Our objective is to reduce human/bear conflicts and reduce bear mortality through advocacy and education. We have been active in the Nelson and the lower Slocan Valley area since 2003 when we launched Nelson and District's first Annual Bear Smart Week.

Since 2008 we have been working in conjunction with the Upper Slocan Valley/Nakusp Bear Smart Program.

You can call the Bear Smart Hotline at 250-359-6611 seven days a week for advice on bear safety at home and in the woods. Look for our cartoons and ads in the Nelson Express newspaper during bear season.

We continually submit bear smart articles and letters to the local media and encourage the public to get involved by doing the same. Phone the hotline if you need help or suggestions.

EDUCATION

We are available to give presentations at local schools, community centers, neighbourhood block parties and to organizations (e.g. seniors and Boy Scouts). Children's educators involved will be provided with a copy of Evelyn Kirkaldy's 'Bear Smart Kids' activity book to serve as a teaching guide. They are welcome to photocopy pages as needed. We also have plenty of Bear Smart literature for adults and everyone goes home with a Bear Smart Check List. You can also book a hike and learn about bear ecology and safety.

REPORT BEAR SIGHTINGS

Phoning our hotline with bear sightings will help us locate and direct our attention to problem areas.

The majority of local conflicts are caused by artificial attractants, especially compost, garbage and fruit trees. Bears also have an affinity for the taste of chickens. Please do your part by managing attractants in order to prevent bears from being destroyed. We have a supply of bear resistant household garbage containers and electric fence kits available for purchase and a few for loan. Displays have been set up at Slocan, Rosebury and Nakusp transfer stations.

If we work towards achieving Bear Smart Community status, the Province is committed to more relocations, using bear aversion techniques and less killing.

FRUIT TREES

Use electric fencing or harvest your fruit and pick up windfall daily. NELSON'S FRUIT TREE PROJECT: They'll pick your fruit for free and give you 1/3 of the harvest. The rest is split between volunteers and charitable organizations. 250-352-6011 ext: 17

COMPOSTING

For expert advice on composting call 1-800-667-4321 or visit www.compostguide.com

ELECTRIC FENCING

Installing electric fences around your garden, fruit trees, composting area, beehives, chicken coops and runs, and other areas will keep bears out. For help and advice contact Daniel Sherrod 250-358-2333 or daniels@vws.org.

KEEP BEARS OUT OF GARBAGE with a bear proof bin TESTED AT THE LIVING WITH WILDLIFE FOUNDATION

Call us about loaning or purchasing a bear resistant residential bin. Bins are also excellent for storing livestock feed, etc.

If you live along the town perimeter or near a greenbelt, you need to be especially dedicated to managing bear attractants. Remember your property presents the initial opportunity for a bear to become conditioned to human food.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

We are always looking for enthusiastic bear lovers to help us:

• distribute our flyer 'BEAR SMART - At Home and in the Woods' and other literature to local businesses and community outlets
• target areas with high bear activity by canvassing door to door and handing out information. At the same time, we hope to recruit and empower individuals to become neighbourhood ambassadors
• with information tables at community events throughout bear season as well as during our annual Bear Smart week
• by attending meetings and helping us brainstorm.

GET CREATIVE

Send us your ideas, bear photos, drawings, stories, poems etc. In 2009 local writer Eloise Charet had her story published in Bear-ology  which is now in it's second edition.

Contact Us:

Evelyn Kirkaldy
Bear Smart Hotline: 250-359-6611
Email: eekbears@hotmail.com

Ursa Major - The Great Bear - 30" x 30' - Acrylic on canvas - 2009 For information on illustrations, graphics or paintings contact: Evelyn Kirkaldy phone: 250-359-6611 email: eekbears@hotmail.com website: flickr.com/photos/evelynkirkaldy