The Bear Aware Program Delivery Specialist, Betty Offin, and Joanne Siderius, the program’s provincial supervisor, gave a presentation to city council on Dec. 18, detailing the program’s successes in 2009.

The provincial program aims to reduce human-bear conflicts.

In 2009, of the 10,303 black bear reports in B.C., 88 were made in the Castlegar area.

Offin said the numbers have been in sharp decline.

“Five years ago, there were 256 bear reports. The numbers were very high,” she said. “Due to education, the numbers have become lower and lower. It speaks to the progress we’ve made.”

Bear Aware was launched in Castlegar 11 years ago. It has built up a stable of educational programs and proactive action including the Harvest Rescue Program, a partnership with the Kootenay Food Strategy Society to pick excess fruit.

In 2009, 38 volunteers picked 203 boxes of fruit – including cherries, apricots, blueberries, peaches, apples, pears, plums, grapes and hazel nuts. One third is left with the owner, one third goes to the volunteer and the remaining is donated to the community.

Offin also explained how their Garbage Raids initiative reminded citizens — by way of bright tags — not to leave their garbage cans on the curb overnight. Garbage represents over half of the bear complaints and is the largest bear attractant, she said. The city’s bylaw, passed in 2007, helps to back up the program’s goal by levying a $50 fine for trash left out overnight.

Overall, Offin signaled a very successful 2009 season and stressed the importance of the program.

“I think it’s really important that the education continues,” she said.

Siderius rounded out the presentation by thanking city council for participating in the vital program and asked them to look to the future.

“I would encourage you to consider reapplying for the program in the spring,” she said. “I think you’re seeing results. There are definitely fewer bear complaints.”