Alberni - Clayoquot Regional District

BEAR SUMMARY FOR THE ALBERNI VALLEY
The following summary is based upon a compilation of bear information provided by government agencies and unconfirmed sightings reported by the public over the last several weeks. It is not intended to be used as a real time, complete record of where bears are in the valley.

BEARS CAN BE ENCOUNTERED ANYWHERE, ANYTIME!
Be aware of your surroundings, know how to reduce the likelihood of encounters, and be prepared should an encounter take place. Always use caution by paying attention to signs of bear activity such as scats, tracks, and diggings. Make lots of noise while hiking; hike in groups when possible; carry pepper spray; and remove all backyard attractants.

BEAR ACTIVITY TRENDS
There has been black bear activity within the residential areas of 6th and 7th Avenue (particularly between Bruce St. and Montrose St), Hughes Place, Joyce Avenue and Beaver Creek Road. Immediate action is required to prevent further human-bear conflict and reduce possible risk to human safety and damage to personal property.

Keep all bear attractants including garbage & recycling in a secured enclosure such as a garage, workshop or similar structure until the morning of pickup; burn barbeque grills clean after each use and store your barbeque indoors (tank removed); take away birdfeeders (including hummingbird feeders); feed pets indoors; ensure compost is well covered with dry material such as shredded newspaper and dry yard waste (grass clippings, leaves etc...)

REPORTING PROCEDURE:
Report all wildlife-human interactions where public safety may be at risk to the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-RAPP (7277).

Information provided by Christina Brack, Bear Smart BC Society Volunteer and Crystal McMillan, Executive Director Bear Smart BC Society
For more �Bear Smart� information, questions, concerns or to volunteer please contact: Dawn Boyce 250-723-2187 avbearsmart@hotmail.com or Christina Brack 250-723-9200

For more information on the Ministry of Environment Bear Smart Community Program or the Bear Smart BC Society please call: Crystal McMillan at 250-650-9653

March 2010

Alert! Bears In the Area Attention all Port Alberni residents: Conservation Officer Public Wildlife Reports indicate that bears are now active in the following areas:

o Fowley Road
o Hospital area (Galiano, San Mateo & Whittlestone)
o Roger Creek Area (bears accessing domestic livestock and garbage)
o Falls Street
o Reported sightings along the dyke

Bears are beginning to wake up from hibernation and many food conditioned bears may not have denned at all over the winter. Food is a priority for them and natural sources are scarce at this time; keep garbage & recycling stored in bear proof facilities, do not store food in outdoor freezers/fridges, keep pet food/dishes indoors and remove birdfeeders from your property. Thank you for your help in preventing further damage to personal property, risk to human safety and needless destruction of our bears.

To report any wildlife-human interactions where public safety may be at risk, call the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-RAPP (7277)

For more information on how to bear-proof your campsite & home property or to volunteer with the Alberni Valley Bear Smart Committee call:

Dawn Boyce 250-723-2187 or Christina Brack 250-723-9200

For more information on the Ministry of Environment Bear Smart Community Program or the Bear Smart BC Society please call: Crystal McMillan at 250-266- (BEAR) 2327.

December 2009

Attention residents in the following areas:

Bruce & 12th Avenue
5th Avenue
A black bear is currently raiding garbage in this area and causing damage to personal property. Please ensure your garbage and recycling is kept in a bear-proof enclosure such as your garage or workshop until the morning of pick up.

Black bears should be entering their dens by now for hibernation; however, if un-natural food sources are readily available they may abandon this natural behaviour. Help this bear get the message that it is time for a long winter's snooze in the woods.

Thank you for your help in preventing further damage to personal property, risk to human safety and needless destruction of our bears.

To report any wildlife-human interactions where public safety may be at risk, call the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-RAPP (7277)

For more information on how to bear-proof your campsite & home property or to volunteer with the Alberni Valley Bear Smart Committee call:

Dawn Boyce 250-723-2187 or
Darlene Clark 250-724-4657
For more information on the Ministry of Environment Bear Smart Community Program or the
Bear Smart BC Society please call: Crystal McMillan at 250-266- (BEAR) 2327

September 2009

Cameron Heights - 1 adult female with two cubs Scott Road (north side of Ship Creek) - 1 adult female with one cub

The attractant reported has been FRUIT TREES. Continue to be diligent in
securing garbage and recycling in a bear proof enclosure. Further action is
required in harvesting fruit from the trees and fallen fruit from the ground.

These bears' behaviour will be monitored in the upcoming weeks and will
determine the final management decisions. There are plenty of natural food
sources for the bears and no need for them to be raiding residential areas.
Do not encourage the bears to feed in urban areas. Remove attractants
immediately from your property to help these bears return to their natural behaviour.
Not only are they eating to produce fat reserves for the winter, but the cubs are learning
where to find food and what is edible. They are learning bad habits that will only
perpetuate generations of "problem" bears.

For more information on how to bear-proof your campsite & home
property or to volunteer with the Alberni Valley Bear Smart Committee call:

Christina Brack 250-723-9200

For more information on the Ministry of Environment Bear Smart Community Program
or the Bear Smart BC Society please call: Crystal McMillan at to 250-951-9453.

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