The Bear Connoisseur

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

 

Spoiler

Langley bear relocated from Coquitlam put down by BCCOS

 

FILE - A black bear. (iStock)

By Srushti Gangdev and Hana Mae Nassar

Posted Sep 26, 2023, 10:55AM PDT.

Last Updated Sep 26, 2023, 10:57AM PDT.

 

A bear that was captured on camera roaming around parts of Langley and Surrey over the weekend has been put down, according to the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS).

 

The BCCOS says police received “numerous calls” about the black bear on Sunday, and conservation officers were dispatched “to ensure public safety.”

 

“The bear had reportedly travelled past Walmart and the Willowbrook Mall and was at an apartment complex across from the Fraser Highway,” the BCCOS said in an email to CityNews.

 

The sow was eventually found and tranquillized, the service adds.

 

It notes the bear had an ear tag, signalling that it had previously been in contact with the BCCOS.

 

“The bear had been relocated from Coquitlam in mid-August. It returned to a high-density urban setting only weeks later,” the BCCOS explained.

 

The service says it learned that in the weeks since the bear’s relocation, the bear was also “accessing non-natural food sources, such as garbage.” The BCCOS also received reports that people had been feeding the animal — which is illegal under the Wildlife Act and is being investigated.

 

Due to the bear’s history and the food-related learnings, the BCCOS says it was forced to euthanize the bear.

 

“We know this is an unfortunate outcome we work so hard to prevent,” the service’s email continues.

 

People are being reminded that the Wildlife Act states, “a person must not intentionally feed or attempt to feed dangerous wildlife,” and must not “provide, leave or place an attractant in, on or about any land or premises with the intent of attracting dangerous wildlife.”

 

Heavy penalties can apply to anyone who breaches the act.

 

The BC Conservation Officer Service says “preventing bear conflicts is a community effort,” adding people should secure garbage and other attractants “to help keep people and bears safe.”

 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/09/26/langley-bear-put-down-bccos/

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

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Banff's infamous 'Boss' grizzly bluff charges locals, renewing calls for town fruit tree removal

The Boss, a huge, famous grizzly, feasted on crab apples in backyards this week

Dan McGarvey · CBC News · Posted: Sep 29, 2023 8:28 AM PDT | Last Updated: 6 hours ago

A grizzly known as Bear 122 to Parks Canada — or The Boss to Banff residents — is pictured in this file photo. The huge, adult grizzly bear was spotted feasting on crab apples in backyards last weekend, returning to the area three days in a row. (Rick Price Photography)

 

The Town of Banff is renewing the call for homeowners to replace their fruit trees with something less appealing to wildlife after a grizzly bear — known locally as The Boss — had to be hazed from residents' backyards, with the big grizzly bluff charging residents in the process.

 

The huge, adult grizzly bear was spotted feasting on crab apples in backyards last weekend, returning to the area three days in a row. A black bear was also seen in the town eating mountain ash berries in the grounds of a hotel.

 

The Boss, known officially as Bear 122, weighs upwards of 650 pounds and is the most dominant grizzly bear in and around Banff National Park. He's eaten a black bear. He even once brushed off being struck by a train.

 

WATCH | Notorious grizzly The Boss traverses through his natural habitat:

 

 

This bear is The Boss

11 months ago

Duration0:50

Photographer Jason Leo Bantle was travelling between Banff and Lake Louise when he stumbled upon fresh tracks on a roadway — they belonged to Bear 122 otherwise known as The Boss.

 

"You can imagine the smell of an apple pie sitting on someone's windowsill. These trees are like that for a grizzly bear," said Michael Hay, manager of environment with the Town of Banff.

 

Fruit-bearing trees, including crab apple, chokecherry, and mountain ash all grow in Banff and can attract wildlife.

 

"Fruit trees are a major, major attractant. Our role is to work with residents to persuade them to do the right thing in terms of managing fruit trees to try and prevent bears from coming into town," Hay said.

 

Right now, it's legal to plant and keep fruit trees like crab apples in the town, but recent changes to a bylaw allow the town to remove a tree without the homeowner's permission, if it attracts bears and becomes a risk to the public.

 

"The bylaw that passed in August really laid that out in plain terms. The town may come in and have that tree taken down," said Hay, adding that they have not had to use the bylaw yet.

 

The town also runs a program to remove and replace fruit trees at no cost, which they are promoting to residents.

 

After hitting the food jackpot by feasting on a crab apple tree, bears can return for weeks, months and even years, becoming bolder and more dangerous in the process. (Vanessa Blanch/CBC)

 

That ask has become much more urgent now that the future of one of Banff's most revered residents has been put at risk from being in such close contact with humans and food sources.

 

Parks Canada staff say Bear 122 was first spotted on Sept. 23 in a backyard eating crab apples from the ground.

 

The bear was hazed away from the area, but came back shortly after. Parks Canada say staff removed the crab apple tree right away, with the consent and support of the homeowner. 

 

The Boss returned over the following two days and had to be hazed away again. After hitting the food jackpot, like a crab apple tree, bears can return for weeks, months and even years, becoming bolder and more dangerous in the process. 

 

For some bears, that can end in tragedy.

 

Bear 148 had to be relocated after run-ins with humans in Banff in 2017, and was killed by a trophy hunter in B.C. shortly after being relocated. 

 

Parks are hoping to avoid a similar fate for The Boss.

 

In a statement emailed to CBC News, Parks Canada says if Bear 122 persists in the area, Parks Canada may begin an aversive conditioning program to re-instill a fear of humans and an aversion to spending time in the townsite.

 

"Aversive conditioning involves collaring and tracking the bear 24/7, and using hazing techniques including loud noises and projectiles such as chalk balls and rubber bullets to scare it away from problematic areas," the statement read. 

 

"Residents are strongly encouraged to participate in the Town of Banff's Fruit Tree replacement program, which offers an incentive program to remove fruit trees in Banff and replace them with native, non-fruit bearing trees at no cost to homeowners or businesses."

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/banff-grizzly-bears-fruit-trees-alberta-environment-1.6981815

 

[4petesake]

Yikes! Apparently not all bears are cute and cuddly.

Two killed in bear attack at Banff National Park, grizzly euthanized: Parks Canada

Parks Canada says a bear attack in Alberta's Banff National Park has left two people dead.

Banff field unit external relations manager Natalie Fay says the agency received an alert from a GPS device originating from the Red Deer River Valley at approximately 8 p.m. on Friday indicating a bear attack.

 

In a statement, Fay said a response team trained in wildlife attacks were immediately mobilized but weather conditions at the time did not allow for helicopter use, leading the team to travel to the location by ground through the night. She said Wildlife Human Attack Response Team arrived at 1 a.m. and found two deceased individuals.

Fay said the response team encountered a grizzly bear displaying aggressive behaviour in the area, leading Parks Canada staff to euthanize it for public safety.

She said RCMP arrived at 5 a.m. to transport the victims to Sundre, Alta., and closure remains in place at the attack area as a safety precaution.

 

 

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

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Grizzly sow, two older cubs trapped and relocated after moving into Nelson, B.C.

 

FILE - A female grizzly bear and her two cubs have been relocated after frequenting areas around Nelson, B.C. (Courtesy: Unsplash)

By The Canadian Press

Posted Oct 2, 2023, 4:33PM PDT.

Last Updated Oct 2, 2023, 4:35PM PDT.

 

A female grizzly bear and her two older cubs have been trapped and relocated after frequenting areas around Nelson in southeastern British Columbia.

 

Lisa Thomson, the regional co-ordinator with conservation charity WildSafeBC, says the trio was spotted about a week ago and had begun moving closer to town.

 

She says it was “super unusual” because grizzlies prefer to be in the mountains, but they may have been attracted to an abundance of fruit left hanging on trees in Nelson.

 

As the bears began to move into neighbourhoods and people’s backyards, she says there was a risk they could become habituated to humans and conditioned to the available food.

 

Thomson says a bear biologist from Cranbrook, B.C., was called in and provincial officials, including conservation officers and those within B.C.’s Fish and Wildlife branch, worked on a plan to trap and relocate the three bears.

 

She says the operation went safely and smoothly, and the bears have been relocated to an area with plenty of shelter and natural food sources.

 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/10/02/nelson-bc-bears-relocated/

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

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Expect to see more bear activity in B.C. this fall, advocacy group says

 

FILE - A female grizzly bear and her two cubs have been relocated after frequenting areas around Nelson, B.C. (Courtesy: Unsplash)

By Michael Williams and Greg Bowman

 

Posted Oct 3, 2023, 4:59PM PDT.

Last Updated Oct 3, 2023, 5:02PM PDT.

 

An advocacy group on the North Shore is advising the public to be on the lookout for increased bear activity over the next couple of months.

 

Holly Reisner, the co-executive director of the North Shore Black Bear Society, tells CityNews the animals are packing on the pounds ahead of winter denning season.

 

“This is a time when bears are in the phase called hyperphagia when they are really interested in eating as many calories as they can possibly eat before winter comes because they have to get ready for denning,” she said.

 

“They’re out and about more than they normally are. They’re roaming further to find food, so it’s not uncommon that we would have more sightings.”

 

There has been a string of bear-related stories that have cropped up in B.C. in recent weeks.

 

On Tuesday morning, a bruin was hit on Highway 1 in Abbotsford. Elsewhere in the province, a grizzly bear and her two cubs were recently relocated after frequenting areas around Nelson.

 

Reisner says despite increased bear activity, the animals won’t likely threaten humans.

 

“Normally, our bears are peaceful and mostly disinterested in us as humans. But there are a couple of situations where they could be pressured into having a defensive reaction,” she said.

 

“Black bears will defend a food source if they have one and if someone approaches them very closely or if there’s a dog harassing them by barking.”

 

To keep the peace between bears and humans, Reisner recommends minimizing odorous garbage or organic waste outside your home and keeping dogs leashed in areas the animals may reside.

 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/10/03/bc-bear-activity-increase/

 

And the article about the Abbotsford bear strike this morning:

Quote

Bear struck, badly injured by vehicle on Hwy 1 in Abbotsford

 

A bear was struck by a vehicle along Highway 1 in Abbotsford Tuesday morning. (Supplied)

By Charlie Carey

 

Posted Oct 3, 2023, 9:25AM PDT.

Last Updated Oct 3, 2023, 6:19PM PDT.

 

A bear had to be killed by conservation officers Tuesday morning after being struck by a vehicle along Highway 1 in Abbotsford.

 

Abbotsford Police Department Const. Art Stele says officers received reports of a bear in the median, east of Whatcom and No. 3 roads just after 7:30 a.m.

 

 

---

The BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) also attended the call, Stele adds, and found the bear had been hit by a vehicle.

 

“Conservation officers assessed the condition of the bear, which was injured and not mobile. The bear was euthanized due to its injuries,” BCCOS stated in an email to CityNews.

 

Stele says AbbyPD and BCCOS will be working together to understand where the bear came from, but the incident Tuesday morning is not common.

 

“It is odd to have a bear on the highway here in Abbotsford, because we do not get these types of calls on a regular basis. We will be looking into what factors led to the bear coming onto the highway."

 

Stele notes that it is a Motor Vehicle Act infraction for failing to remain at the scene of an accident, along with failing to report the accident.

 

“At this point, we [have not] been called by the persons that have struck the animal, however, investigators currently are looking into that and monitoring the situation of how this exactly happened and where the motorists are that did strike the bear.”

 

Stele confirms no other injuries have been reported to police, and Highway 1 is now flowing normally through the area.

 

 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/10/03/abbotsford-highway-1-bear-struck/

 

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

Bears apparently make good connoisseurs too, their discerning palates resulting in more interactions, and farm animals being consumed in the process.  

 

Quote

More farmers in Maple Ridge complain of black bears killing poultry, livestock

By Paul Johnson  Global News

Posted October 5, 2023 5:42 pm

 Updated October 5, 2023 5:55 pm

 

 

 

Some Maple Ridge residents are sounding the alarm over an increase in bear activity. Community members say the bears are killing animals on farms. They want the issue addressed but not through lethal methods. Paul Johnson reports.

 

Paul Doyle and his wife moved into their Maple Ridge, B.C., home seven years ago, opened a small hobby farm, and hoped for some quiet in their retirement.

 

For the last few weeks, however, an unexpected and persistent problem has disrupted their peace: black bears.

 

“They were never a problem before. For six and a half years, the bears were just something cute to look at, wandering by on the road or out in the distance,” he told Global News.

 

“All of a sudden, since about May or June this year, it started changing.”

 

Doyle said after devastating the poultry a little further down the road, the bears have hit his property, tearing through the chicken coop and killing his stock.

 

“I reinforced (the coop) and a few days later, (the bear) was back at it again. He injured a few chickens and killed one more, and he’s killed three sheep at belong to the neighbours, and sheep are a large animal — awfully big for a bear to go after.”

 

 

2:06Bears attacking livestock at Maple Ridge farm

 

It’s a familiar story.

 

In July, Global News reported concerns from a pair of Maple Ridge women who said black bears were evading their structural defences, like fences and posts, to kill poultry on their properties.

 

At the time, Pascale Shaw of the Rainbow Eggs Farm in Whonnock said bears had destroyed between 30 and 40 of her chickens, leading to hastily sell or gift the remaining hens and chicks. Shaw said she also installed an electric fence around her other livestock and began guarding the yard with a paintball gun, while awaiting permits to remove trees to fence-in the entire property.

 

Her neighbour, Charna Chan, said she was using similar measures to safeguard her coops, with limited effect against the persistent bears. One particularly stubborn bear, however, had gotten used to being hit with a paintball gun and was reportedly teaching her cubs how to climb Chan’s fence.

 

“She needs to be relocated or something, because she’s learned that it’s a free meal here and she’s teaching her babies,” Chan told Global News on July 16.

 

 

1:08Wayward black bear captured in New Westminster

 

Doyle estimates that black bears have now killed chickens at nine farms in the community.

 

Like Shaw and Chan, he said he doesn’t want the problem bears to be killed — just taught to stay away, or be relocated.

 

“Problem is, the bears don’t have any place to go. We’ve had construction at the bottom of the hill here,” he explained.

 

“The big male is aggressive. He comes at people. He followed somebody down the road the other night and they got so scared they ran into the nearest house … it could be bad.”

 

Doyle said the BC Conservation Officer Service (BC COS) is aware of the problem, but haven’t visited.

 

Birgit Mischke, the neighbour whose sheep were killed, said she has lived in the Whonnock area since the 1970s, and has never had a problem with bears until this year: “This year is the first time ever that I was scared of a bear.”

 

She said a large black bear entered her garage and chewed up her milk cartons. She, too, said she phoned the BC COS but the service hasn’t paid a visit.

 

Her llama now stands on guard at her property.

 

“No food, climate change,” she theorized, as to the cause for the bears’ intrusion.

 

 

0:37West Vancouver man fined $5,000 for feeding black bears

 

Global News has reached out to the BC COS for comment on this story.

 

The BC COS has previously confirmed reports of many bear sightings in the Maple Ridge area, and in July, said it was working with local farmers on techniques to minimize the loss of livestock.

 

“It is not possible for the COS to create predator-free zones. Responsibility rests with farmers to take adequate steps to protect their livestock from wildlife,” the service said in an emailed statement.

 

“The COS is continuing to monitor bear activity in the area and will respond as necessary to ensure public safety … There have currently been no reports of aggressive bear behaviour towards people related to these incidents.”

 

In a previously emailed statement, the City of Maple Ridge said it had referred concerns about bears in the Whonnock area to the BC Conservation Office Service (BC COS) North Fraser Region and advised the public to report all sightings through the COS’ website.

 

https://globalnews.ca/news/10008060/farmers-maple-ridge-complain-black-bears-killing-poultry-livestock/

 

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

Missed this over the weekend:

Quote

Lower Mainland arrest made for trafficking black bear parts: BCCOS

 

File photo (Source: The Canadian Press)

By Pippa Norman

Posted Oct 6, 2023, 5:47PM PDT.

Last Updated Oct 6, 2023, 5:48PM PDT.

 

The BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) says one person has been arrested in the Lower Mainland for trafficking black bear body parts.

 

Inspector Kyle Ackles says black bear gallbladders and paws are often sought after for medicinal purposes and can be sold for thousands of dollars.

 

“There’s a market for wildlife parts and wildlife meat within B.C. and outside of B.C.’s borders, and any unlawful harvest will have a negative impact on species in the province,” Ackles told CityNews.

 

The suspect is facing three counts of trafficking wildlife, according to BCCOS. If convicted, the suspect could face fines of up to $500,000, three years in jail — or both.

 

“These individuals are often killing these animals outside of hunting seasons, without licenses, outside of the oversight of the management regime on wildlife, and primarily for personal monetary gain,” Ackles said.

 

Ackles says the investigation is still ongoing and Conservation Officers rely on the public for help with these investigations. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Report All Poachers and Polluters hotline.

 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/10/06/lower-mainland-arrest-made-for-trafficking-black-bear-parts-bccos/

[Cerridwen]

The Rotund One has returned just in time to celebrate the Regular Season by playing hockey with my neighbour's garbage can at 3:30 this morning. He's definitely packing a few more pounds!

 

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

2 hours ago, Cerridwen said:

The Rotund One has returned just in time to celebrate the Regular Season by playing hockey with my neighbour's garbage can at 3:30 this morning. He's definitely packing a few more pounds!

 

 

I'm guessing he scored?  

How do you introduce a new post without having it merge into the last post?  

Edited October 11, 2023 by 6of1_halfdozenofother

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

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Bear locked in B.C. car leaves ‘smelly surprise’: RCMP

 

FILE - A black bear looks up from rifling through the garbage in the front yard of a home on July 6, 2014. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo, Becky Bohrer) AppleMark

   

By Hana Mae Nassar

Posted October 11, 2023 1:07 pm.

 

Vehicle break-ins happen, but have you ever found a bear locked in your car?

 

That was the case for a Rossland resident over the weekend. According to the Trail and Greater District RCMP, officers received a report just before 11:30 p.m. Saturday that a bear was stuck inside the caller’s vehicle.

 

The RCMP says neither officers nor the owner were able to unlock the car using the vehicle’s key. Police were given permission to break the rear window of the car to get the bear out.

 

“Once broken, the bear departed quickly from the scene,” the RCMP explains.

 

In addition to an “extensively damaged” interior, Mounties say the bear also “left a small and smelly surprise in the backseat.”

 

The RCMP is reminding people to lock their cars “to keep out two and four-legged creatures.”

 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/10/11/bc-bear-locked-car/

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

Even bears like gummy bears...

 

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2271692867712

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

14 hours ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said:

Even bears like gummy bears...

 

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2271692867712

 

More to the story:

Quote

Black bear walks into a gas station bar, takes a pack of gummy bears and leaves

The incident at the Vancouver Island store is just one among growing instances of bear encounters in B.C.

CBC News · Posted: Oct 11, 2023 4:59 PM PDT | Last Updated: October 11

 

 

Watch a black bear steal gummy bears from B.C. store

18 hours ago

Duration 0:46

A security camera captured an unusual shoplifter at Tiptons Gas Bar in Lake Cowichan, B.C.

 

Jay and Karen deGoesbriand serve a variety of customers at their tiny Tipton Gas Bar in Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island — about a 92-kilometre drive northwest of Victoria — but they never expected a black bear to make it to their list of clientele.

 

Security camera footage from the store caught the bear casually walking in at around 6:30 a.m. on Monday, going through racks of chocolate bars before grabbing a 70-cent pack of gummy bears in its jaws and taking off — without paying.

 

"Mr. Bear then went out in the parking lot and ate it," said Jay, who was drinking coffee behind the counter at the time of the candy robbery.

 

The husband-and-wife duo said the bear didn't appear to be aggressive at all, but the brazen theft from the furry shoplifter certainly left an impression.

 

"I thought it was so cool," Karen said. "Obviously [the bear] has a sweet tooth."

 

A black bear is caught on surveillance camera outside of Tiptons Gas Bar in Lake Cowichan, B.C. (Tipton Gas Bar Surveillance Video )

 

The Lake Cowichan incident is just one among growing instances of bear encounters across B.C.

 

According to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS), there has been a high number of bear-related complaints this year, primarily concerning black bears.

 

In August alone, the COS received 5,963 calls about black bears, nearly double the previous high of 2,366 calls in 2011.

 

Len Butler, deputy chief for provincial operations, told CHEK News there are several reasons for the increase, including the weather's impact on bears' search for food.

 

"I think a lot of the areas, drought has impacted those berry crops and natural food sources, so where do the bears go?" he said. "They unfortunately come into the urban areas, which always have a lot of non-natural attractants."

 

In a previous interview with CBC News, the COS urged people who see any bears to contact them because the animal can become a danger to the public.

 

Once bears become both used to human food and unafraid of people, they can't be rehabilitated or relocated, the agency explained, "making the risk to public safety simply too great."

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/black-bear-gummy-bears-lake-cowichan-vancouver-island-bc-1.6993278

 

Edited October 12, 2023 by 6of1_halfdozenofother

[Cerridwen]

The QJS/CSS Invitational X-Country Invitational Race at the West Fraser Timber Park here in Quesnel on Saturday has been nixed due to this big boy roaming the park. One of our former newspaper photographers happened to run into him while on her morning trek .....the grizzlies have NOT left town. The trails are still in town... just as you're heading out the highway South up Dragon Lake Hill.

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

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This B.C. valley has become a death trap for young grizzly bears: report

Research shows bears between 2 and 6 years old in the Elk Valley have the worst survival rate on the continent

CBC News · Posted: Oct 15, 2023 8:00 AM PDT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago

A collared grizzly bear crosses a busy highway in British Columbia. According to a new report, one-third of all road and rail collisions in the province happen in the Elk Valley — which makes up less than one per cent of the grizzly-bear range in B.C. (Darryn Epp)

 

British Columbia's Elk Valley is a grim place to be a grizzly bear, according to a new report that shows recorded conflicts and mortality rates are higher in the region than anywhere else in the province. 

 

The report, published in September in Conservation Science and Practice, was conducted by a team of researchers led by Colin Lamb, a wildlife scientist with Biodiversity Pathways and the University of British Columbia. The team tracked 76 grizzly bears in the region between 2016 and 2022 and the data reveals some stark findings.

 

The 5,073-square-kilometre study area, located in the Rocky Mountains of southeastern B.C., accounts for less than one per cent of grizzly-bear range in the province — yet report data shows it is where 33 per cent of bear deaths involving vehicles happen, and 42 per cent of deaths involving trains.

 

While adult bears seem to be faring fine with survival rates of 95 per cent, sub-adult grizzly bears — ages two to six — have the lowest survival rates in North America, with up to 40 per cent annual mortality. 

 

"These young naive bears are navigating a pretty challenging landscape. They get struck accidentally and then there's a lot of collisions or conflicts with with people. And as a result we have this population that basically is not self-sustaining," said Lamb, speaking to CBC's Daybreak South.

 

 

Lamb said the population is not waning because bears are constantly immigrating to the area as the valley has abundant food sources, but for the local population to be sustained, efforts need to be made to reduce collisions and human conflict.

Vehicle collisions, conflict with people are primary causes

Of the 76 bears tracked, the primary cause of death was either collisions with vehicles or trains or conflict with people due to unsecured attractants such as livestock, fruit and garbage on private property.

 

Of 22 bears that died during the study, 14 had functioning radio collars on when they were killed, allowing researchers to identify their cause of death.

 

Twelve of those were due to collisions or conflict; one's cause of death is unknown but suspected to be human-caused, and one was natural.

 

Of the 13 likely killed by people, seven were not reported to authorities.

 

Clayton Lamb with the University of British Columbia says efforts need to be made to reduce collisions and human conflict for the local bear population to be sustained. (Laura Smit)

 

Report authors estimate only about one-third of human-caused mortalities not involving conservation officers are reported to authorities.

 

"Grizzly bear mortality in the Elk Valley due to collisions and conflicts with people is an order of magnitude greater than elsewhere in British Columbia," reads the report.

 

In Elk Valley, there was an average of 65.3 conflicts between bears and people per 10,000 square kilometres per year, compared to less than six across the rest of B.C.

 

The report concludes that efforts must be made to keep both bears and people safer in the valley.

 

Tools suggested include bear-aware training for people in the area, as well as securing attractants and maintaining electric fences.

 

One grizzly was killed by a landowner while she was attacking their pigs, according to the report.The landowner had an electric fence but it had shorted out because vegetation was growing up against it.

 

 

Daybreak South7:07How humans and bears are co-existing in the Elk Valley

Clayton Lamb is the lead researcher on a new study on human-grizzly conflicts in the Elk Valley. He explains how humans and bears are co-existing in the Elk Valley.

 

For its part, the B.C. government broke ground in 2020 on an infrastructure project that aims to fence 27 kilometres of Highway 3 and create wildlife crossings. The report shows crossing structures are used regularly by bears in Banff National Park and, when combined with fencing, can reduce wildlife mortality by up to 96 per cent.

 

CBC reached out to the Ministry of Transportation for details on that project and when completion is expected. The ministry did not respond by deadline.

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/elk-valley-grizzly-mortality-rate-1.6992673

 

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

@Gurn - your new neighbours?  

 

Quote

VIDEO: Bear opens car door on Sunshine Coast

 

Video footage shared by Jen Rollins on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast showing a bear opening up the door of a truck that was parked in her driveway. (Submitted)

   

By Greg Bowman

Posted October 16, 2023 2:41 pm.

Last Updated October 16, 2023 2:43 pm.

 

A family who had recently moved to B.C.’s Sunshine Coast was frightened by what they thought was a vehicle break-in Saturday — only to find whoever was responsible was no criminal at all.

 

Jen Rollins posted surveillance footage on social media showing a black bear on its hind legs opening the door of the truck outside her home. The bear walks away once the vehicle’s interior lights turn on.

 

Speaking with CityNews, Rollins says one of her children was first to notice something wasn’t right Sunday morning.

 

“My daughter woke up in the morning, looked outside and was like, ‘Mom, mom! The truck door is open!'” she said. “I kind of panicked … did the kids leave it open? Did I leave it open?”

 

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Jen Rollins and her two children. Their family has recently moved to the Sunshine Coast from Vancouver Island. (Submitted)

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Upon further inspection, Rollins realized that nothing was taken from her truck, which prompted her to look back at the footage from her recently installed video cameras.

 

That’s when she learned who the culprit really was. Rollins says the bear has been seen around her family’s acreage numerous times since they moved in.

 

“One part of me was peeved and scared, and the other part of me thought it was hilarious. Like, how did this bear just casually open this door?” she said.

 

---

---

 

Rollins’ family of four moved from Vancouver Island to the property north of Powell River just six weeks ago. She says in that time, her family has had to get used to the wildlife in the area.

 

She says a bear had also recently torn apart her family’s barbecue in pursuit of the grease tray. Rollins believes this was the same bear who tried to enter her truck.

 

“We haven’t named him yet, we’re just kind of hoping he goes away,” she joked. “He’s family now.”

 

---

Jen Rollins ( back middle) and her family, who recently moved to the Sunshine Coast, north of Powell River. (Submitted)

---

 

Originally from Edmonton, Rollins says she’s dealt with raccoons and coyotes at previous homes, but bears are a different story.

 

“I used to think that bears were super cute and I always wanted to see bears and it never happened that often. Now, they’re everywhere,” she noted

 

“I live on the bears’ land. They were here first. We just need to figure out a way to have mutual respect where we just leave each other alone.”

 

While she admits her recent bear encounters have her sometimes questioning her family’s move, Rollins says neighbours and community members have been helpful in showing her how to cohabitate with the animals.

 

“We’ll get used to it and we’ll figure it out but it feels a little foreign for me at this moment,” she said.

 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/10/16/bear-bc-sunshine-coast-truck-door/

 

In case the tweet didn't embed properly in the article quoted:

 

There's video at the URL above that I couldn't get to embed properly in the quote as well, in case anyone's interested in the security camera footage.

[Gurn]

10 minutes ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said:

 - your new neighbours?  

Probably out towards Lund, but could be the Wildwood area.

Bears are just trying to pack on a few extra pounds, getting ready for their long nap.

 

Just wait till those folks learn about the cougars out that way.

[4petesake]

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

Quote

Black bear eating take-out in video prompts investigation by B.C. conservation officers

Service says feeding wildlife illegal, being near wild animals dangerous

Chad Pawson · CBC News · Posted: Oct 18, 2023 1:09 PM PDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

A screen grab from a TikTok video posted to the platform on Monday, Oct. 16 shows a black bear in Whistler, B.C., eating from a take-out container on a bench in the resort municipality. (@crystal_chair/TikTok)

 

 

Provincial officials responsible for managing conflict between humans and wildlife say they are investigating the circumstances of a video on social media showing a black bear eating from a food container on a bench in the resort municipality of Whistler.

 

"We are dismayed and disappointed at the dangerous position the individual filming this encounter placed themselves in due to the close proximity to the bear, and the apparent disregard to the safety of the bear itself," said the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) in a statement to CBC News.

 

The video and investigation is the latest in the province highlighting the ongoing problem of wildlife becoming habituated to human food or garbage and in some situations being killed because they end up creating safety risks.

 

It is illegal in B.C. to "attract wildlife" by intentionally feeding, attempting to feed or leaving things like food or garbage out in a way that attracts "dangerous wildlife."

 

Penalties for offences can result in fines up to $100,000 or a year in jail.

 

The video was posted on TikTok on Monday by a user who did not create it. It shows a black bear, in an undisclosed location, eating from a take-out container on a bench in the dark. CBC News does not know who originally took the video and what social media accounts it was posted to. Although it was posted on TikTok Monday, it is unclear when the video was originally taken.

 

WATCH | Whistler black bear filmed eating from take-out container: 

 

 

Conservation officers investigate social media video of black bear eating take-out

3 hours ago

Duration0:22

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says it is investigating a video, claimed to be filmed in Whistler, that shows a black bear eating from a take-out container on a bench right beside the person shooting the clip. It is illegal to feed wildlife in B.C.

 

 

The BCCOS said the person who took the video also follows the bear as it leaves the area, although those images do not appear on the version of the video CBC News has seen.

 

"Conservation officers are investigating the origin and circumstances of this video and will take enforcement action as necessary," said the release from the BCCOS.

 

It said once bears become used to non-natural food and show a minimal fear of people, they are, "no longer a candidate for relocation or rehabilitation due to the risk to public safety."

393 dead black bears

Predator conflict provincial statistics available for January to August of this year show that 393 black bears have been destroyed in the province, with 182 alone in August. The year 2023 is on pace to exceed the number of bears killed in 2022, when 588 were destroyed by the end of the year.

 

A black bear roots through a garbage can in Squamish, B.C., in an undated photo. 'We cannot stress enough the importance of not feeding dangerous wildlife,' says the B.C. Conservation Officer Service. (Submitted by Brian Aikens)

 

Black bears in other B.C. communities such as North Vancouver, and the Lower Mainland's Tri-cities are common and those municipalities have programs to teach residents how to keep food and garbage safe from the animals.

 

Whistler is a provincially-designated Bear Smart community, which is a voluntary, preventative conservation measure that encourages communities, businesses and individuals to work together to reduce bear and human conflicts.

 

The municipality has also seen some high-profile cases in the courts, including one where a resident was initially fined $60,000, before it was reduced to $10,500, for feeding black bears in her neighbourhood.

'Complacency can lead to escalating bear conflicts'

The BCCOS said residents and visitors are accustomed to seeing black bears, "but this complacency can lead to escalating bear conflicts that can put people, and bears, at risk.

 

"We cannot stress enough the importance of not feeding dangerous wildlife."

 

The service thanked people in the community doing their part to "help keep wildlife wild," and asked others to visit WildSafeBC for information on how to co-exist with wildlife. 

 

The BCCOS is asking anyone with information related to the video of the black bear eating from a take-out container to call the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at 1-877-952-7277.

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/whistler-black-bear-eating-take-out-container-conservation-officers-investigating-1.7000271

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

Quote

Bear hit by car in PoCo put down, cubs orphaned

 

FILE - A black bear had to be put down after it was hit by a car in Port Coquitlam on Oct. 17, 2023. (iStock)

   

By Hana Mae Nassar

Posted October 18, 2023 2:36 pm.

Last Updated October 18, 2023 3:33 pm.

 

A bear that was hit by a car in Port Coquitlam this week had to be put down, leaving two cubs orphaned.

 

The sow was hit in the area of Coast Meridian and Coquitlam Avenue Tuesday. According to the BC Conservation Officer Service, members received a call from the RCMP just before 11:30 a.m.

 

“Four of us got to the scene and located the injured sow and the two cubs. From there, we chemically immobilized all three of the bears for their safety so we could better assess their health and the health of the sow that was involved in the collision,” conservation officer Cole Ryley told CityNews.

 

He says the provincial wildlife veterinarian was contacted and informed of what happened. From there, Ryley explains the cubs were deemed “healthy enough to go to a rehabilitation centre,” with plans to be released next year.

 

“They were relocated to Critter Care in the Lower Mainland here, which was great. But, unfortunately, the sow had received such serious injuries to her back that she wasn’t able to walk. We had to make the really hard decision to humanely euthanize her — there was just too much trauma done for her to be able to go back into nature,” Ryley said.

 

Local Cindi Barnes says she witnessed the bear being hit by the car Tuesday morning. She tells CityNews she and her sister were driving down Coast Meridian when they spotted a cub running out into the roadway.

 

“We came to a stop and [my sister] went more in the middle lane and turned her hazards on and then honked on her horn to let people know behind us that we’re stopping for the cub,” Barnes said.

 

She says shortly after, another cub emerged from the bushes, with the mother bear close behind.

 

Despite her and her sister at a full stop, Barnes claims a driver coming from the opposite direction didn’t slow down, eventually hitting the sow as the three bruins were crossing the road.

 

“He just smoked this bear going so fast,” she recalled. “We screamed, my sister and I, because we were just pulling away at that time because [the bears] had passed where we were.”

 

Barnes says she and her sister turned their car around to go back to where the sow was to find the bear in the bush with her two cubs “cuddling around her.”

 

“I didn’t know what to do, I was so upset. I wanted to go back and yell at that driver,” she said.

 

Bear was ‘very healthy’ but ‘caught up in a very bad situation’: conservation officer

According to Ryley, the sow was just under 200 lbs.

 

“She was very healthy, I checked her over, she had no damage to her paws, her teeth were healthy, her gums were healthy, she was a very healthy bear but just caught up in a very bad situation,” he explained.

 

“We believe she was hit in the back end, the rear-end of her. When she was immobilized, I kind of assessed her joints and her legs to see where the damage was. She did have a very badly broken back leg, and even by the time we got to her and did sedate her, she had a lot of hemorrhaging in that area and onto her belly, which means there was quite a bit of internal bleeding.”

 

It wasn’t until later in the day that Barnes says she found out the sow had to be euthanized.

 

Barnes took to social media to share her frustrations with what she describes as “the indifference” and “carelessness” that she feels was on display. She claims many people often drive too fast along Coast Meridian, and believes this incident could have been prevented.

 

According to the Coquitlam RCMP, the driver involved in the collision was on scene when officers arrived.

 

“We did receive a report and police did attend on the day and spoke to the driver,” explained Corp. Alexa Hodgins, who confirms conservation officers were called.

 

“I don’t know the status of the vehicle but it doesn’t look like there were any injuries reported to officers at the time.”

 

Hodgins says the area of Coast Meridian “is frequently patrolled” for speed enforcement by the Traffic Unit.

 

“We do routinely attend Coast Meridian, as well as the Mary Hill Bypass, in Port Coquitlam,” she added.

 

Bears hit by cars ‘more than we would like to see’: BCCOS

Barnes, who is a nurse, says she felt compelled to stop when she saw the bear get hit.

 

“I’m a mom and those little babies (cubs), they have feelings, they care. Why do we call us mama bears, right? They’re fierce, they’re protective, they love. And just thinking that those little cubs saw that, it’s so sad,” an emotional Barnes said, her voice breaking.

“My thing is, you live with these creatures in harmony … I love all the animals here. This is their land, we need to respect them,” added Barnes.

While bears aren’t being hit on Lower Mainland roads every day, Ryley says this kind of thing “happens, sadly, more than we would like to see.”

 

Just earlier this month, a bear had to be put down after it was hit along Highway 1 in Abbotsford.

Ryley echoes Barnes’ reminder that animals, including bears, are in the community, and notes it’s up to people to ensure attractants are secured to limit conflicts.

 

“We have had reports of other bears that have been hit on that same road, but it comes down to us and the community bringing these bears in through unsecured wildlife attractants, and people speeding on the highways and not being 100 per cent cautious about what’s happening around them,” Ryley said.

 

“The message to the public would be, secure wildlife attractants in our homes and our communities so we’re not drawing these bears into our communities and giving them reasons to be on our highways … That’s the main message. The other message is: slow down. Put the phone down when you’re driving, and be aware of what’s around you. Know that we do have wildlife in our communities, we have pedestrians walking in the streets. We need to be very careful when we’re navigating our highways.”

 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/10/18/port-coquitlam-bear-car-cubs/

[smithers joe]

On 9/19/2023 at 1:05 PM, Bounce000 said:

If it’s black, fight back

If it’s brown, lay down

if it’s white, goodnight

teddy bears, then i fight back  if they don't growl too loud.

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

20 hours ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said:

 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/10/18/port-coquitlam-bear-car-cubs/

 

Follow-up story:

Quote

Bear cubs left orphaned by Port Coquitlam crash ‘on track’ for 2024 release

 

Two bear cubs that were left orphaned by a crash in Port Coquitlam on Oct. 17, 2023, are doing well, the Critter Care Wildlife Society says. (Submitted)

   

By Hana Mae Nassar

Posted October 19, 2023 1:01 pm.

 

Two bear cubs that were left orphaned after a sow was hit by a car in Port Coquitlam and had to be euthanized Tuesday are “doing well,” according to the rescue caring for the animals.

 

The BC Conservation Officer Service said Wednesday the cubs were deemed “healthy enough to go to a rehabilitation centre,” where they would be further assessed and cared for until they were ready to be released into the wild.

 

The bear supervisor at Critter Care tells CityNews the bear siblings were placed in an outdoor enclosure to “settle down for a couple of days.”

 

---

Two bear cubs that were left orphaned by a crash in Port Coquitlam on Oct. 17, 2023, are doing well, the Critter Care Wildlife Society says. (Submitted)

---

 

“They were let out of the shed this morning and they are busy exploring the new toys and enrichment together!” the email from Emma Robson explains. “The cubs are eating and drinking well and will soon be introduced to our other bear cub; Willow.”

 

Robson says the cubs “are on track for release” back into the wild next summer.

 

The bears’ mother was hit by a car on Coast Meridian near Coquitlam Avenue. Conservation officer Cole Ryley told CityNews the sow had suffered “such serious injuries to her back that she wasn’t able to walk.”

 

“We had to make the really hard decision to humanely euthanize her — there was just too much trauma done for her to be able to go back into nature,” Ryley said.

 

“She was very healthy, I checked her over, she had no damage to her paws, her teeth were healthy, her gums were healthy, she was a very healthy bear but just caught up in a very bad situation,” he added.

 

Ryley noted the bear had a “very badly broken back leg,” as well as “a lot of hemorrhaging.”

 

The Coquitlam RCMP has confirmed the driver involved in the collision was on scene when officers arrived.

 

 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/10/19/bear-cubs-port-coquitlam-crash/

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

Bear photos!

 

Quote

5 black bears in a tree, a grizzly in the backyard: This week in B.C. bear photos

Submit your pictures to bcphotos@cbc.ca

CBC News · Posted: Oct 20, 2023 8:56 AM PDT | Last Updated: 39 minutes ago

The city of Prince George shared this image to warn people that leaving pumpkins out could attract bears. (City of Prince George)

 

 

After a busy summer, bears are still active well into the fall as they seek out food to prepare for winter. 

 

Throughout the province, sightings of black bears and grizzly bears in B.C. communities are being widely shared in photos.

 

Meanwhile, wildlife officials are again reminding people about the importance of limiting bears' access to garbage, food and other possible attractants.

 

In Prince George, a summer of high bear activity followed by a warmer-than-normal October means bears are a bigger concern headed toward Halloween than would usually be expected.

 

"The bears are well into their fall feeding frenzy and can't resist a delicious pumpkin left out on your doorstep," a post from the city says, asking residents to keep the decorative gourds indoors unless they are supervised.

 

Here are some of the best bear photos from across the province this past week:

Megan Larsen captured this shot of 5 black bears in a tree against the lights of Mackenzie, B.C., on Oct. 15. It has since been shared thousands of times around the world. (Megan Larsen)

It's not just black bears. Sara Nicole is among the residents of Mackenzie, a community 180 kilometres north of Prince George, B.C., who has encountered grizzly bears on the outskirts of town. (Sara Nicole)

In this photo, a bear naps on a road just out of town. Nicole says she has seen the grizzlies regularly. (Sara Nicole)

A grizzly bear photographed by Carriene Henderson at Kennedy Siding, east of Mackenzie. (Carriene Henderson)

South of Prince George, in Quesnel, grizzly encounters continue, as well. Mike Vipond was surprised to find one in his yard this week, though he says after a rest it moved on peacefully. Conservation officers have asked residents to report sightings of grizzlies to 1-877-952-7277. (Mike Vipond)

Amber Milligan photographed this black bear walking along Highway 16 on the way to McBride, 200 kilometres southeast of Prince George. (Amber Milligan)

Bears are also active further south. Brittany Butt photographed this bear near her house in Whistler, B.C. (Brittany Butt)

A grizzly bear grazes at Myrtle Philip Elementary School in Whistler, B.C. (Brittany Butt)

A young black bear in an apple tree in the Cowichan Valley. Wildlife officials say it's important for people to harvest crops that might attract bears and habituate them to people. (Robert Vobb)

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bear-photos-october-1.7002793

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

Quote

Why you’re being asked to bring pumpkins in at night

 

The BC Conservation Officer Service is asking people not to leave Halloween jack o'lanterns outside all night, saying they can attract bears and pose a risk to others. (Courtesy Facebook/BCCOS)

   

By Hana Mae Nassar

Posted October 27, 2023 8:48 am.

Last Updated October 27, 2023 10:45 am.

 

With many getting their jack o’lanterns ready to greet Halloween trick or treaters, Lower Mainlanders are being asked to remember to bring pumpkins inside before they go to bed.

 

Experts are warning people pumpkins that are left outside could attract wildlife, especially bears, who are currently in hyperphagia in preparation for hybernation and winter denning.

 

“To keep them out of communities, it is crucial to secure all attractants, such as garbage, pet food and birdseed. This includes pumpkins,” the BC Conservation Officer Service said in a social media post Friday.

 

 

WildSafeBC says bears in hyperphagia are looking to fatten up, and can “consume up to 30,000 calories a day before going into hibernation.”

 

“At home, if you don’t want bears in your backyard, take a walk around, do a bear hazard assessment and take a look,” explained Kathy Murray, provincial support with WildSafeBC.

 

“Is there anything there that could potentially attract a bear such as garbage, fruit trees, pet food? Bring the pet food indoors. Pumpkins this time of year, Halloween is coming up, and pumpkins are a bear attractant and a food source. Bring the pumpkins in at night.”

 

Instead of leaving carved pumpkins outside and potentially creating a risk to the public, the BCCOS suggests displaying them in windows.

 

But if that’s not an option, it is urging people to not keep the jack o’lanterns out longer than they need to be.

 

“If you must put your pumpkin outside, the COS suggests doing this on Halloween night only, and bringing them inside at night before disposing of them properly. It is important to limit the length of time your pumpkin is outdoors, especially if you live in a neighbourhood with bear activity,” the service explained.

 

Murray notes “B.C. is bear country,” no matter where you are.

 

“I think even walking around town or trails or parks, be prepared and expect to encounter bears,” she told CityNews Tuesday.

 

If you do encounter a bear, she stresses it’s important to stop and stay calm.

 

“Speak to the bear in a calm voice, let the bear know you’re human and not prey, and back away slowly. Give the bear some space. Remember, bears protect three things: their food, their space, and their young. Backing away will give the bear the message that you’re not a threat, and again, never approach and never feed wildlife.”

 

The BC Conservation Officer Service is encouraging people to report bear encounters and conflicts in urban spaces to the Report All Poachers and Polluters hotline at 1-877-952-7277.

 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/10/27/halloween-pumpkins-bears-bc-warning/

 

Bears like carved pumpkins - who knew?  

 

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

Return of the Whistler grizzly:

Quote

Whistler residents told to keep pumpkins and candy inside as grizzly returns to town

Trick-or-treaters need to be careful this Halloween, conservation authority warns

CBC News · Posted: Oct 31, 2023 2:33 PM PDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

A grizzly bear captured in Whistler, B.C. on Friday has returned to the community just in time for Halloween, prompting a public warning about not leaving candy and pumpkins outdoors. (B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy)

 

Conservation officers are warning trick-or-treaters to use use extra caution in Whistler, B.C. tonight as a grizzly bear has been spotted in the community.

 

The district municipality issued a public alert cautioning people to keep pumpkins and candy indoors in order to avoid attracting the bear.

 

According to the alert, the bear had been removed from the community on Friday but has since returned.

 

It is eating natural food and not indicating any aggressive behaviour, the alert states.

 

"We recognize Halloween festivities are taking place tonight and understand this may cause concern to residents," the warning says, adding that conservation officers, police and city officials are monitoring the bear's activity to ensure public safety.

 

"We ask the public to be patient, continue to give the bear space and secure all attractants to help prevent conflicts. Grizzly bears will be denning soon."

 

Wildlife officials have noted an apparent uptick in grizzly bear sightings in B.C. cities this year. They tend to be particularly active in autumn as they attempt to fatten themselves up before winter.

 

The B.C. Conservation Service asks people who see aggressive or threatening bears to call 1-877-952-7277. Learn more about co-existing with bears and how to avoid encounters at WildSafeBC.com.

 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/grizzly-whistler-halloween-1.7014398

 

[Cerridwen]

On 10/31/2023 at 3:25 PM, 6of1_halfdozenofother said:

Return of the Whistler grizzly:

 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/grizzly-whistler-halloween-1.7014398

 

 

So there I was, in lovely Q-town, hauling in pumpkins at 12:05 this morning (pumpkins MUST stay lit until after midnight to keep the ghoulies and goblins away and the new day begins, dontcha know! ) as advised by Conservation.... trying to see with eyes in the back of my head as well as the front of my head....and not drop the damned things....all while congratulating myself that I was doing a good thing. A SMART thing.

 

Outside cameras this morning found Mr. Furry. Fkr. Rotundo heading down the road with a pumpkin at 1:10 am, living his very best life EVER!! 

 

Just before noon, heading out to PG for javelin puncture to the eye, I had a quick peek around the neighbourhood and lo and behold, tonnes of pumpkins sitting outside on the steps and porches, a few semi-trashed on the road. SO many left out that the bear actually ignored my next-door neighbours' beauty sitting on their front steps. And people want to bitch and moan and complain about the bears being in the neighbourhood. FFS, use a little common sense! I fully expect he'll be back around again tonight as the pumpkins were STILL sitting out when I got back from PG at suppertime... I'm so tired of the stupid.