Campers’ inability to manage wildlife attractants led to the death of a bear Thursday (July 3) at Alice Lake Provincial Park, says the region’s managing conservation officer.
Despite B.C. Parks staff and conservation officers’ continual push to educate people on ways to manage their food and garbage while in the bush, the message doesn’t seem to be getting through, Sgt. Peter Busink of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service said.
On Thursday, officers were forced to shoot a male black bear after it made a habit of roaming through the provincial camp grounds for food.
“I am trying to find a solution, but again it comes down to people’s behaviour,” Busink said.
“It is very frustrating when the message doesn’t seem to be getting through.”
The bear had been relocated from Squamish in 2011. At the time the bear had ransacked a number of bee hives that were guarded by electric fencing. It since returned, making Alice Lake its feasting grounds.
The male bear is the first black bear to be shot at the park this summer, Busink said. It is the second bear to be killed this year so far in Squamish. Killing wildlife is the worst part of a conservation officers’ job, Busink said.
“The destroying of bears due to wildlife conflicts is completely preventable,” he said. “People need to take responsibility for the safety of their families, neighbours and the creatures.”
Busink is examining new communication ideas to educate people on wildlife attractants, but noted it’s tough when parks personnel already hand out information. Busink said he understands the public’s need to park their anger somewhere when an animal is shot. But it often lands on the backs of the officers, when it should be directed at the people not taking responsibility for their actions, he noted.
Both parties involved in the death of the bear were issued violation tickets under the B.C. Wildlife Act, Busink said. The campers were also evicted from the park.
