The Conservation Officer Service has been dealing with a high rate of conflicts between bears and humans this spring, with incidents spiking over the last few months.
There have been 214 black bear complaints from April 1 to Wednesday (July 7) -32 of those in the last week alone. Conservation officer Chris Doyle said the number isn't significantly above average yet, but it's climbing quickly and he fears this will be a very active bear season.
Yet another bear was destroyed on Tuesday (July 6) night after persistently entering a campsite and ripping into tents at Cat Lake - the fourth bear destroyed since April.
The problem may have started because the bear got a food reward and the issue quickly became a risk to humans in the area, said Doyle.
The bear didn't injure anyone, but thrown rocks didn't deter its aggressive behaviour, and several complaints were lodged throughout the day.
Officers also recently had to relocate a bear caught in Timber Town on Mamquam Road who was "very habituated, going around from trailer to trailer looking for garbage and not at all afraid of people," said Doyle.
Timber Town resident Darlene Robinson said the bear had become extremely bold by the time officers sedated it, and pointed to the consistent problem of unlocked garbage bins in the neighbourhood.
"As usual, there are several garbage bins in Timber Town that somehow remain unlocked and prove too great a temptation for wildlife," said Robinson.
"His persistence in foraging in our area had become extremely irritating and dangerous as his visits were unpredictable, and he showed no fear of any humans."
Officers were able to corner the bear on June 24 when it took refuge in Robinson's yard and she quickly alerted the conservation office. Officers tranquilized him and advised her he would be released outside populated areas.
Robinson said the bear was raiding both garbage bins and recycle bins.
Bear Aware co-ordinator Meg Toom echoed the concerns at a presentation on June 23, hosted by the Squamish Environment Society at the Brackendale Art Gallery (BAG).
Toom emphasized that while bears and humans can co-exist in the same area, it's when bears have access to human food that conflict escalates.
"Because we live in bear country, we have bears actively feeding and seeking security in the green spaces that border our homes," said Toom.
"We must make ourselves unattractive to bears that is. Don't lure bears into your yard with low hanging bird feeders, outdoor pet food or unlocked garbage."
People need to be particularly cautious when camping.
"People really have to be diligent with storing food or garbage," said Toom. "Keep it locked up in a vehicle or bear proof container or use the hanging system."
Despite the number of bear incidents, Doyle said there much fewer cougar complaints than last year, when two young cougar families were dispersing at the same time and it became a serious problem in the community.
The worst incident occurred when a three-year-old Brackendale girl was attacked by an emaciated cat. The girl's mother fought the cougar off and the girl did not suffer serious injury.
There have only been 28 cougar complaints so far this year, with at least a few people mistaking another animal for a cougar, according to Doyle.
