BC Black Bears

Mother bear and cub in British Columbia.
Photo by Tony Joyce

Black bears are common throughout British Columbia. In fact, BC has one of the world’s largest populations of Ursus americanus.

Reducing negative outcomes for black bears in British Columbia can be seen complex, as there are numerous jurisdictions and agencies involved, as well as various localized needs. But everyone can participate in promoting coexistence and making positive change for bears in their communities.

Coexisting with black bears is possible in all ecosystems and communities. The following resources, tools, and articles can help you and your neighbours successfully coexist. 

Deadliest Communities for BC Black Bears

The Fur-Bearers publishes data showing the number of black bears killed by the BC Conservation Officer Service in communities across British Columbia. This data was initially obtained from the Ministry of Environment and Parks through freedom of information requests, and as of 2024, is being disclosed by the BCCOS. Read our blog post here for more information.

Black bears killed by conservation officers by community, annual. 2015-2024

AREA2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
100 MILE HOUSE 1026842224-1
108 MILE RANCH 70140004-0
150 MILE HOUSE 13010200-1
70 MILE HOUSE00000111-1
ABBOTSFORD01004001-0
ADAMS LAKE00000001-0
AGASSIZ 12020220-0
AINSWORTH00000010-0
ALBION 10000000-0
ALEXIS CREEK00131101-0
ALEZA CREEK00001000-0
ALKALI LAKE 10000000-0
ANAHIM LAKE00001000-0
ANGLEMONT02010230-0
ANMORE00012000-0
APPLEDALE 10000000-0
ARGENTA 10000012-0
ARMSTRONG00136011-0
ARRAS01000000-0
ASHCROFT 10000000-0
ATLIN00103320-1
AVOLA 10020002-0
BALFOUR 30010000-0
BAMFIELD00121000-0
BARKERVILLE00010001-0
BARRIERE00101230-0
BEAR LAKE00200200-0
BEAVERDELL01000030-0
BELCARRA02200101-0
BELLA BELLA00000360-1
BELLA COOLA 00103000-2
BIG BAR01000000-0
BIG BAR LAKE01000000-0
BIG LAKE00100000-0
BLACK CREEK00300000-0
BLACK PINES00020010-0
BLAEBERRY00000001-0
BLEWETT01000010-0
BLUE RIVER 10262000-0
BLUEBERRY CREEK00100000-0
BOB QUINN00000300-0
BONNINGTON01100001-0
BOSTON BAR 14010000-0
BOSWELL01001010-0
BOUCHIE LAKE00100000-0
BOWSER 11200000-0
BRACKENDALE00000000-1
BRIDGE LAKE 10000031-1
BRILLIANT00200001-0
BRISCO00002002-0
BRITANNIA BEACH00201000-0
BURNABY01633311-0
BURNS LAKE 3712193213171174
BURTON01000000-0
CACHE CREEK10200020-0
CAMPBELL RIVER19131311486-6
CANAL FLATS10001000-0
CANIM LAKE 10020001-0
CASTLEGAR 1697233414-1
CELISTA01010000-0
CHARLIE LAKE 20000100-0
CHASE01102110-1
CHEMAINUS01200001-0
CHERRY CREEK00000001-0
CHERRYVILLE00000100-1
CHETWYND12212346-1
CHILLIWACK47404340-0
CHRISTINA LAKE173003189-3
CLEARWATER 566112524-3
CLINTON 31004041-0
CLUCLUZ LAKE00000001-0
COAL HARBOUR01011251-0
COALMONT00000003-0
COBBLE HILL11000101-1
COLDSTREAM00000002-4
COLDSTREAM DISTRICT52001210-0
COLWOOD00000010-0
COMOX 12201110-0
COOMBS00011001-0
COQUITLAM31261421584-4
COTTONWOOD 10000000-0
COURTENAY 62413020-0
COWICHAN VALLEY00100000-0
CRANBROOK 70121212-0
CRAWFORD BAY 11000001-0
CRESCENT VALLEY10000110-0
CRESTON23210512-1
CULTUS LAKE03311000-0
CUMBERLAND60000101-0
DAAJING GIIDS00000000-4
DAWSON CREEK11111132-1
DEASE LAKE 01010800-0
DECKER LAKE00131010-0
DEKA LAKE00000000-1
DEROCHE00000210-0
DOUGLAS LAKE00000010-0
DUNCAN 10002210-1
DUNSTER00001300-0
EAGLE BAY00000010-0
EDGEWATER00000200-0
EDGEWOOD02000000-0
EGMONT00000001-0
ELKFORD 50000102-1
ELKO 30000001-0
ENDAKO00001020-0
ENDERBY 20021000-5
ERIE00000001-0
ERRINGTON00111000-1
FAIRMONT 11112423-1
FALKLAND 10020100-0
FANNY BAY00010000-0
FERNIE 2130123124-7
FINTRY00000110-0
FOREST GROVE 10110002-1
FORT FRASER00110000-0
FORT NELSON 53714232-1
FORT ST. JAMES00023012112
FORT ST. JOHN 11012321-2
FRANCOIS LAKE01001110-0
FRASER LAKE00102082101
FRUITVALE 13210010-2
GARDEN BAY00231000-0
GARNET VALLEY00100000-0
GENELLE01000001-0
GIBSONS 40625110-3
GITANYOW00100000-0
GITWANGAK00000010-0
GLADE01000000-0
GLENROSA02000000-0
GLENVOWELL00102100-0
GOLD BRIDGE00002001-1
GOLD RIVER 91144246-0
GOLDEN 712162779-0
GOOD HOPE00100000-0
GOOD HOPE LAKE00000001-0
GRAND FORKS 76223453-3
GRANISLE 22200012-0
GRASMERE 20000001-0
GRASSY PLAINS00001000-0
GRAY CREEK01001210-0
GREEN LAKE - 70 Mile House 10003000-0
GREENVILLE01100000-0
GREENWOOD 21100091-1
HAIDA GWAII00000001-0
HALFMOON BAY00112211-0
HARRISON HOT SPRINGS01000100-0
HARRISON LAKE00100000-0
HARRISON MILLS20310000-0
HARROGATE00000001-0
HARROP00000001-0
HAZELTON 418081132-1
HEDLEY00001000-0
HEFFLEY CREEK00101000-0
HEFFLEY LAKE00010000-0
HILLS01020000-2
HIXON 10000010-0
HOLBERG00210000-0
HOPE 10102141-0
HORNE LAKE 11000000-0
HORSEFLY00031001-1
HORSESHOE BAY00000001-0
HOSMER 00000000-0
HOUSTON 327814130-0
HUDSON'S HOPE 11001010-0
HYDE CREEK00200000-0
INVERMERE02506032-1
ISKUT00000300-0
JADE CITY00010100-0
JAFFRAY 10300000-0
JOHNSON'S LANDING00000100-0
JORDAN RIVER00010000-1
KALADEN00010000-1
KAMLOOPS 15111691351363111
KASLO06011302-2
KEATS ISLAND00010000-0
KELOWNA 7165810769-5
KEREMOS00000001-2
KERSLEY 10000000-0
KILDONAN00000002-0
KILLINEY BEACH00010000-0
KIMBERLEY 510526568-2
KINGCOME INLET00001000-0
KISPIOX 11001401-0
KITAMAAT VILLAGE (HAISLA NATION)00000010-0
KITAMAT VILLAGE00100000-0
KITCHENER 10000000-0
KITIMAT 017181794-0
KITSEGUECLA00002000-0
KITWANGA043012562-0
KLEMTU00003000-0
KLUSKUS00000001-1
KNUTSFORD00000001-0
KOOTENAY BAY00002010-0
KRESTOVA00000100-0
KYUQUOT00000100-0
LAC LA HACHE 40211102-1
LADYSMITH01310000-0
LAKE COUNTRY00000002-3
LAKE COUNTRY DISTRICT (WINFIELD)02000000-0
LAKE COWICHAN 30010007-0
LANGDALE01000000-0
LANGFORD00000100-1
LANGLEY00000001-0
LARDEAU00001000-0
LAVINGTON00300000-0
LIARD HOT SPRINGS 10000000-0
LIKELY00000011-1
LILLOOET 66115463-2
LIONS BAY00000002-1
LITTLE FORT00002000-0
LOGAN LAKE00000004-5
LOGAN LAKE DISTRICT 10001100-0
LONE BUTTE03020002-0
LUMBY03002201-0
LUND 20000000-0
LYTTON 22000150-1
MABEL LAKE00000000-1
MACKENZIE 203481478281
MADIERA PARK00000000-1
MADEIRA00002020-0
MALAKWA00000201-0
MANNING PARK00001000-0
MAPLE RIDGE 4471019416-2
MARA LAKE00010000-0
MARYSVILLE00000101-0
MASSET00100100-0
MAYOOK00100000-0
MCBRIDE00101000-0
MCLEESE LAKE00040101-0
MCLEOD LAKE00101102-0
MCLURE00001000-0
MEADOW CREEK 10000121-0
MERRITT 11304253-0
MERVILLE00001000-0
METCHOSIN 10301002-0
MEZIADIN JUNCTION00001100-0
MILLER CREEK00000000-1
MICA00000001-0
MIDWAY 10000110-0
MIRROR LAKE00000000-1
MISSION 51333441-0
MOBERLY LAKE00000021-0
MONTE CREEK01000000-0
MONTROSE 10010100-0
MORICETOWN00319100-0
MOUNT CURRIE 52113310-0
MOYIE01000000-0
NAKUSP00001000-0
NANAIMO 323160210-2
NANOOSE BAY00000011-0
NARAMATA 10010101-2
NASS CAMP00010000-0
NEEDLES00001010-0
NELSON 141876441121-8
NESS LAKE0000000-1
NEW AIYANSH 15910000-0
NEW DENVER04010003-0
NEW HAZELTON00320530-0
NEWLANDS00000010-0
NITINAT00100000-0
NORTH VANCOUVER 16917231-2
OCEAN FALLS00000001-0
OKANAGAN FALLS010010012-4
OLALLA00001100-1
OLIVER01011335-1
OOTISCHENIA00000010-0
OSOYOOS00011110-0
OYAMA02000000-0
PANORAMA00000003-1
PARKSVILLE 10221000-0
PASS CREEK00000001-0
PAVILLION00001000-0
PEACHLAND 20701131-1
PEMBERTON 124544102-3
PENDER HARBOUR00103000-0
PENTICTON 30706143-7
PINANTAN LAKE00000010-0
PINK MOUNTAIN00000035-7
PITT MEADOWS07014100-0
POPKUM00000000-1
PORT ALBERNI 11849111910-0
PORT ALICE04122205-2
PORT CLEMENTS00100100-1
PORT COQUITLAM 24335725-1
PORT EDWARD00010000-0
PORT HARDY 570181174-1
PORT MCNEILL00247342-2
PORT MOODY02402210-0
PORT RENFREW01010121-5
POUCE COUPE 10001000-0
POWELL RIVER 3248414742-4
PRINCE GEORGE 2539313124453632768
PRINCE RUPERT00200000-0
PRINCETON 51052612-0
PRITCHARD01000000-0
PROCTER01100000-0
QUADRA ISLAND 00000000-0
QUALICUM BAY00000001-0
QUALICUM BEACH 13231053-2
QUATSINO00001010-0
QUEEN CHARLOTTE CITY 20100020-0
QUESNEL 91014191120192228
QUILCHENA00001000-0
RADIUM HOT SPRINGS00100012-0
RASPBERRY00000001-0
RED LAKE00000001-0
REVELSTOKE 12343212312-3
RIONDEL 10000001-0
RISKE CREEK00001000-0
ROBERTS CREEK 10012300-0
ROBSON 21102001-0
ROCK CREEK00003001-0
ROLLA00001000-0
ROSE LAKE - WILLIAMS LAKE00000100-0
ROSEBERY02000000-0
ROSEDALE00200201-0
ROSSLAND 519465123-2
ROSSWOOD00000500-0
RUTLAND00000010-0
SAANICH00001000-2
SALMO 64011120-2
SALMON ARM 26300102-2
SALTERY BAY00000000-1
SANDSPIT02201000-0
SAVONA00000012-0
SAYWARD 10211100-1
SCOTCH CREEK01000201-2
SECHELT 71618300-3
SHAWNIGAN LAKE02400101-1
SHELTER BAY01000000-0
SHOREACRES01000000-0
SICAMOUS06202010-1
SIDNEY 10000000-0
SKIDEGATE IR01000320-0
SKIDEGATE LANDING00002002-1
SKOOKUMCHUCK 10000010-0
SLIAMMON00000100-0
SLOCAN02100000-0
SLOCAN PARK00100000-0
SMITHERS 2914923483243
SOINTULA00000001-0
SOOKE 94834317-6
SORRENTO00000120-0
SOUTH BANK00014030-0
SOUTH HAZELTON00100100-1
SOUTH SLOCAN - NORTH OF THE DAM INN 10000010-0
SOUTH SLOCAN - SOUTH OF THE DAM INN10000000-0
SPALLUMCHEEN00000010-1
SPARWOOD 922122152-2
SPENCES BRIDGE01000000-0
SQUAMISH 8118615656112
STAVE FALLS00000000-1
STEWARD00100000-0
STEWART01300100-1
STONER 10000000-0
STUART ISLAND 00000000-0
SUMMERLAND 20147634-5
SUN PEAKS 11001020-0
SUNSET PRARIE00000010-0
SURREY00010000-0
TAHSIS 27101000-1
TAKSYIE LAKE00010000-0
TAPPEN00240000-0
TATA CREEK01020000-0
TATLAYOKO LAKE00000001-0
TAYLOR (NORTH)00101000-0
TAYLOR (SOUTH)00112000-0
TELEGRAPH COVE00102000-0
TELKWA 164313342-2
TERRACE 16222464112-2
THORNHILL00100710-0
THRUMS00000010-0
TIE LAKE00100000-0
TLELL00100000-0
TOFINO 10201032-1
TOPLEY00200001-1
TOPLEY LANDING00000220-0
TRAIL 1215510676-5
TUMBLER RIDGE 22051221-0
UCLUELET05236194-0
VALEMOUNT00030001-0
VANCOUVER00110000-0
VANDERHOOF 23214116176
VENABLES VALLEY00000002-0
VERNON7610230166-5
VICTORIA01010020-0
WARDNER00010000-0
WARFIELD 20100113-1
WASA 10011001-0
WELLS00210000-1
WEST KELOWNA 3161361312-6
WEST VANCOUVER61029351-0
WESTBANK00000200-0
WHISTLER87343326-4
WILDWOOD (WILLIAMS LAKE)00001000-0
WILLIAMS LAKE951098865-13
WILLOW RIVER00000010-0
WILMER00000010-1
WILSON CREEK21000000-0
WINDERMERE00000023-4
WINFIELD00010000-0
WINLAW00002012-1
WONOWON00001111-0
WOSS LAKE00002100-0
WYCLIFFE 30000000-0
WYNNDEL00000000-1
YAHK 20000100-0
YARROW00100000-0
YMIR03010001-0
YOUBOU01100000-0
ZEBALLOS 20002100-0
Total541519536415632555581500-303
Data Source: BC Ministry of Environment and Parks: MOE-2022-21065, MOE-2023-30949, MOE-2024-41108; BCCOS Predator Statistics: Black Bear

Note 1: This data does not include black bears killed by parties other than the BCCOS.
Note 2: Many data fields for 2023 are unavailable as BCCOS did not provide data upon request.

View data sources: MOE-2022-21065 (2015-2021), MOE-2023-30949 (2022), MOE-2024-41108 (2023), BCCOS Predator Statistics (2024)

How You Can Help

  • Attractants around your home. Bears (and other wildlife) follow their noses and will take extra risks to get easy snacks. Remove attractants such as outdoor pet food, bird feeders, and barbecue grease traps. Take a look at this list to learn more about attractants that may surprise you, like citronella candles (bears love ‘em).
  • Waste management. Properly secure trash in wildlife-resistant bins, rinse food containers before putting them in recycling, and follow your municipal or regional district’s requirements for keeping waste secure until pickup time.
  • Landscaping and gardening. Fences mean little to most wildlife in Canada, and it’s important to consider what attractants we create through our landscaping and gardening choices. Pick fruit and berries while ripe, and remove from the ground immediately if fallen; consider adding electric fencing to gardens to keep bears away; harvest vegetables as soon as they’re ripe.
  • Educate! Individuals can make a big difference in their communities by sharing content from The Fur-Bearers on coexistence into local Facebook groups, WhatsApp chats, or other social media platforms. Our bear coexistence door hangers are an easy way to get out and distribute information in your neighbourhood, too. Click here to learn more about our door hangers and how to order some for you to distribute in your community.
  • Get involved. The following sections on community groups, businesses, municipal governments and provincial government all require individuals to advocate for solutions. Keep reading to learn how to make an impact as an individual at higher levels of government!
  • If you’re already a member of a community group, providing education is simple! You can request presentations from groups like The Fur-Bearers, or educational materials that can be distributed within the group. Your community group can also cover a significant amount of ground in distributing door hangers or organizing educational/awareness events.
  • Fruit trees, as an example, can be a lot of work for some people. Large volumes of fruit can quickly grow and fall, creating significant attractants for wildlife. Some organizations like the Vancouver Fruit Tree Project have programs that benefit the whole community by collecting the fruits and distributing them to food banks or even selling them to fund local programs.
  • A collection of community voices can be impactful when presented to businesses, municipalities and provincial leaders. Consider advocating for by-laws, education, and enforcement to reduce negative outcomes for wildlife.
  • Waste management. Dealing with the trash can be a job no one wants at a small or large business, but it remains an essential task for all operations. It is also one of the most significant ways that businesses and business owners can help reduce negative outcomes for wildlife. Ensure that your dumpsters, recycling, food waste, and storage are wildlife-resistant and appropriately secured. Be prepared to invest in and adapt your waste management practices to be a positive community partner for your neighbourhood as well as wildlife.
  • Particularly at the retail level, businesses have an incredible opportunity to educate or provide educational opportunities to the community. Consider placing wildlife coexistence materials (available from The Fur-Bearers upon request) near your checkout or on a community board. Work with your local community groups, municipalities, and provincial agencies to find out what information could be best suited for your neighbourhood, and how you can help spread important safety information to consumers.
  • By-laws. Municipal governments may not be responsible for wildlife, but attractant management and resident behaviour do fall within their jurisdiction. Implementing wildlife attractant (and feeding) by-laws creates a significant educational and enforcement tool that can mitigate negative encounters and improve coexistence in your community. Click here to check out the Wildlife Attractant By-Law Toolkit created by the Get Bear Smart Society.
  • As the level of government with the most frequent engagement to residents, municipalities and regional districts have outstanding opportunities to provide educational materials. The Fur-Bearers works with municipalities to create original, co-branded, or “ghost written” educational materials for web sites, social media, and print distribution items. We are also available to provide educational presentations and outreach. Contact us to find out more at [email protected].
  • Cross-jurisdictional efforts. Coexisting with wildlife isn’t just a provincial or municipal responsibility; working with the multiple agencies and levels of government involved while focusing on solutions is imperative. Consider reaching out to counterparts in other communities or governments to start bridging the gaps that currently exist in response to and management of wildlife-related issues.
  • Oversight. The agency responsible for responding to negative encounters with wildlife, the BC Conservation Officer Service, has no independent, third-party oversight despite being an armed policing agency. This agency kills over 500 black bears per year, on average. BC’s Auditor General in 2017 wrote that programs like WildSafeBC have no proper evaluations in place, despite receiving ongoing government funding from the BCCOS. Creating oversight of the BCCOS, WildSafeBC, and allocating appropriate resources to education and prevention of negative encounters, are essential to achieve sustainable coexistence in British Columbia.
  • Jurisdictional clarity. Individuals and municipalities are frequently uncertain as to who is responsible for what when it comes to wildlife-related issues. As the province holds stewardship for wildlife, it is imperative that jurisdictional clarity be prioritized: who is responsible for what when it comes to attractant management, education, investigation and enforcement, and so on. If the province will not be solely responsible, it should be clearly stated, and the opportunities for municipalities to engage in education and enforcement must be highlighted and accessible.
  • Prioritizing education and enforcement. The BC Conservation Officer Service kills over 500 black bears per year on average, but issues very few citations, orders, or fines. While there is a significant number of calls for service (which is confused by mixed messaging on when to call), the ratio of bears killed when responding compared to other human-based enforcement actions is significant. Making education and enforcement of human behaviour (which is the cause for most killings of bears, according to the BCCOS) a priority is logical and essential.

Resources

Social Media Sharables

Have ideas we should include? Reach out to us at [email protected] or tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter with your suggestions! This page will be updated as more tools are available.

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