Spring has sprung. Yes, there are mountain bike tracks, dirt bike tracks, golf cart tracks, and very soon there will be bear tracks.
It's that time of the year when the bears shake off their winter lethargy and start foraging for food. Ideally, this will be a year of plentiful grub in their own natural habitat. But being as their habitat borders and blends into ours, chances are we'll be having some unwanted border crossings this year.
Due to the high number of bears put down in 2004 (28 in total) a group of concerned citizens gathered to discuss ways to promote co-existence between bears and humans, thus the Squamish Bear Network was formed.
With the initiation of the B.C. Bear Smart Community Program, communities that are interested can work their way towards becoming a Bear Smart Community. The program was developed by the Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection in partnership with the B.C. Conservation Foundation and the union of B.C. Municipalities. In accordance with the program, in 2005, the District of Squamish formed the "District of Squamish Wildlife Attractants Bylaw #1876." The new bylaw is a positive step towards the regulation of refuse and other attractants not only to bears, but to cougars, coyotes, and wolves. There are numerous communities throughout B.C. and Canada who are voluntarily adopting this preventative and conservative program; a program that facilitates individuals, businesses, and communities working together.
The Squamish Bear Network volunteers have started their garbage checks; these checks are performed as a way to inform community members of the bylaw by way of stickers and door hangers and secondly, to remind them that it is unlawful to place your garbage out for collection the night prior to garbage day. It is the first step of many that we are taking towards decreasing human-bear interaction. The next step taken if a resident continues to place their garbage out the night before collection, despite repeated reminders by the network, is the potential enforcement of bylaw #1876, which carries a $200 fine.
With the new tote system implemented by Carney's there have been instances of missed collections causing people to put their totes out the night before. The new tote system is in its early stages and there are issues that require some fine-tuning; your patience and tolerance is appreciated. Carney's assures us that if your tote is out no later than 7:45 a.m. your garbage will be collected. If you need to ask a neighbour to put your garbage out for you due to a time conflict, then please do ask. If you have a garage, please keep your tote inside until collection day.
Our mission is to inform and educate. Our focus is to take action and build partnerships within the community to ensure our present and future generations benefit from a safe and harmonious co-existence with our wild neighbours. So please, do your part. For further information on other ways you can become bear aware check out or contact the Bear Aware Coordinator at 604-815-5066.
