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What’s New
Kudos to Squamish for being the second community in B.C. to attain provincial "Bear Smart" status
September 28, 2010 -
Squamish Mayor, Greg Gardner, was very proud of his community when the provincial government recognized its bear smart work to educate residents, bear-proof all residential garbage totes and community bins and other actions to prevent human bear conflicts. West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Joan McIntyre congratulated "residents and community leaders for making the district safer for both people and bears." Read the story here.
Since the B.C. Bear Smart Community program was launched in 2002, only Kamloops and Squamish have made the grade. How can the government get more communities to sign on? Crystal McMillan, a Masters of Arts in Leadership Student at Victoria's Royal Roads University, just released her December 2009 paper “Bear Smart" in British Columbia: An Interim Analysis of Effectiveness. Check it out here. And... learn how your community can become bear smart here.
In the News
Unsecured attractants = a bear buffet!
October 2010 -
As food security becomes more popular, backyard farms are popping up all over and chickens are quickly becoming a popular treat for bears. Read about bears feasting on poultry in Quilcene, Washington State and, in Gardiner, Montana [review government's press release]; apples in Missoula, Montana; and nut trees in Chilliwack, British Columbia.
To learn more about what communities need to do to become bear smart, click here.
Don’t forget to consider green space management in your backyard and in your community. Here's information on managing fruit or nut trees;
safe guarding chickens; and electric fencing to manage backyard farms and orchards. And, here's some excellent community advice from Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ontario Provincial Police.
Bears are even entering homes. Read one story here.
Electrified mats, like cattle guards, can be effectively used as an unwelcome door/window mat to deter bears from entering buildings. Ready to use and easy to install, they are available at Gap Zapper. Even a scat mat designed for cats and dogs will work so long as it doesn’t get wet. For more information on unwelcome mats, click here.
Read about more deterrents here.
Beanbag round kills 60 pound black bear when projectile struck bear in head
September 29, 2010 - In a very unfortunate situation, a bear died when a Montana Stillwater County Sheriff's deputy was trying to haze it out of a conflict situation at night and hit the bear in the head. All projectiles should be aimed at the rump and never near the head or any vital organs. Read the story here. Please learn more about safely using bear hazing devices by downloading our guidebook.
Bear Smart Buy of the Month
Playing Cards
Get 52 Tips on Staying Safe in Bear Country while At Home, Hiking, Camping, and all about General Bear Etiquette.
Play your way through bear country as you learn to live with your ursine neighbours.
Get Bear Smart playing cards are a valuable educational tool and they make an ideal gift! The cards retail for $6.99 each. Shipping costs are extra. Wholesale prices are also available for stores and bear aware groups. See our Bear Smart Kids cards here.
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