March 20, 2009 - Spring is sprung, the bears are riz They wonder where their next meal is
Jessica Barrett, North Shore News
Published: Friday, March 20, 2009
With warmer spring-like weather upon us, crocuses won't be the only things emerging from a winter spent burrowed under ground.
Bears should be awakening from winter hibernation over the next couple of weeks with one possible sighting of bear scat already reported, said Tony Webb of the North Shore Black Bear Network. He is urging residents to rid their property of bear attractants as the animals awake.
"They are very hungry after having burnt up their energy during hibernation," Webb said.
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A black bear with two cubs nervously watches conservation officers at the corner of Beaumont Drive and Highland Boulevard in North Vancouver. Residents can take steps to mitigate confrontations like this one from 2003.
NEWS photo Mike Wakefield
Bears awakening from winter slumber are liable to follow their noses to an easy meal, which could bring them into contact with humans. But a few simple steps limiting attractants like smelly garbage, compost or birdfeeders can help ensure a safer summer for both bears and humans alike.
Many people have birdfeeders stocked with enough seed to last a couple of weeks, Webb said, but those kinds of feeders seem like a tantalizing treat for a hungry bear. Webb advocates putting only as much seed in the feeders as birds will eat in a day, that way there's nothing left over for a bear's midnight snack.
"We call that birdfeeder management," Webb said.
He suggested those who find they can't manage their birdfeeders either take them in or invest in special feeders that are out of reach of bears, available where birdfeeders are sold.
New bylaws passed in the District of West Vancouver last fall limit placing garbage on the curb before 5 a.m. on the day of pick up. The regulations follow similar bylaws already in place in North Vancouver. However Webb said storing garbage in a garage until pick up isn't a viable alternative to placing it on the curb.
"We don't want people to put smelly garbage into a container and then put the garbage container into a garage. . . because the bear will now try and break into the garage," he said. "That's happened."
Instead, residents should wrap odorous garbage in plastic and store it in the freezer until garbage day. Those with bear-proof containers, including organizations such as schools and businesses, need to ensure garbage is emptied regularly so containers can be properly closed.
"I was at a school a week ago and they had a bear-proof container that was overflowing. So it's quite a paradox isn't it," Webb said.
He mentioned another school was "negligent" with its garbage, leading to the death last year of a bear that had become habituated to the human waste.
Additionally, backyard compost should be turned often and be free of meat, cooked food and un-rinsed eggshells to avoid smells. Adding some carbon, such as cardboard bathroom tissue rolls, can keep compost aerated and odour-free, Webb said.
Even food packaging can attract bears. Webb said he has seen cases where bears have broken into vehicles with food wrappers inside. "They've got a tremendous sense of smell, so don't think that because there isn't a lot of food that's there, that the bear won't be attracted to it."
People living near creeks or ravines should be particularly aware of bear attractants, Webb added, as bears naturally follow waterways in search of food but will follow their noses out of the woods if lured by human-produced scents. People should also avoid leaving doors and windows open while cooking in the summer, as bears have entered houses on more than one occasion -- a scary prospect for residents but a usually worse outcome for the bear.
Plastic hot tub covers can also lure bears. Webb said he is not sure why bears are attracted to the covers but some evidence suggests the plastic emits a smell similar to an anthill. The surest way to discourage bears in that situation, Webb said, is to be certain there is nothing edible around.
Finally, Webb said if you spot a bear on your property, make it clear the animal is not welcome by making noise, shouting and banging on pots and pans -- all from inside the house. Aggressive bears can be reported to the provincial wildlife line at 1-877-952-7277 or by dialing #7277 on a cellphone.
Webb is also asking that bear sightings be reported to the North Shore Bear Network at 604-990-BEAR (2327). More information is available at www.northshorebears.ca.
© North Shore News 2009
