As reported in the Castlegar News, WildSafeBC Coordinator Jenny Wallace is sounding the alarm at a lackluster performance on garbage disposal – a sure fire way to attract bears and create the potential for conflict.
“I’ve been a bit shocked this season, to be honest,” Wallace told the Castlegar News. “In my time as the coordinator in Castlegar, I have never seen so much garbage left out totally accessible to wildlife. This past week, I had a call about garbage being dumped beside a community mailbox and I also found garbage bins that had been put on the curb for collection five days early.”
Castelgar has thus far been lucky – the number of nuisance calls in the community have remained low. But if behaviour isn’t brought back to the required standard, that could all change.
Unsecured waste is a beacon not just for bears, but many critters, including coyotes, raccoons, various birds and others. Being a responsible homeowner means taking appropriate care of attractants such as garbage, and preventing a conflict that could lead to lethal action against animals. This also underscores the need for true legislation that allows for education and enforcement of such measures.
It only takes a few minutes to do a check of your yard and make sure attractants aren’t available, and numerous resources are online to help in learning to be a co-existence champion, including APFA’s own Living With Wildlife campaign.
Being bear wise isn’t just good for you, it’s good for the bears, too.
Photo by Tracy Riddell
