Managing Bears with the respect they deserve 

The overall management of our bears and other wildlife is the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Chage Strategy of British Columbia with policies and procedures being enforced by the Conservation Service. Conservation Service Officers hold Special Provincial Constable Status under the Police Act.

Under the British Columbia Wildlife Act Conservation Officers can serve fines for the intentional or unintentional feeding of our bears or any wildlife.

If bears are able to continually access non-natural food sources in our community the bear may be at risk of an early demise. Relocation is unfortunately a rarely effective measure for these bears: the relocated bear, placed in another bear’s home range, may be at risk of conflict and injury due to interactions with a dominant bear in the area, or the relocated bear may travel back to his/her original home. If one bear is relocated and does remain in his/her new range another bear often takes his/her place in the previous home area and the cycle continues if improper garbage and attractant management remains.

Along with many other bear and animal advocates in our province of British Columbia we are calling for policy change within the Conservation Officer Service.

WE ARE CALLING FOR: 

  • Continuity of care for all orphan bear cubs: that orphaned cubs be collected and transferred to a licensed rehabilitation facility.

  • Independent oversight: that the COS be placed under independent oversight.

LOBBYING FOR CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY

Our bear alliance continues to lobby our local governments to adopt separate wildlife attractant bylaws and fine schedules. Having these bylaws in place is one of the most important components of creating a community that is a safe home for our bears and for our residents. While the province oversees the management of our bears and other wildlife it is our local governments that are responsible for garbage and attractant management that can become an issue for our bears.

DECEMBER 15, 2021

More progress has been made recently with the District of Sechelt updating their Solid Waste Control and Collection Bylaw on December 15, 2021 with important wildlife attractants clauses. Read updated bylaw HERE

JULY 5, 2021

With the goal of limiting conflicts between bears and humans in our community in July 2021 the Town of Gibsons adopted a new Wildlife Bylaw No. 1294. Read more HERE

Coast Reporter ‘Gibsons introduces Wildlife Attractant Bylaw’