Bears and berries go paw in mouth, but maybe not this year. With the underwhelming summer we just experienced, there is a drastic reduction in the fall berry crop.
Michael Allen, noted Whistler bear researcher, has released the following information: "For the first time in 18 years there is no significant berry ripening above 1,500-m elevation."
Squamish is already experiencing an increase in bear activity; bears are staying lower in the valley and forgoing higher elevations, staying where the food is. Fall is crunch time for the bears. This is their last opportunity to consume calories in preparation for hibernation in mid-November. Bears will increase their home-range boundaries in pursuit of food, which means they will wander a little further outside of their usual travel areas.
They will also increase the amount of hours spent foraging. The average bear will spend upwards of 20 hours a day feeding and will need to consume about 20,000 calories a day (that's like us eating 50 hamburgers a day) with the goal of gaining at least three to five pounds a day.
It is critical that residents continue to lock their totes with both locks to ensure bears don't gain access to non-natural food. In addition, all dumpsters need to be secured as they offer up huge amounts of calories if accessed. Fruit trees are providing extra fall calories for our bears. The problem is that although fruit is a natural food source, this is domestic fruit and it brings bears into our neighbourhoods, where the potential for conflict increases.
We are not doing them any favours by allowing them to feed on non-natural food. Bears are quick learners and very adaptable every time they receive a food reward in your backyard with no negative repercussions, their behaviour incrementally changes; before you know it, the once-shy, wary bear is now bold and persistent. Let's keep our bears moving through our neighbourhoods by managing the attractants that create "problem" bears.
For more information on Bear Aware visit www.bearaware.bc.ca or for information on the Squamish Fruit Tree Project: (604) 815-5066 or (604) 562-0446.
