The first step in problem analysis is to conduct a Preliminary Hazard Assessment in order to establish a general but community-specific overview of human-bear conflict in and adjacent to the community.

The specific objectives of the Preliminary Hazard Assessment are to:

1. Identify sites, areas, trails, and practices that have historic, existing, and potential human-bear conflict
   
   
2. Identify gaps in the existing knowledge of bear use and human-bear conflict in the area and provide recommendations for further investigation and additional hazard assessment phases
   
   
3. Produce management recommendations to reduce existing and potential conflict within the community.

Preliminary hazard assessments should be comprised of several key components and should be approved by a Registered Professional Biologist with expertise in bear ecology and behaviour and human-bear conflicts.

The assessment should include the following:

1. A review of patterns of historic human-bear conflicts based on Problem Wildlife Occurrence Reports for bears and/or Conservation Officer experience.
   
   
2. Interviews with personnel from the Conservation Officer Service, local wildlife biologists and other biologists that have worked in the area, the Bear Stewardship Steering Committee, and other agencies responsible for the community to identify:
   
   • sites, areas, and trails that are considered high risk for human-bear conflict
   • practices that are considered high risk for human-bear conflict
     
     
3. Identification of non-natural foods and attractants that are available within the community and surrounding area. This process should assess the following issues:
   
   • residential and commercial garbage containment
   • garbage transfer and disposal at landfills and transfer stations
   • park and highway pull-out litter barrels
   • orchards, honeybee colonies, and ranching and agricultural attractants
     
     
4. Identification of major non-natural features that may influence the travel patterns of bears, including major roads, edges of the community, and security cover/green space within the community.
   
   
5. Identification of general bear habitat suitability within and adjacent to the community, potential natural movement patterns of bears in the area (including travel corridors), and visibility and other sensory issues.
   
   
6. Identification of human-use areas that have high risk for conflict with bears, such as schools, playgrounds, community campgrounds, and residential areas located adjacent to bear habitat, and walking/hiking/bike trails that pass through higher-quality bear habitats, including berry patches, etc.
   
   
7. Identification of regional, inter-provincial and/or international issues in areas outside the community that may affect the effectiveness of the “Bear Smart” Community Program. For example, non-natural foods that are outside the community but within the home range of a bear that uses the community can increase the potential for food-conditioned bears within the community. Bears do not adhere to or respect political boundaries (see Canmore Case History).
   
   
8. Identification of potential data limitations.

For more information on a Preliminary Hazard Assessment or Detailed Human-bear Conflict Hazard Assessments, please refer to the "Bear Smart" - Background Report Section 6 and 7 respectively.

Or, download Ontario's Bear Wise Community Hazard Assesment Outline.

Recommended Registered Professional Biologist:
McCrory Wildlife Services - Wayne McCrory
P.O. Box 146, New Denver, BC, V0G 1S0
Phone: 250-358-7796; Fax: 250-358-7996
Email: waynem@vws.org