Written by: Jim Cambridge, Superintendent SD62

The end of the berry season means that more bears are migrating into our neighbourhoods in search of food from fruit trees and garbage, the single biggest killer of bears. You can easily prevent bears from wondering onto your property by:

• Making sure fruit is picked off the trees and not left to rot on the ground
• Storing garbage cans & compost bins inside a secure building until collection day
• Not hanging bird feeders until winter
• Cleaning barbeques after each use
• Installing motion sensor lighting

If you encounter a bear or spot a bear in your community, contact a Conservation Officer or local police.

[sam id=”15″ codes=”true”]Here are some important tips to share with your children should they encounter a bear

• Walk in groups
• Talk or sing when in remote areas to let the bears know you are there
• If you encounter a bear:
  • Stay calm
  • Speak to it in a loud, low voice and say something like “Go away bear”
  • Do not make eye contact with the bear
  • Take steps to back slowly, but do not turn and run
  • Climb a tree as a very last resort
• Contact a Conservation Officer or local police

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Resources

• Sooke RCMP 250-642-5241
• Learn more: WildSafeBC
• Conservation Officer: 1-877-952-7277 or emailconservation.officer.service@gov.bc.ca using the subject line “Contact”
• Report online: https://wildsafebc.com/warp/
• Original article here

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