Public Advisory from Wild Wise Sooke: Bears are being habituated in Sooke
– by Debbie Read, Wild Wise Sooke
Several areas are reporting bears in garbage, fruit trees and bird feed (listed below). These bears are being habituated in Sooke, and this is a bad situation for the bears.
To change the behavior of bears, we must first change our own. Do not wait until you have a problem to do something about it. It is our responsibility to learn how to live with bears; we choose to live in bear country.
We can all “keep wildlife wild and our community safe.”
FOOD SOURCE = BEARS
[sam id=”15″ codes=”true”]Bears have been attracted to human food waste in these areas:- Caldwell and Eustace,
- Atherly and area,
- Country Rd and Grant Rd East,
- Grant Rd West area,
- Maple,
- Townsend,
- 6400 Sooke Rd,
- Belvista,
- Saseenos,
- 5500 block Sooke Rd,
- Lannon Creek area,
- Blythwood
It’s the people-problem that results in the bear-problem
Experts agree that the careful management of bear attractants is the first and most important step in controlling “bear problems.” In fact, the term should be “people problems,” not “bear problems,” as bears are motivated by hunger, not malice. The problem is ours.
To ensure bears don’t move into your neighbourhood, pick fruit and allow it to ripen indoors or pick daily as it ripens. Do not allow windfall to accumulate on the ground.
If you do not want the fruit, contact us, to ensure that bears do not become human food conditioned and/or habituated due to your carelessness. This will help reduce safety concerns surrounding bear encounters and the unnecessary destruction of bears.
Resources
- Wild Wise Sooke: Bears out in Sooke, full force!
- Bear Deterrents Workshop for Local Farmers: Learn tools to protect your farm and produce and minimize negative interactions with bears
- Be Bear Wise: Wild Wise Sooke suggests spring cleaning, minimize attractants
- Cougar spotted in East Sooke
- A Bear’s Bill of Rights, from Wild Wise Sooke
- Cormorants in Sooke: Have you seen them? Here’s where to look
- Another bear killed in Sooke
- What a Sooke bear in its natural habitat looks like
- From SD62: Bear & Wildlife Safety Reminder – for you and your kids
- VIDEO: Globe and Mail video on Bears in Sooke
People are often told to keep their garbage inside, but there are many homes in Sooke where that is not an option. Then again, I know of at least a couple of instances where a bear broke into a locked building. (not here)
We are forcing them to by overdeveloping & taking over their habitat. They don’t have much choice. 🙁
They live in Sooke…what are you going to do? Shoot them all?
In fall
.we”ve always had this issue..as bears will eat 3 times their body weight in fall.
Please do not put your garbage out the day/night before pick up day.
I see it all the time.
A garbage bear will ne destroyed out hear. 🙁
Here
More fear mongering…
Garbage people! Put it AWAY!!!!
People should be fined