The Bear Aware program is back on the Sunshine Coast after a three-year absence.
Kim Drescher is the new Bear Aware community co-ordinator. She is a long-time resident of the Sunshine Coast and is eager to begin program delivery.
"As a local, I have always enjoyed and respected the beauty of our surroundings and our wildlife. I have also seen the consequences of how a community's attractants can lead to a concern for public safety, which most often ends with the destruction of bears," said Drescher. "I am very happy that this program is back in our community and I look forward to being a local resource to help individuals and neighbourhoods become Bear Aware."
Bear Aware is a province-wide program owned by the B.C. Conservation Foundation and supported provincially by the Conservation Officer Service (COS) and the Ministry of Environment and locally sponsored by the Sunshine Coast Regional District.
Local conservation officer Dean Miller also looks forward to the return of the program to the Sunshine Coast.
"We are excited at the prospect of working once again with a Bear Aware co-ordinator after a three year gap in service," said Miller. "With this co-ordinator position in place, the conservation officer service has gained a valuable resource in identifying and addressing wildlife attractant issues on the Coast.
"We are looking forward to working with the new coordinator in an effort to reduce wildlife conflicts and increase public safety."
The mission of Bear Aware is to reduce the number of human-bear conflicts in communities through education, innovation, and cooperation.
"I am excited to be working with my community where I can provide information and share ideas regarding attractant management," said Drescher.
Look for Bear Aware at public events and canvassing door-to-door soon.
- Submitted
