Bear season is starting to wind down - but with many bears still roaming residential streets and neighbourhoods, the area's conservation officer is asking Squamish council to help make the community "Bear Smart."
"There's still a number of bears around," said Chris Doyle, the conservation officer.
Dumpsters are drawing bears into Squamish in search of food."Most of the dumpsters are not bear proof," Doyle said.
Carney's Waste Systems and the Squamish Bear Network have identified non-bear proof dumpsters and Carney's has replaced 12 dumpsters. Bear proof dumpsters, like the one behind Save-On Foods, have different lids that bears can't open. Most bears can just push open the lid on regular dumpsters.
Save-On Foods had a bear in its dumpster recently and Carney's was able to replace it right away, Doyle said.
Although bears are still wandering around at night searching for garbage to eat, none have been killed by authorities in recent weeks. On Oct. 8, The Chief reported there had been 25 bears killed in and around Squamish.
"It hasn't changed," Doyle said.
He said the problem bears have already been killed and there is less food lying around."Most of the fruit is gone now. People picked it or the bears ate it," Doyle said.
Bears could wander the Squamish area as late as Christmas before they go into hibernation, Doyle said.
"People have to be aware that they are still out there."
Doyle is working with a group of concerned residents called the Squamish Bear Network. He and Eivind Tornes went before Squamish Council on Tuesday (Oct. 19) to update council on the bear situation in the community.
Doyle told council that residents have logged more than bear 600 complaints this year.
"This is the highest number of complaints for a community of this size in B.C.," Doyle said. "It is the fourth highest number of complaints in all of B.C. no matter of size."
Doyle also recommended that Squamish become a Bear Smart community. According to Doyle, the number of bears killed will go down if the community uses the six principles set out in the Bear Smart initiative.
He explained that a local bear hazard assessment should be done and that should be followed by a bear/human conflict management plan based on the findings of the assessment.
Doyle called on council to revise planning and decision-making documents so they are consistent with the bear/human conflict management plan.
In addition to the those steps Doyle noted that the Bear Smart initiative recommends an ongoing education program, the development of a bear-proof solid waste management system and implementation of Bear Smart bylaws that prevents people from leaving food that will attract bears.
Tornes told council that his group is trying to educate residents by handing out flyers. The flyers encourage locals to store garbage indoors.
When a Bear Network member is aware that a bear is in a neighbourhood they leave notices on doorsteps to alert the home owner and remind them to remove attractants like fruit at the base of fruit trees.
Tornes asked council to consider funding a mobile phone for the local volunteers in the network so that if a Squamish resident calls the B.C. government wildlife report line the call centre operator can give the number out. Callers can then choose to deal with someone locally who has knowledge of the local bear issues.
Following the presentations by Tornes and Doyle, council voted to request that local law enforcement personnel use non-lethal methods of dealing with bear problems and to destroy bears only as a very last resort.
