We would like to remind residents not to put garbage out the night before garbage pickup. A number of bears have been put down already this summer, because they have become habituated to these attractants.

Sooke PocketNews received the following request from a concerned resident, and we have agreed to keep their identity anonymous.

“Last week on Garbage Day people on the street I live (and most likely other areas) put out their garbage containers in the evening. The reason I am mentioning this is a bear got into the garbage. A number of garbage cans were turned over, and there was garbage everywhere. People are setting up the bear to to put it down and, I think people need to put garbage out in the morning.”

According to a District of Sooke Bylaw No. 392, section 51.1, ” Except for bird feeders, no person shall provide any wildlife with food either directly or by leaving or placing in, on or about land or premises any food, food waste, or other material that is or is likely to be attractive to wildlife for the purpose of feeding those animals.” Further, section 54 of this bylay reads, “Any person who contravenes this Bylaw is liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 and the cost of prosecution. Every day during which there is an infraction of this Bylaw shall constitute a separate offence.”

If you’re looking for wildlife management reminders (ie, keeping bears out of human habitat, and thereby keeping them alive), here are some of the (many) articles we have run by Wild Wise Sooke, the volunteer organization dedicated to sound wild life cohabitation with humans.