Objective: To develop a proactive program for reducing human-bear conflicts in communities that emphasizes educating the public about bear ecology, eliminating food attractants for bears, providing enforcement options and non-lethal methods for resolving conflicts.
Historical Perspective: Conflicts between people and bears have existed for thousands of years, mainly as a result of human encroachment into prime bear habitats. Historically, approaches to resolving chronic bear conflicts were reactive in nature and focused on reducing overall bear numbers and killing offending animals. Since these approaches did not address the root cause of the problem, they did not offer long-term solutions. However, the relationship of people to bears has evolved in recent times and broad-scaled efforts to reduce bear populations are no longer viewed as acceptable methods for resolving conflicts with bears. A growing number of communities in Canada and the U.S. are taking proactive steps to reduce the availability of garbage and other attractants to bears and educate residents about ways they can help reduce human-bear conflicts in their communities.
Critical components of community programs include:
1. Conducting an in-depth assessment of factors influencing human-bear conflicts in and adjacent to the community;
2. Producing a Human-Bear Conflict Management Plan that spells out responsibilities and options for resolving conflicts and ensuring the plan is reflected in the community's planning and decision making documents;
3. Developing an education program designed to provide the public with an understanding and appreciation of bear ecology and human-bear conflict resolution;
4. Implementing effective waste management practices;
5. Adopting By-Laws or regulations prohibiting actions that contribute to human-bear conflicts;and
6. Monitoring the effectiveness of actions taken to reduce or eliminate human-bear conflicts in and adjacent to the community.
Recommendations for Community Programs:
EDUCATION
- Use a variety of visual, print, auditory, electronic, and other mechanisms (brochures, websites, presentations, displays, bookmarks, magnets, games, etc.) to educate residents and visitors about living/recreating with bears.
ATTRACTANTS
- Remove bird feeders during the active season for bears.
- Remove fruit and berry-producing plants from high-use human areas, particularly playgrounds, schoolyards, entrance-ways and busy pathways.
- Do not feed pets outdoors; secure pet and livestock food indoors or in bear-proof containers.
- Place electric fencing around gardens, beehives and livestock pens.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Eliminate curbside pickup.
- Strategically distribute bear-proof trash compactors and receptacles throughout the community.
- Place electric fencing around landfill sites and transfer stations.
ENFORCEMENT
- Enact bylaws requiring garbage to be stored securely and other attractants be made inaccessible to bears or be cleaned up daily before nightfall ( e.g. fruit).
- Prohibit feeding and harassment of wildlife.
BEAR MANAGEMENT
- Radio-collar and monitor bears using habitats near the community in order to evaluate unacceptable bear behavior and high conflict sites.
- Implement non-lethal aversive conditioning programs to discourage undesirable bear behavior.
GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT
- Ensure landscaping principles prohibit planting of fruit or berry producing plants in areas where bears are not wanted.
- Ensure that all new construction plans consider the location of natural bear food sources, den sites and travel paths.
COMMUNITY PLANNING
- Ensure relevant community planning documents address Bear Smart principles.
