Omineca Bear Committee Seeks Bear Smart Status

Monday, June 09, 2008 09:30 PM

Prince George, B.C. – The Omineca Bear Human Conflict Committee is asking The City of Prince George to commit to Provincial Bear Smart Status. City councillors sent the information to administration for recommendations of how to proceed.

Criteria to be designated as Bear Smart:

1. Prepare a bear hazard assessment

2. Prepare a bear-human management designed to address bear hazards

3. Revise planning and decision making documents to be consistent with management plan

4. Implement a continuing education program

5. Develop and maintain a bear proof municipal solid waste management system

6. Implement “Bear smart” bylaws

Sandra Nahornoff states that two of these criteria have been completed (2 & 4). “We are not saying we need to change everything overnight. We would just like a commitment from the City to start working at achieving this status. For example the automated garbage system is not Bear Smart compliant, perhaps we can change the time of when people place their bins at the curb from 9:00pm the night before to 5:00am that day so we are not putting a smorgasbord on the streets.”

Narhornoff is greatful for the assistance already given in the past from the City of Prince George, Solid Waste and Regional District but states we are falling behind the rest of the Province. “We really need to increase education and bylaws regarding removing fruit from trees, storage of garbage in bins outside….animals???. It would also be great if we could improve upon some brush cutting particularly in park and school areas, we have 17 schools who regularly have bear sightings.”

Gary Van Spengen, Conservation Officer also believes we all need to do our part to co-exist with bears. “We have to do our part to ensure the bears stay wild. This includes removing attractions such as fruit, our garbage and bird feeders.”

Number of bear complaints and bears destroyed in Prince George destroyed (in brackets) and surrounding areas

Year	No. of Complaints	Destroyed Black Bear	Destroyed Grizzly Bear	Total Destroyed
1998	1,168			80
1999	604			56
2000	547			28
2001	905			75
2002	779			48
2003	634			48
2004	377	14 (11)	1	15
2005 *	917	44 (26)	6	50
2006	928	37 (20)	2	29
2007	1,139	28 (27)	3	41
Total	7,998	123 (84)	12	470
Average 10 Years	780			47

*On average the number of bear destroyed has not decreased with the introduction of the automated garbage system in 2005

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Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 09:30 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: seamutt on June 9 2008 11:48 PM

So why the big rise in complaints? The majority of bears just move along when left alone, so just leave them alone. People have been injured by moose in town and yes those ones where shot, but I don't see every moose being blown away like the bears. I consider a moose much more dangerous, and I am speaking from experience. I haven't heard of an injury in town by a bear. Am I wrong? I have chased a couple of bears out of college hts before the co's and cops showed up to save the bears lives.

Posted by: tinyapplecork on June 9 2008 11:53 PM

Perhaps educating the public about bears and distilling the myths about them is a good place to start. Bear Aware has been in operation in this province for many years and still the number of bear killings has not decreased. We live among wildlife. We need to understand this. We need to learn to CO EXIST with all wildlife. We don't need more bylaws necessarily, we need to use the tools already at hand. Conservation Officers are a great place to get information. They also could use more resources to educate the public. I would much rather see our litter bylaw enforced first.

OMG there is a bear in my yard eating the fruit from MY tree...c'mon get real people.

Posted by: Harbinger on June 10 2008 7:45 AM

Bear Smart Status? Why, that's easy. Shoot. Shovel. Shut up.

Posted by: metalman on June 10 2008 8:05 AM

No, no, no. All you have to do is make it illegal for bears to come within 100 metres of a domicile. It is called a restraining order. Simple.
metalman.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on June 10 2008 10:09 AM

I think the bears should be consulted before any steps are taken!
In fact,they should have one on the panel setting the criteria.
Who understands a bear better than another bear?
;-)

Posted by: Foo738 on June 10 2008 10:39 AM

There were no bears in my area until ten years ago. The only thing that has changed has been the sprawl of the City in the Hart Highway area which has been going on for a number of years. Now the bears are coming into the bowl. The taxpayers have been paying for this sprawl for years in increased taxes for road maintenance and the building of bridges. Time for infill housing. Now it is the bears who are paying as well.