In Revelstoke, B.C., nine bears killed over garbage this week alone
A conservation officer in British Columbia spoke out in anger this week over the need to kill “habituated” bears
These are bears that have become used to entering residential areas seeking the easy food source in garbage left in easy access by residents, and are unperturbed by human presence.
Eighteen bears including nine bears this week alone, have had to be euthanized this summer in Revelstoke after entering the community and raiding garbage bins left out by residents.
Dan Bartol an officer in the Columbia Kootenay Zone was involved in the killing of nine bears within three days. Speaking to CBC Calgary news, he said he is exceptionally frustrated that the message that garbage needs to be stored in secure containers and away from bears reach seems to be ignored by too many residents.
Bartol was also reacting to criticism after shooting a bear in a downtown alley in the middle of the day. He said he had no choice as a tranquilizer would have taken several minutes to take effect during which the bear could easily pose a threat to passersby. He blamed those who left open food containers in the alley for attracting the bear in the first place.
Adding to the problem are a number of fruit trees in backyards with ripe fruit not being picked and/or falling to the ground and not being picked up, making another easy treat and attraction for the bears.
Bears have an excellent sense of smell, and can detect potential food sources from quite a distance, easily tracking down the smell from unsecured household food waste and ripe fruit around houses and restaurants.
In one case, a bear came within a few feet of a child in a garage.
Bartol told CBC that tranquilizing the bears and transporting them away is not often a solution saying they just make their way back, or become a problem in a different community as they have learned that human habitation means easy food sources.
He said the best thing is to prevent them from becoming habituated to garbage in communities in the first place. To do that, garbage must be kept out of bear’s reach.
To avoid human-bear conflicts and habituated bears, some communities and neighbourhoods across Canada have adopted the “bear smart” programme which includes bear-proof containers.
additional information-sources
Calgary Herald
After nine bears killed, Revelstoke needs to clean up its act says wildlife officer
The Guardian
The Star
CBC
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/revelstoke-bears-9-killed-1.3731591
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