As early in the season as it is, the warm spring weather has woken our ursine neighbours and they are out searching for food. Bears have now been reported wandering around town searching for food and unfortunately at least one has found garbage to snack on.
“I had a report today of a bear dragging away someone’s garbage bin,” said Sue Davies of Revelstoke Bear Aware. “We usually expect bears to awaken from their winter sleep some time in April but the warm weather means that plants are starting to sprout, and that is all the bears need to wake up and get started on their summer eating schedule.
“It is disappointing that this particular bear has found some garbage so early in the season. Getting a food reward from garbage means that this bear may go on to become conditioned to eating garbage, and may end up being called a ‘problem bear’," continued Davies. "After last season, when 10 bears were destroyed in Revelstoke, I’d like to think that people will be a bit more vigilant about keeping food away from bears, but it seems that the owner of the garbage was caught out by the early arrival of the bear."
This is a wake-up call Revelstoke. Bears are out and about — time to put the garbage (and other food stuffs) away in a secure location. Bear Aware will be updating their interactive bear sightings map and will be heading out with their bright yellow street signs to mark areas where bears have been seen. Please heed the signs, and make sure that there is no potential bear food available on your property.
Ten tips to being Bear Aware:
1. Secure garbage from bears, either in a bear-‐ resistant container or indoors. Don’t put your garbage out before 6 a.m. on the day of collection.
2. Harvest ripe fruit and pick up windfall fruit every day.
3. Remove bird feeders during bear season (April -‐ November) or use only small
amounts of feed and bring in each night.
4. Feed pets indoors. Store pet food and livestock feed indoors.
5. Consider a properly installed and maintained electric fence to protect small
livestock (such as chickens and beehives), fruit trees, and compost piles.
6. Consider removing outdoor freezers and fridges.
7. Do not put cooked food, meat, fish or cheese in compost. Keep compost piles working properly; smelly compost attracts bears.
8. Clean barbecues after each use.
9. Do not feed wildlife.
10. Report conflicts with bears to the Conservation
Please visit www.revelstokebearaware.org for more information on managing bear attractants or contact Sue Davies at 250-837-8624.
Bear Aware would like to thank CBT, CP Rail, Lush Cosmetics, Revelstoke Credit Union, Revelstoke Community Foundation, BC Gaming, BC Hydro, and Parks Canada for their support of the Bear Aware Program.
To report bear sightings or conflicts with bears please call the 24-hour hotline at 1‐877-952-RAPP (7277).