Spring is here, and so too are the bears - and they are plenty hungry looking for food after their winter's sleep.
Environment Minister Barry Penner is urging B.C. residents to remove items that can attract bears to their properties, adding that it's up to all of us to be 'bear smart.' He made that statement in a press release late last week. While doing so, he offered several practical solutions and tips: things like keeping household garbage secured in a home, garage or shed until pick-up day; picking ripe and fallen fruit daily and removed any unused fruit trees; using bird feeders only in winter as excess feed is a tasty source of food for bears; keeping pet food dishes inside; and cleaning barbecue grills after each use. These are all great ideas and ones we, along with local conservation officer Murray Smith, have been preaching for years. Many heed the suggestions, but many don't - that's why the Bear Aware program was so valuable.
Bear Aware is an educational program of the B.C. Conservation Foundation. Bear Aware community co-ordinators lead bear-proofing efforts at the community level, working closely with the public, government and conservation officers to identify and resolve bear-related issues. The program was a huge success here on the Sunshine Coast and was gaining a lot of momentum, until Penner's ministry yanked the funding, deciding to not offer the program on the Coast. That decision is even more ironic when Penner's last suggestion to the public offered in his news release called for neighbours to work together with municipal government to create a Bear Smart community. News flash, Mr. Penner - the Sunshine Coast was creating a Bear Smart community thanks to the Bear Aware program. Now, thanks to you, this community isn't as 'bear smart' or 'bear aware' because you didn't see fit to fund the program.
Only 15 communities in B.C. have Bear Aware programs this year, with $357,000 in provincial funding as announced on March 23. That's quite sad, really. All communities that have a rural and urban setting, such as the Sunshine Coast, should have Bear Aware programs in place. Over the years, Smith and the RCMP have been forced to shoot problem bears, creating much outrage in this community. That's where the Bear Aware program played a huge role in educating the public. But with no program, it's up to all of us to be bear smart. The government isn't providing the support, so take that as challenge. Pick your fruit, take care of your garbage, and keep attractants away from the bears. We know Murray and the RCMP never like shooting problem bears, so don't give them a reason to. This community can be bear aware and bear smart despite the government's lack of vision - and funding.
