursue Bear Smart activities.

Each year, approximately 700 bears have to be destroyed in B.C. because they pose a danger to the public while doing what comes naturally - looking for food. People are making that natural search a deadly one as they are leaving food and garbage around for bears to sniff out, causing bears to be in places where they shouldn't be.

"There's no need for communities to reinvent the wheel when it comes to reducing bear-human conflict in their communities," said BCCF executive director Deborah Gibson. "The Bear Smart Program has a proven track record of helping communities deal with their bears. In most cases,

it's a matter of making people more aware of practical ways to keep bears away from areas that humans inhabit."

The Conservation Officer Service spends approximately $1 million each year responding to

bear complaints.

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Posted on Monday, May 05, 2008 01:13 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: C. Monty Burns on May 5 2008 4:33 PM

What really gets me is the people that live in rural areas and then complain that they get bears and other wildlife in their yards. You moved there. And I can tell you this, the wildlife was there long before you. I'm not saying it's ok or even good for wildlife to be hanging out in your backyard, but just know the risks and take precautions if you're going to choose to live in these areas that's all.

Posted by: Foo738 on May 5 2008 4:51 PM

They are in the City, too, not just the rural areas so it is not so much a choice as to where you live but rather the more complex question of the bear's habitat changing. Why? might give some insight.

Posted by: acrider54 on May 5 2008 5:04 PM

Well C. Monty, bears used to live in the city as well. Seems to me it's the "city" folk doing the complaining. I live in the "rural" area, I don't have problems with bears, they can come into my yard any time. I'll look after them.

Take the quarter million and fix the damn roads around here. That would be money better spent.

Posted by: C. Monty Burns on May 5 2008 5:55 PM

If only everyone didn't mind as you don't acrider54. And I agree on fixing the roads first. A total joke they are.

Posted by: northman on May 5 2008 8:36 PM

Foo738 wrote: more complex question of the bear's habitat changing.

-Its a combination of things. Bears try to make it down to water bodies when fish are running which puts pg in prime bear habitat. Bears are highly attracted to smells that we are asociated with like, garbage, flowers, gardens and they love apple and fruit trees. My family used to live in a rural area then when we moved into an urban area we had tons of bear problems mainly because other people didnt clean up their garbage and rotting gardens. I do beleive in the Bear Aware program because education is the key to preventing negative bear encounters. Last time i checked pot holes werent mauling anyone.

Posted by: seamutt on May 5 2008 9:27 PM

Anybody ever have a problem with a bear. Seems moose are more dangerous than Blackie. I wonder how a taser would work?

Posted by: Eagleone on May 6 2008 1:08 AM

The bear in the photo I do not believe was off Foothills Boulevard, but fair enough as she doesn't need the extra trouble.

If this is the bear I've seen its been eating at the side of the road in the same spot now since at least last Friday and often has a crowd of people standing around watching her eat. She seems to like to feed in the afternoon and evening in broad daylight (which is a little unusual as usually they will feed at night).

This bear does not seem to pay much attention at all to the humans around her and I would say this is a bear that is highly adapted to the city life and by its size has likely been around the area for many many years now.

What impresses me about this bear is that it seems to be intent on teaching its cubs how to scavenge for natural food sources even though restaurant bins are nearby and are not being pursued as a food source.

IMO it is the perfect urban black bear in a very good spot for one to live and I hope we don't get some retard Joe public making a complaint that costs this bear her life. It only takes one retard and IMO we have a lot of them around these parts.

Posted by: robichal on May 6 2008 7:20 AM

I would bet my next pay cheque that bears are much more afraid of us then we are of them. Secure your garbage, clean up your darn apples from your trees etc and everything will be fine. Does any one of these people who stand around and watch this beautiful bear feed know how fast she can move if she choses to? Leave her alone, don't endanger her by standing around watching her...move one!

Posted by: Harbinger on May 6 2008 6:38 PM

As long as they don't steal my pic a nic basket, I don't care. Eh, Boo Boo?

Posted by: singlemom on May 7 2008 10:18 AM

I have had moose in my backyard, on several occassions, and also disovered a bear. I take a look outside before I go out and make sure I take a look around once I'm out there. I keep the berries picked, the apples cleaned up and my garbage secure. They don't bother me - in fact, they are amazing to watch, from the safety of my house, of course. Being educated is the key - but I am amazed by the number of idiots that get in their way and have zero respect. Unless one appears to be aggressive, then there shouldn't be a problem. By the way, I also live in the city - I just happen to have a very large backyard, backing onto a field.

Posted by: lostfaith on May 7 2008 1:49 PM

"IMO it is the perfect urban black bear in a very good spot for one to live and I hope we don't get some retard Joe public making a complaint that costs this bear her life. It only takes one retard and IMO we have a lot of them around these parts."

Ayup, especially those that consider them as pets, eh Eagle.