Pets & Animals: Bear Aware – Reducing Bear Human Encounters

With the recent bear encounters in the Lower Mainland and with future encounters certain, one organization is trying to help reduce the number of encounters. [Click On Image For Full Story]

Bear Aware Map Of Lower Mainland Bear Encounters (Click To Enlarge)

This reduction in human-bear conflict is accomplished by providing information about attractant management and providing education, and assistance about the tools available to secure those attractants.

Owned by the British Columbia Conservation Foundation, with funding support from various levels of government and private organizations, the Bear Aware Program works closely with municipalities, regional districts, local societies and volunteer groups.

Bear Aware is not responsible for bear management in the Province of BC. As such, all inquiries regarding sightings and the conflicts that result from humans leaving out their attractants, should be directed to the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.

How Bear Aware™ Works

Bear Aware community coordinators work closely with the public, Conservation Officers, and city or regional district officials to find ways to prevent human-bear conflict. This means educating the general public about managing their attractants, but it may also mean changes to the garbage collection schedule, new bear-resistant litter cans and dumpsters, teaching people to compost properly, giving information regarding electric fencing, community planning to amend wildlife corridors or green spaces, and even helping other organizations manage unwanted fruit. Most people are eager to help find solutions which create safer, more sustainable communities.

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