Latest News and Posts http://www.bearsmart.com/news-releases en Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:05:12 +0000 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:11:29 +0000 http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rss/rss.html admin@bearsmart.com http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1473 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1473 A new polar bear conservation centre at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg puts the heat on Manitoba to do more about climate change, according to a polar bear biologist of 14 years. "Climate is very abstract, I think, for most people," Geoff York, a biologist with the World Wildlife Fund's Global Arctic Program, told CBC News in Winnipeg on Monday. "So if you can put a face to that - and in this case, the face of the polar bear, an animal that people care about, people in Manitoba especially ... [it] might be just the thing needed to get that political will engaged again." The Assiniboine Park Conservancy officially opened the International Polar Bear Conservation Centre on Monday. The $4.5-million centre will provide a home for orphaned, injured or problem polar bears, as well as host a research facility. But its indoor exhibition space, open to the public, may draw the most attention. Interactive computer screens explain why a warming climate is melting the sea ice that polar bears need to hunt seals. Sea ice loss blamed on human activity The message is also unequivocal: humans are to blame. "OK, so why is burning fossil fuels so bad?" asks an animated cartoon scientist on one of the exhibition panels. York said that sentiment is based on decades of science. "We know the largest threat to polar bears across the range is loss of sea ice habitat, driven by climate warming," said York. "What's driving climate warming are greenhouse gases, generated by humans, and in large part generated by activities we do everyday - whether it's driving our cars or heating our homes." The polar bear centre opens one month after the Manitoba government announced it would break its own law to reduce greenhouse gases. The province had previously legislated that Manitoba would cut emissions in 2012 by six per cent below 1990 levels. Instead, emissions rose by more than nine per cent since 1990, according to Environment Canada. One of the few annual declines in Manitoba's emissions was in 2009, during a global economic recession. Education is key, says minister Manitoba's new conservation minister, Gord Mackintosh, said education will be the key to reversing that trend. "There are still debates out there - you know, people who are still skeptics about climate change - and I think that's very regrettable," said Mackintosh. A map showing the status of polar bear subpopulations around the world as of December 2011. (World Wildlife Fund) "The first thing is to make sure everyone is on the same page, and recognizing this is one of the biggest threats." Mackintosh said he will unveil a new climate change strategy in the spring. York added there are only about 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears left in the world. Recent scientific surveys show that six of 19 polar bear subpopulations are declining, four subpopulations are stable, and only one subpopulation is growing. Remaining subpopulations in Russia and the Arctic Ocean have insufficient data for trending, said York. Construction is also underway on a four-hectare park within the zoo that is dedicated to polar bears. Journey to Churchill opens in late 2013. Watch news clip. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:05:12 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1475 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1475 It was a tough year for the bear population in Whistler with an above average number of bears destroyed in 2011. A total of 14 bears were killed in the Whistler area this year and Inspector Chris Doyle of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service said that number is higher than usual. He added that bear complaints were still being logged in Whistler as late as last week. "There are still bears out there still looking for non-natural food so people should be aware of that," Doyle said. Over the course of 2011, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service received 1,800 Sea to Sky Corridor complaints about wildlife conflicts and most of those involved black bears. August was the busiest bear month in Whistler, said Doyle, with almost 200 complaint calls logged. Doyle added that a steady number of complaints were logged from June through to October. The bear population in Whistler endured a poor berry crop and the lack of natural food sources forced Whistler bears to seek out human food more frequently than in normal berry crop years. "It is frustrating in that a lot of the conflicts that we experienced were preventable," said Doyle. "People's carelessness led bears to access garbage. Every year we get reports of people deliberately feeding bears as well in Whistler, which makes it extremely difficult for us to manage those bears because no matter how much negative conditioning or hazing we deploy on those bears it can all be undone by one person approaching and feeding the bears." Doyle said Squamish experienced an average year for bear complaints, but Mount Currie logged a larger than usual number of calls about bears early in the year. "Those were associated to a high number of bears that had been feeding on garbage at the landfill over the last few years," said Doyle. "The fence was re-electrified this year so we did see a higher number of bear complaints in the Mount Currie area." Doyle said a large number of bears were trapped in Whistler and moved within their home range. Bear researcher Michael Allen reported the discovery of a dead bear in the Whistler Community Forest. Allen couldn't be reached for comment by Pique but Doyle shared what he knew. "From the information he provided us it appears that a bear was possibly pulled out of a den and set upon by another bear," said Doyle. He said this is a rare occurrence and the first time he's heard of this happening if in fact that is what led to the demise of the bear. He noted that this particular bear could also have stepped out of its den and may have been hit be a vehicle and died from its injuries. Jeanie, one of Whistler's best known bears, was put down by the Conservation Officer Service in October and her cub, Jeanette, is now living at the Critter Care Wildlife Facility in Langley. According to the operators of Critter Care, Jeanette is now hibernating in one of the dens at the centre in Langley. In the spring the centre operators plan to release her back into the wild. The Conservation Officer Service concluded Jeanie was a public safety risk following three weeks of aggressive behaviour that included charging people and breaking into buildings. In the past, Jeanie responded well to non-lethal aversion tactics like shooting her with beanbags and scaring her with loud devices aimed at chasing her away from populated areas. Doyle said Jeanie was put down after attempts to find a home for her in a sanctuary didn't work out and her behaviour started putting people at risk. Another bear garnered international headlines when it entered a restaurant to help himself to a few pizzas. Doyle said that bear was relocated outside of its home range near Whistler and it was the only animal given a long distance ride. Near the end of the year a bear discovered in a garbage truck in the middle of downtown Vancouver was captured and relocated to the Sea to Sky Corridor.   Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:49:28 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1469 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1469 Looking back over a year's worth of Whistler headlines, it's pretty clear what some of the top stories were in 2011: pay parking, sled dogs and the municipal election. But those three attention-grabbing topics certainly weren't the only issues in what seemed to be a pretty newsy year - especially considering that it was going take a lot to outdo the Olympic year in terms of interesting topics. Similar to the Games, for better or worse, some of the big local stories even made international news. Municipal finances, transit challenges, the ongoing asphalt plant saga, various lawsuits (Rainbow Park, Bill Barratt) and a bad year for Whistler's black bears, including the death of local icon Jeanie, also grabbed a fair share of the headlines over the last 12 months. So, true to The Question's tradition of bringing readers the highs and lows of the year that was, read on for a recap of the news of 2011. [The following is an excerpt of the bear-related news only.] ........JUNEThe first black bear of the year was killed because of getting into conflict with humans - in this case, entering a home in Alta Vista when two people were inside. June was a busy month for wildlife activity in Whistler, with a bear cub hit and killed by a vehicle on Highway 99, two other bear home invasions and a cougar sighting.OCTOBERDespite a failed berry crop and an increase in bear conflicts and deaths in Whistler so far in 2011, the Province named the resort a Bear Smart Community. Whistler was the fourth community in B.C. to earn the designation, which indicates special efforts have been made to reduce human-bear conflicts. .......Whistler's most iconic black bear, Jeanie, was shot and killed by conservation officers on Oct. 20 after what was described as "escalating and repetitive conflict of a serious nature." The female bear, which was estimated to be more than 20 years old, had bluff-charged people in the Village and at the Roundhouse and had broken into several restaurants in the previous days. Condolences for the bear poured in locally and from afar, with major media outlets also picking up the story. Sylvia Dolson of the Get Bear Smart Society, who had observed Jeanie for 15 years, said the bear's death was an indication that it's time to re-evaluate all aspects of managing life in bear country. DECEMBERConflict kills for black bears in Whistler reached a 10-year high in 2011, with conservation officers having to shoot 14 animals because of threats to public safety. In addition, at least nine bears also died in the area after being hit by vehicles on Highway 99. The last time more bears were killed in one year because of human-bear conflict was 1999 when 19 animals were destroyed. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:48:24 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1471 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1471 [This story has been edited and lists only the bear related news] Least Sustainable Thing Whistler's Done This Year It's worth noting that the asphalt plant, operating beside the Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood, which was built for the 2010 Games, also got a nod as the least sustainable thing Whistler's done this year, as well as killing bears. Favourite Lie to tell Tourists We forget sometimes, living in Whistler, just how commonplace it is to see bears. A bear eating grass outside your kitchen window? No big deal. A bear on the side of the Valley Trail a stone's throw away as you bike by? Nothing out of the ordinary. A bear on the side of the highway? Not worth risking your life for by pulling over on the shoulder to take a picture. But because we live side by side with the black bears, we forget sometimes what it's like for the tourists who come here and see bears for the first time - up close and personal. And that's why "bear stories" are the best lies to tell the tourists: "the bears are tame," "the bears are mean", "the bears only come out on special occasions," "they like having their bellies scratched", the always popular "you can high five the bears as you're skiing down the mountain" and the bizarre "we keep the bears in a cage under the GLC and let them out in the morning." Really? Little Known Whistler Factoid Grizzly Bears do exist in Whistler territory! Myrtle Phillip had a little baby bear for a pet. Biggest Local News Story The killing of Jeanie the Bear deserves a honourable mention, both for the tremor of shock the news caused throughout the corridor and around the world and for the push it gave to news stories everywhere about how it is up to people to bear-proof homes and businesses to try and keep bears alive. Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:23:14 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1468 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1468 Deaths due to human-bear conflict reach a 10-year high Wildlife Photo by Sylvia Dolson / www.bearsmart.com Longtime Whistler icon Jeanie, seen here at right with cub Jeanette earlier this year, was one of 14 bears killed so far in Whistler due to conflict. Another black bear was killed last week in Whistler after getting into conflict with people - marking the 14th bear to be destroyed by conservation officers so far this year. That's the highest number of conflict bears to be killed in a single year in Whistler in more than a decade, according to statistics kept by Sylvia Dolson, executive director of the local Get Bear Smart Society. The last time more bears were killed was 1999 when the year's total reached 19. On top of the 14 animals killed in 2011 because of human-bear conflict, an additional nine bears have died as a result of vehicle collisions. With another bear recently found dead in the forest, that brings the total known number of fatalities to 24 this year. Dolson noted that other bears likely wandered off and died after being hit by vehicles on the highway. "It's really disturbing," Dolson said of the 2011 totals. "We have way exceeded our sustainable rate of mortality." The most recent bear to be deemed too great a public safety risk to live was trapped and killed last Thursday (Dec. 15) after entering a warehouse in Function Junction earlier last week when workers were inside, said conservation officer Peter Busink. Three employees were able to herd the bear out of the building, but the bear had a previous conflict history and had been captured before. No details were available on the sex or age of the animal. It's also unclear what the bear was after inside the warehouse, but Busink said there must have been garbage, food or another attractant of some sort in the building. Dolson acknowledged that with this year's failed berry crop bears have been more persistent in seeking out human food sources, leading to increased conflict. But the high mortality numbers likely mean the overall bear population in Whistler is shrinking - despite what might seem like an increase in bear sightings, she added. There have been no recent studies done to indicate where total population levels might be, but with high mortality numbers in recent years and only so many cubs that are born and survive each spring Dolson estimates numbers are down."My guess would be that the total numbers are significantly down," she said. And with this year's poor berry crop there won't be many cubs born in the spring, Dolson added. Many Whistler bears are going into hibernation underweight and won't have the fat stores to produce cubs. Dolson noted that conflict death levels are directly related to the state of natural food sources. For example, 2009 was a great food year and no bears were killed because of conflict. "All the flaws in the system show up when it's a bad food year," Dolson said. However, the society has seen success with its waste and landscaping audits, with no conflict reports in recent memory associated with residential garbage sheds that have been bear-proofed. Moving forward, Dolson said the society would like to see the return of a dedicated, Whistler-based bear response officer who can get to know habits of individual bears and businesses that have repeated attractant issues. The current set-up with numerous different conservation officers based out of Squamish or elsewhere in B.C. has led to "inadequate" communications between officers, Dolson said. She also said there should be a "no tolerance" approach to businesses that have garbage and attractant issues. Warnings are not enough. The Get Bear Smart Society is working to develop a Bear Smart Business program for Whistler that will see local business operators commit to initiatives such as staff training and keeping garbage areas clean and secure. The society will also develop a staff training video to help educate young seasonal workers on bear-smart practices. Both Dolson and Busink noted that there are still bears out of hibernation in Whistler, so the public is reminded to keep all attractants secure. If bears are able to access non-natural food sources they won't go into hibernation, Busink said. "People aren't being diligent enough with their attractants," he said. Total number of black bears killed in Whistler due to human-bear conflict 2011 (to date) - 14 2010 - 10 2009 - 0 2008 - 11 2007 - 13 2006 - 9 2005 - 2 2004 - 8 - - - 1999 - 19 (Statistics provided by Sylvia Dolson, Get Bear Smart Society)   Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:39:06 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1467 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1467 Get Bear Smart hoping to fund two memorial programs for Jeanie the bear Volunteers are stepping up to help several charity organizations in Whistler as the community draws together for the holidays. Already 1,400 volunteer hours have been registered through the SHARE Whistler campaign, which comes to an end Dec. 28. "We have had a tremendous response to the volunteer aspect of the campaign," said Carol Coffey executive director of the Community Foundation of Whistler, which along with Pique Newsmagazine is spearheading the program. "These volunteer hours not only give the volunteer the opportunities to win prizes in the draws but also to earn money for their charity. "I also think that both the volunteers and the charitable organizations appreciate that they can have their hours count towards raising funds for their group." Coffey expects many more hours to be volunteered before SHARE Whistler draws to a close. Each week someone who donates at least $50 or five hours of volunteer time has a chance to win a pair of Prior skis or a Prior snowboard. The program is a six-week campaign to drive donations to the CFOW and charitable organizations it supports. Pique will match donations up to $10,000. Already $4,260 has been donated through SHARE. Unlike a typical charity, money given to a community foundation is invested and grows over time. The interest is disbursed by the CFOW for program use. "This particular fund is important because of its flexibility," said Coffey, adding that she hopes to raise even more money before the December 28 cut-off. "It allows the Community Foundation to respond to the changing needs of the community as it is broad in scope. This fund has supported projects such as violence prevention programs in Sea to Sky Schools, cultural events such as In-SHUCK-ch days, mental health education, and projects such as the Pemberton Skatepark." One of the charities that receives funding through the CFOW and will benefit from SHARE Whistler is the Get Bear Smart Society. "For us in particular there are very few foundations that support wildlife causes," said Sylvia Dolson, the Society's executive director. "We are really grateful that the Community Foundation does support our Society." The CFOW is an important source of funds for the Get Bear Smart Society and this coming year Dolson hopes to use the funds to help pay for the purchase and planting of mountain-ash, part of the organization's habitat enhancement program. "In the long term that will provide food for many bears and for Jeanie's daughter Jeanette as well," said Dolson. Jeanie, an iconic Whistler bear was shot by conservation officers in the fall after breaking into human food sources in the village one too many times. The killing stunned the community. "That is a big one for us because we really want to do something for Jeanette," said Dolson. It is also hoped that the funds can be used to start a Bear Smart Business Program. "Jeanie seemed to get into conflicts at a few restaurants so we want to do more education with restaurants and part of that will be to create a short video for staff training," said Dolson, adding that the Society is moving to use social media platforms to share information more and more in the hopes of connecting with young workers in the resort. The Bear Smart Business Program will offer logos for a website and stickers as well so that those who shop or use a business can know if it is a partner of the program and is "Bear Smart." In the past CFOW funds have helped pay for bear education outreach and research, the waste and a landscaping audit and it contributed to the seed funding for the very popular Bearology book, which is available all over Whistler and through the on-line store at www.bearsmart.com. The Kathy Barnett Memorial Fund is also managed through the CFOW and will benefit from SHARE Whistler. This year's recipient was Shannon Ellis, Pemberton Library's director. "I have always wanted to know more about facilitating meetings and would like to work towards helping groups do strategic plans," Ellis said, adding that getting the grant from the memorial fund will make that possible by funding education in that field this coming spring. "I love the non-profit world and all the volunteerism and I would like to help those groups further themselves and be more organized. "The CFOW does really great work addressing some really key needs in the community and it is a great source of some small to medium type grants that help the community grow and help organizations provide what it is that they want over and above their operating budgets." There are three primary goals of the SHARE Whistler campaign: To attract new donors and volunteers to support local non-profits through the CFOW; To encourage people 35 and under to get involved in philanthropy and the Whistler community; To provide publicity and exposure for a variety of local charitable causes. HOW TO DONATE: Go to www.whistlerfoundation.com or www.piquenewsmagazine.com and click on the SHARE Whistler logo. The CFOW will forward donations (net of 3.9 per cent CanadaHelps processing fee) directly to the donors' charity of choice no later than Jan. 31, 2012. Select a charity such as the Whistler Search and Rescue Society or donate to one of the CFOW's permanent endowment funds. Like the CFOW Facebook page and Pique will contribute $1 for new new "Like" up to $1,000. The deadline for the weekly Prior draws is 7 a.m. each Wednesday. The winner this week: Claire Ruddy. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:34:22 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1470 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1470 Photo courtesy of Whistler Museum archives - Molly the bear and McGee the pig take it easy near Green Lake sometime during the mid-1930s. Contrary to popular belief, the bear in the photo did not, in fact, eat the pig. Every once in a while something happens that shakes everything I thought I knew about Whistler's heritage. Recently, the museum uncovered a revelation that has shaken me to the core. I'm sure by now you've heard the story of Myrtle Philip and the orphaned bear cub she raised named Teddy Bear. You've probably seen the photos of Teddy clinging to the legs of Rainbow Lodge guests or standing upright on his tiny legs. One photo in particular always caught my attention - a bear cub snuggled up in apparent contentment with a pig. The story always went that Teddy and the pig were best friends... until Teddy ate him. I admit there was never any historical evidence as to the validity to this tale, but I firmly believed and loved the story because it tickled my morbid funny bone. However, we received shocking news during an oral history interview with Norm Barr, who is the son of former Parkhurst Mill owners Ross and Alison Barr, that at one time there was another bear cub living in Alta Lake. This bear's name was Molly and her best friend was McGee - a piglet that had been bought by a young girl named Betsy (DeBeck) Henderson. Shock and awe! It simply couldn't be true and I refused to believe it. But Sarah, the museum's collection manager, being the excellent historian she is, pursued this tantalizing lead and contacted Betsy to discover the truth. Betsy spent two summers at Green Lake in 1936 and 1937. Her brothers worked in the logging industry and Betsy's mother was determined that the whole family be together while her sons were working at Green Lake. The family rented a cabin at what used to be the Linehams' Mink Ranch. The DeBeck family took the idea of bringing "the whole family" to the extreme. Getting to Green Lake required loading the family of six onto the train. However, they didn't travel lightly. They also brought a cow, McGee the pig, Molly the bear and a spaniel named Freckles. Where did Molly come from, you might ask? Well Molly was originally from Bella Coola and was originally named Crisco, as she loved to break into cookhouses and eat shortening to her heart's content. Betsy's father, who was working in the area, decided to bring the bear cub home with him. Betsy's mother wasn't exactly keen on the idea, but when Molly got off the train and wrapped her paws around the mother's legs, the cub simply became part of the family. When we look back at the photos the difference between the two cubs is immediately apparent, and I guess we just took it for granted that it was Teddy. However, Teddy had a large patch of white fur on his chest and the cub photographed with the pig did not. I guess this story just goes to show how easy it is for false rumours and assumptions to entangle themselves into the historical narrative - and over time be considered true. I am sad that I can no longer in good conscience tell visitors the dramatic story of how Teddy ate his best friend. Remember, folks - the truth is out there, even if the lie is more interesting. FYI, Molly the bear also did not eat her piglet friend. For more of Betsy's story about the family pets, check out blog.whistlermuseum.org. Leah Batisse is curator and executive director of the Whistler Museum. Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:06:30 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1465 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1465 18-month-old cub hitched a ride on garbage truck A black bear captured on top of a garbage truck in downtown Vancouver was released back into the wild on Tuesday. Conservation officers released the bear, estimated to be about 18 months old, in the upper Squamish Valley, about 100 kilometres north of Vancouver. The bear was shot with a tranquillizer dart by conservation officers on Monday, after the animal was spotted sitting on a garbage truck outside Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre. After being tranquillized, the bear was taken to a secure compound in North Vancouver and placed in a culvert trap to recover, before being released. It was previously thought the bear had been foraging for food in a dumpster when the dumpster contents, including the bear, were tipped into a garbage truck. However, conservation officers now believe the bear simply hitched a ride in the truck from North Vancouver, where it was doing pickups earlier in the day. Watch video. Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:53:11 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1466 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1466 A conservation officer grabs the neck of a black bear after it was tranquillized Monday in downtown Vancouver. (CBC) Conservation authorities have successfully captured a black bear that had been standing on top of a garbage truck in downtown Vancouver. An officer shot the bear with a tranquillizer dart Monday afternoon outside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. After about 10 minutes, the bear sat down as the sedative took effect, and appeared ready to fall three metres off the back of the truck onto the pavement. A conservation officer climbed aboard the truck just as the animal was about to teeter over and grabbed it as it collapsed, preventing its fall. Officers then carried the bear to a pickup truck and drove it away. The black bear had been hunting for food in a dumpster inside the theatre's underground parking lot, witnesses said. The dumpster contents, including the bear, were tipped into the truck and then the bear climbed out onto the top of the vehicle, when members of the public noticed the animal and called police. A conservation officer believes the bear hitched a ride in the garbage truck from the North Shore. The animal, estimated to be about 18 months old, will be released into the wild about 100 kilometres north of Vancouver Tuesday, a conservation officer told CBC News. Watch video. Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:55:53 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/blog/1463 http://www.bearsmart.com/blog/1463 The Get Bear Smart Society is busy working on projects aimed at increasing education, reducing human-bear conflict, strengthening stakeholder relations, and elevating public awareness about co-existing with bears. Specific projects over the course of the year included: Working with the Resort Municipality of Whistler Bylaw Services as well as Whistler property owners and managers to fix, renovate or build bear-proof garbage and recycling sheds. Developing and sharing habitat management techniques to ensure urban and semi-urban green spaces are wildlife (and bear) friendly. Creating educational material aimed specifically at user groups who have a direct involvement with bear attractants or hospitality providers who have close contact with their guests (businesses involved in food handling, Bed and Breakfasts, landscape professionals, etc). Collaborated with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and associated stakeholders to identify, record, and address: bear fatalities as a result of motor vehicle accidents; "bear jams"; and related public safety concerns along the Sea to Sky highway. Encouraged a healthy perspective of bears within their natural habitat Undertook habitat enhancement and de-enhancement projects to draw bears out of urban areas and into suitable bear habitat. Although these projects are undertaken in Whistler, the pro-active solutions and innovative projects are a source of valuable information for other communities looking to reduce human-bear conflict. Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:19:57 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1462 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1462 HOMEOWNERS who leave out garbage and other bear attractants could soon face fines from conservation officers thanks to a new amendment to the B.C. Wildlife Act. The amendment, passed Nov. 24, makes it illegal for a person to have anything that could attract dangerous wildlife to their property, mostly garbage, fruit or similar material. Mike Badry, a biologist with the Ministry of Environment, said the new rules will be used mostly on repeat offenders after there's been a problem with an animal. "It's been a chronic problem throughout B.C. for many, many years," said Badry. "The provincial legislation never allowed conservation officers to really target those people that were being careless with their attractants, despite whether or not they were educated or given warnings in the past." The fine for the offence hasn't been finalized, though Badry said it will likely total $230. Conservation officers won't begin enforcing the new rules until after the ministry confirms the fine amount and develops an enforcement plan, he said. The provision will be reserved for repeat offenders only, not first-time incidents, and be directed to where problem bears have been attracted by garbage, said Badry. "It will be in response to incidents when the person has been informed and there is a public safety concern because of incidents of dangerous wildlife being attracted," said Badry. Previously bear attractants were only governed by a patchwork of municipal bylaws across the province, and bylaw officers on the North Shore couldn't deal with attractants on people's property, but only garbage left at the curb too early. Tony Webb with the North Shore Black Bear Society, who worked with MLAs for several years to see the law altered, praised the change. "It goes right across the province so it's quite a big move," he said, adding that will give the legislation more weight than municipal bylaws. Webb and other advocates have been working with MLAs for six years to get the changes to the wildlife act passed. Christine Miller, a longtime bear awareness educator on the North Shore, also supported the change, but added the move isn't a silver bullet and that residents have to be proactive. "The challenge is going to be having enough conservation officers to enforce it, but at least they have a tool in their toolbox that is easy to use, that's the key," she said. Download the ammendment to the Wildlife Act here. Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:04:59 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1461 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1461 The death of Brian Matayoshi in a grizzly bear charge last summer was a classic conundrum for the people who work toward the day bears and humans can share the northern Rocky Mountains. "We are providing education, but it's not being received," Chris Servheen told the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee at its winter meeting in Missoula on Wednesday. As coordinator for grizzly recovery with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Servheen keeps track of bear incidents throughout the Rocky Mountains. And this year's run-ins appear to show we have successful strategies to avoid conflict, but we're not using them. "The problem with communication is the illusion it's actually happening," Servheen said of bear-aware efforts. "My candid opinion is we have not been very successful at this at all. Perhaps we need to go to a marketing firm on Madison Avenue - they're really good at getting us to buy things we don't need or want." A preliminary review of 2011 bear attacks included 83 incidents. Of those, about three quarters took place in the Yellowstone National Park area, with the remaining 24 percent happening in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. Four times out of five, no one in a grizzly charge got injured. Two resulted in people getting killed. Hunters were involved in 38 percent of the charges, while hikers made up 35 percent. The remainder included a mix of anglers, campers, ranch-hands doing fencing and other backcountry chores. Servheen said a significant factor was that more than half the people charged by grizzlies weren't carrying bear spray. Just 29 percent were carrying the spray cans, although it was uncertain if they were deployed. *** Of the two fatal incidents in Yellowstone Park this year, the death of Matayoshi is best understood. On July 6, he and his wife Marylyn were two of many hikers on the popular Wapati Lake trail. They'd seen a female grizzly and two cubs far across an open field. Marylyn Matayoshi took a picture of them, which showed three tiny dots in a sea of sagebrush. The couple opted to continue their journey. But a cloud of mosquitoes convinced them to turn back shortly after they entered a copse of trees. Unfortunately, the grizzly family was also heading into the trees behind them, and now wound up on a collision course on the trail. When the couple saw the bears, they turned back up the trail and started running and yelling. Servheen said that apparently triggered a chase response in the sow grizzly, similar to running away from a big dog. Brian Matayoshi ran 173 yards from where he first saw the bears before the sow caught him from behind. Even then, the attack might have been minor but for an unfortunate bite. The bear bit Matayoshi in the thigh and punctured his femoral artery, probably causing him to bleed to death. He also got a serious head wound, but it was uncertain if that was caused by the bear or his fall to the ground. "Their behavior during the chase contributed to the behavior of the bear and resulted in the death of Mr. Matayoshi," Servheen said. Matayoshi's wife hid under a fallen log just five yards away from her husband. The grizzly reached over and lifted her by her backpack, but then dropped her and left the area with her cubs. Between her efforts to call 9-1-1 with a cellphone and the witness accounts of other hikers who heard the incident, investigators were able to build almost a minute-by-minute account of the attack. Their conclusion was the bear had a natural surprise reaction and should be left alone. She had never been captured or tagged before, and had no previous record of charging people. *** But on Aug. 26, the same female bear killed and partially ate Michigan hiker John Wallace on the Mary Mountain trail in the Hayden Valley of Yellowstone. Details of Wallace's death are scarce because he was hiking alone and no one else witnessed the attack. Park bear managers trapped and tested several bears in the area before getting a DNA match on the suspect sow Sept. 28. She was killed Oct. 1, and her two cubs were also captured and placed in the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center at West Yellowstone. In both cases, the victims were doing things bear managers recommend avoiding: Running away and hiking alone. Neither victim carried bear spray. To further complicate bear strategies, British Columbia Ministry of Environment representative Tony Hamilton said a new study shows a growing tendency of Canadian black bears to make predatory attacks on humans. "We're used to defensive attacks by grizzly bears, that are usually triggered by protecting cubs or food or space," Hamilton said. "But now we're seeing black bears that have typically had no previous human contact looking at us as potential prey. We need to re-educate the public." But how do we explain the rule to be nonconfrontational around grizzlies but aggressive toward black bears, when people don't seem to be reading any of the signs on the bulletin board? Hamilton said after years of trying to make the messages simpler, this new complexity is sending everyone back to the drawing board. Read more.   Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:29:24 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1459 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1459 MISSOULA, Mont. -- This has been a record year for grizzly encounters. Grizzlies killed two people in Yellowstone National Park this past summer. Conflicts between landowners and bears are growing. But so are pressures on the bear's habitat. The interagency grizzly bear committee is meeting in Missoula. Experts from the United States and Canada are exploring ways to ease pressures between grizzlies and humans. Grizzly bears and people don't mix well. Not only is it dangerous for people, it's hard on bears. "We end up killing more bears because of conflicts with people," said grizzly bear recovery coordinator Chris Servheen.Grizzlies are moving back to old territories. "Grizzly brown bears of North America evolved on the prairie and we got bears going back out on the prairie," said Charles Jonkel, from the Great Bear Foundation. But the bears' old territories have changed. Jonkel says biologists need to do more than science. "Biologists need to come out of the lab," said Jonkel, "and work with real situations in terms of subdivisions, ranch land use and roads." Servheen says Yellowstone, Bob Marshall and Glacier grizzly populations are robust. "We want to move toward recovery and de-listing of our robust populations," said Servheen. Ninety-five percent of the bears in the lower 48 states are recovered and doing really well. "The bear expert said more work is needed among smaller grizzly populations like those in the Cabinet Mountains in northwest Montana and North Idaho.Jonkel said grizzlies need connected space. "In the Cabinets and the Yaak," said Jonkel, "hooking up with the Selkirks and we need more bears on all sides of the Yellowstone." Watch the news now. Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:10:12 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/node/109 http://www.bearsmart.com/node/109 Jeanie 1990 - 2011 Whistler's beloved bear-matriarch killed as a result of preventable conflict with people Jeanie was a Whistler icon. But the 20-something black bear with a swath of white fur across her chest, and eyes that seemed to be lined with shadow was unfazed by her fame. She did her best to tolerate the town-folk who unofficially adopted her. She was photographed by tourists, gawked at from chairlifts, edged off trails by mountain bikers and awakened by heavy equipment. She ventured into Whistler Village occasionally - when she needed food for herself and her cubs and couldn't get enough in the mountains. But for the most part, Jeanie ignored people and the disturbances they caused. She carried on as she always had, protecting her offspring , searching for food, preparing for the upcoming season, and snoozing. However, what Jeanie couldn't ignore is that as she aged, she lost her status in the bear hierarchy, losing some of her physical strength, and being forced from the territory she used to feed in. She was a strong bear - a true survivor and devoted mother-but in the end, the challenges she faced were tougher than ever. read more..... Jeanie emerged from hibernation in the spring of 2011 with two adorable black cubs in tow. It was her seventh litter, and Whistlerites were thrilled to learn of the twins' birth. However, tragedy struck the family early on. Bear researcher Michael Allen last reported seeing Jeanie with both cubs on May 24th.  Two days later, an agitated Jeanie was observed at a local bike race by Get Bear Smart's Sylvia Dolson. One of her cubs was up a hemlock tree; the other was nowhere to be seen. Researchers speculate the missing cub may have been killed by another bear, but coyotes could also be to blame. No one knows for sure what happened. Throughout the summer, Jeanie and her remaining cub were seen regularly on the ski runs at Whistler Mountain, especially around the base of the Garbonzo chairlift. The young bear often tested Mom's patience by jumping on her back, weaving between her legs and rolling in the grass. But Jeanie's patience was infinite, even though the cub was a little daredevil, climbing not only trees but the chairlift tower itself. She was even photographed perched high upon a Whistler Village Gondola tower. During July and August, Mother and daughter feasted on ants and other insects in fallen trees, and berries wherever possible. However, it was a poor berry crop, and the pair ventured into a town several times. Once, Jeanie was seen trying to get into the garbage room at the Squamish Lillooet Cultural Centre. She and her cub made frequent appearances at the Whistler Golf Course. The "whack" of a golf club would sometimes send the cub scampering up a tree. Jeanie suffered harassment that summer. Coyotes were seen running at her, snapping relentlessly. She was bullied out of the best feeding areas by other bears. Her left lower canine broke off and her weight appeared to be far below the hefty 300 pounds she usually ends the summer at. Each time she chose to seek food in the Village, she put herself at risk, but the more difficulty she had on the mountain, the more often she chose this "easy" way. At Jeanie's age, relocation would have been something too traumatic for her (and especially her cub) to bear. Whistlerites adored Jeanie. They've been reading about her, observing her and eagerly awaiting her emergence from hibernation since she was first identified in the early nineties. But in October of 2011, Jeanie's life came to an abrubt end after conservation officers determined her long and increasing history of conflict made her a threat to public safety. Whether or not her behaviour was a threat to human safety is debatable. While her behaviour was bold, she was not aggressive. Yes, she was in areas where bears shouldn't be. She accessed garbage and food at restaurants inside and on the periphery of her home range. In almost all cases, doors were left open and she walked right in; often with her daughter in tow. These establishments were never fined for their careless and unlawful behaviour. But Jeanie did suffer the consequences. And Jeanette lost her mother. Jeanette is currently being cared for at Critter Care Wildlife Society in Langley. Click here to watch her story as well as the stories of other cubs being rehabilitated at Critter Care. Join Jeanie's Facebook page. Marissa Marissa used to be known as the bear who limped. Exactly how she hurt herself is a mystery, but for several months she dragged her lame front right leg along beneath her without putting any weight on it. Injuries are not uncommon among bears-hers could have occurred during a tussle with another bear, she could have fallen from a tree or simply tripped while walking along a rocky slope. But life for a black bear in the mountains is all about survival, and the injury didn't stop Marissa from doing what her body needed to do: eat. Fall is berry season, a time when the huckleberries and blueberries growing mid-mountain and above are at their best, and bears need to bulk up for the winter. read more........ Lips flopping, rhythmically gulping, Marissa can't get enough of the juicy fruits. Her eyes search the bushes for more blue and purple berries before she's even swallowed her first bite. She consumes an entire bush full of berries in less than a minute, using her mouth like a vacuum, and moves to the next bush. Chewing is a waste of time; she swallows the berries whole. Marissa knows that if she doesn't gain enough weight in the fall, it's unlikely she'll give birth to any cubs this year. But she's a conscientious eater. Marissa only plucks the sweetest, juiciest berries. If they aren't ripe, she'll leave them behind, and return to check on the 'crop' later that week. Not only is she an excellent fruit harvester, Marissa is also a highly efficient farmer. Thousands of undigested berry seeds in her scat are spread throughout her territory, creating new berry bushes for upcoming generations. Marissa no longer limps; researchers now identify this 20 year old matriarch by her distinctly feminine facial features and the small white blaze on her chest. While she and her cubs have been known to feed on the greens at the Chateau Whistler gold course, Marissa generally stays away from people. She is a regal, aloof, shy, beautiful bear, with a tough streak humans can never quite know the depth of. Slip Slip was one of those bears you couldn't help but root for. He meant no harm, but like any teenage boy, he always seemed to find trouble, and wherever he went, he usually left a mess. Originally named Max when he was born on Blackcomb Mountain in 2003, Slip, a bear who was being studied by researchers, acquired his nickname after slipping out of his radio collar three times. Slip tagged along with his mother Marissa for about a year before expanding his home range. This is natural behaviour for a young male bear, but Slip soon found himself in some unnatural places and learned some very unnatural things. When he was in town, he figured out how to access pedestrian waste bins. When his paws were still small, he managed to squeeze them into the supposedly bear-proof latch and open the lid. Soon, his paws grew too big to fit into the handle, but Slip didn't give up. He'd test every bin he passed to see if the back door was locked-an easy score if it wasn't-or if the bin looked tippable. (If the base of the bin isn't buried in the ground, the whole thing can be quite easy for a hungry bear to tip over and smash open). read more........ Slip was a social fellow. He was a member of what researchers called The Fitz Creek Gang, a group of five unrelated male and female bears, all around the same age, who would hang out on the ski hill together, playing with and pulling down snow fencing and signs. They also enjoyed a good frolic in the snow. Three 'gang' members were spotted wrestling and sliding together down a patch of snow at Blackcomb Base II one spring. Although they never ventured into town together, the Fitz Creek Gang members were all spotted individually prowling for human food in the Village. Slip was a clever bear; an expert at getting what he wanted. One hot summer day when he needed to cool off, he made his way into a hotel pool for a refreshing dip. And once he walked into the loading bay at the Westin Hotel, climbed some stairs, walked about 50 meters down a hallway and entered the hotel garbage compactor looking for food. Conservation Officers, Bylaw Officers and RCMP repeatedly used non-lethal aversion conditioning techniques Slip was hazed 39 times in the fall of 2005 to deter him from populated areas. The following year, the Bear Aversion Research Team (BART) conducted an intense aversive conditioning program on him; for consecutive days, Slip was monitored day and night, hit with rubber bullets and moved out whenever he tried to access the Village. He was persistent and clever in his ways of getting what he wanted, but he never harmed a soul. By the following spring there was speculation that Slip may have turned over a new leaf; he hadn't been in trouble in town since reappearing from his den. However, spring is when bears look for mates, and that's likey what he was preoccupied with in his last months. Slip never got the chance to prove whether he'd really been 'reformed.' The endearing thug was shot by a hunter in the Soo Valley in May, 2007, when he was just four years old. Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:33:30 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1460 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1460 Do you go with the iPad or the polar bear? A new report says Canadians would shell out as much money as a trendy tablet to preserve the iconic beast. JONATHAN HAYWARD/THE CANADIAN PRESS file photo Call them Canada's billion dollar bears. While it's no secret that polar bears have captured Canadians' hearts, they've apparently got us by the purse strings, too. Canadians would be willing to pay $6.3 billion per year - $508 per household - to ensure the polar bears do not disappear, according to a report commissioned by Environment Canada. With 15,000 of these majestic creatures roaming the Canadian Arctic, that's about $420,000 per bear - slightly less than the average price of a house in Toronto. The multi-billion dollar value comes from a variety of the bears' charming, albeit hard to quantify, qualities, the report explains. The polar bear's image is constantly used in advertising campaigns, the report points out. (Think of Coca Cola's obsession with the great, white bear around Christmas and its $2 million contribution to the World Wildlife Fund to help conserve the bears.) The iconic image of ursus maritimus has even been hijacked by the government of Canada for the $2 coin. Plus, polar bears are an invaluable asset to science and education, the report states. Their fur has fibre-optic properties that capture heat, and their status at the top of the food chain provides much information on habitat productivity. "It is, moreover, a charismatic animal whose image has come to symbolize climate change," the report continues. All these factors add up to the preservation value of the species, said Maria Olar, an ÉcoRessources Consultants senior analyst who worked on the report for three months. "It's the value of keeping the species alive for different reasons, for next generations," she explained. And Canadians want their polar bears to stay alive, based on the meta-analysis that showed their willingness to pay to be $508 per household. This pushes the polar bear's popularity ahead of the threatened St. Lawrence beluga whale, although it, too, is a "charismatic species," the report states. People would pay only $107 per year to save the whales even though they have a higher risk factor than the bears. (There are no reports, yet, on the economic value of the beaver, the reigning national symbol.) Polar bears also bring tangible values to the economy. Sport and subsistence hunting add an annual $1.9 million, while tourism - especially to Churchill, Man. - brings an additional $7.2 million. Olar does admit that the total economic value of a polar bear is "tough to measure," she said. The report did not quantify the intrinsic value of polar bears or the cultural, artistic and spiritual value of the bears to aboriginal peoples, which can be "very significant." The report, which cost the federal government $41,300, was used to help decide whether polar bears should be named a "species of special concern." The bears were put on the list in early November, a decision that many favoured despite worries among some First Nations and Inuit groups that the designation would limit hunting quotas. The government wanted to understand the costs and benefits of preserving polar bears, said Mary Taylor, a director at Environment Canada. "It's a key building block to help us understand the importance of polar bears to Canadians," Taylor said. But Environment Minister Peter Kent wouldn't spend the money on the study again, at least not until the budget is balanced, he told The Canadian Press. "You're quite right to be somewhat skeptical of trying to put a dollar value on the importance of an iconic Canadian species," Kent said. "If you were to ask me what I put the price of polar bears to Canada and to Canadians, I'd say, 'priceless.' " Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:14:44 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1458 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1458 What can you say about a whale who seems to be lonely? Humans perceive that animals have emotions that we can recognize - fear, pain, longing, loneliness. But, for generations, we have been told by scientists that any attempt to describe animal emotions in ways humans can understand is anthropomorphism and scientifically wrong-headed. This makes us feel guilty. When we respond to what appear to be emotions in our pets or in wild beings we meet, we feel as if we're engaging in illicit sentimentality. But things are changing, in wonderful ways. That guilt is no longer necessary. The study of animal emotions and consciousness is becoming a legitimate - and important - part of science. This is good news for everyone who loves animals. Yet, it also carries new responsibilities, particularly in the way we acknowledge and describe what animals may be feeling. I have often banged my head against the wall of anthropomorphism. It happened most recently in making a new documentary about emotions in an animal - the story of that "lonely" whale. For years, the scientific prohibition against describing animal emotions drastically hampered people who wanted to encourage empathy toward animals. Some writers - notably in early Disney nature films but still sometimes today - have ignored all constraints and portrayed animals as if they were emotional people in fur suits. Others, including me, tried to avoid describing animals in any emotional context. Either way, we made caricatures, not portraits. To save animals, it seems, we have had to misrepresent them. Making The Whale brought my wife and me face to face with this problem. The film is about a young killer whale - an orca - nicknamed Luna, who lost his pod and tried to make contact with people. We were determined not to be anthropomorphic in the film, but what Luna did looked so much like loneliness that we didn't know what else to call it. But we were lucky: The changes in the scientific approach to animals gave us authority to acknowledge what Luna may have been feeling. The change began in the 1960s and 1970s, when young scientists such as Jane Goodall wrote vividly about emotions in animals they studied, shaking up the establishment. Then, in 1976, a highly respected biologist named Donald Griffin shocked the field with a book called The Question of Animal Awareness, which suggested that the study of animal consciousness and emotions was valid and important. His daring book opened doors. New work began producing scientifically credible evidence of altruism, self-awareness, problem-solving, tool use, grief, pleasure and other mental states and emotions we once thought were special to our species. The public gets glimpses of this in occasional astonishing news stories about ravens or octopuses, but we have not yet fully grasped the grandeur of what this change means. "Denying animal emotions now flies in the face of a growing mountain of solid, challenging and exciting scientific research," writes Marc Bekoff, a neurobiologist and cognitive ethologist who has been one of the leaders in the scientific exploration of animal minds, in his 2010 book, The Animal Manifesto. "It's important that we get over the issue of anthropomorphism and move on. There's important work to be done." This is terrific. It's now possible to address animal emotions with at least some scientific support. So the good news is that we can now feel sympathy without scientific guilt. But there's some bad news: The new science increases complexity. We still can't put a fur - or blubber - suit on simple human emotions and pretend we have it right. Although the emotions we can now honestly recognize may be similar to ours, they are not identical. "I think it's the difference between saying something is the same and saying something's on a par," Lori Marino, a prominent cetacean neurobiologist, told me recently. She's one of two scientists whose 2001 study revealed that dolphins have self-awareness. She was also a scientific adviser to The Whale. "Luna and other cetaceans really represent a significant challenge to us," she said, "because they are similar to us and different at the same time." But that's not really bad news. So what if animals' emotions are complex and impossible to fully understand? Aren't humans that way, too? And isn't the fathomless complexity of human emotions the very thing that makes life, in reality and in fiction, endlessly fascinating? The great thing is that humans no longer face a barrier of austere prohibition against even thinking about the emotions experienced by other lives. As we found in making The Whale, humans can now be part of a growing new respect for other lives and emotions that acknowledges the mystery, subtlety, uncertainties and layers of meaning that we share with them - the same pieces of life's experience that have always made compelling stories in any language, about any living being, in any form of life. Yes, we have important work to do in learning to recognize and respect other animals' feelings - and great stories to tell as we learn more. Michael Parfit, a regular contributor to Smithsonian and National Geographic magazines, is co-director, with his wife, Suzanne Chisholm, of The Whale. The film opened in Canada on Nov. 18.   Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:06:08 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1457 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1457 Bear likely passing through, but residents should be vigilant A few years ago the big story in Whistler was the verification that there were still grizzly bears in the Callaghan Valley, which was closer than previously thought. Now there's been a sighting of a grizzly a lot closer to home, after a jogger came face to face with one in Whistler's Interpretive Forest area at roughly 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 13. "It was a collared grizzly bear that was seen on a trail in the Cheakamus Crossing area," said conservation officer Chris Doyle. "We had an officer speak to the witness and it sounds like a credible report. We do have some grizzlies in Sea to Sky that have been collared as part of a study of the grizzly bear population in the area, so this is likely one of those bears." Doyle suspects that the bear likely came to Whistler from the Callaghan or the Rutherford/Ryan River area near Pemberton. "They do roam around quite a bit," he said. As for why it would be in Whistler at this time, Doyle said the large male bear was either passing through, on a search for food or looking for a winter denning location. "It may have been returning from an area where it had been feeding on salmon or something, and was just passing through," he said. "It doesn't appear that it stayed in the area and there have been no other calls." Doyle said that people should take the same precautions as they would with black bears by controlling attractants like garbage and food around their homes. If the grizzly finds garbage and becomes conditioned to human foods it may have to be destroyed. "We're talking about an animal that is significantly less abundant than black bears and we don't want to lose any because they've become conditioned to human foods, so be extra vigilant about containing bear attractants," said Doyle. Doyle also warned people not to approach a grizzly under any circumstances. "Some people in Whistler may feel comfortable approaching or walking near a black bear, but I wouldn't advise the same for this grizzly," he said. The jogger and the bear ran in opposite directions after the encounter with no further incident. Meanwhile the B.C. Conservation Officer Service is continuing to respond to black bear calls around Whistler. In one case a tagged bear in the Whistler Cay area broke into a few residences to obtain food. The conservation officers set up a trap in the area, but ended up releasing an untagged bear that found its way in. As well, several barbecues in the White Gold area have been knocked over recently. "We do have officers in the area responding to bear conflicts and hazing bears where appropriate, and we're hoping that the conflict season will end shortly with winter approaching," said Doyle. Province to amend wildlife act The province introduced a new amendment to the Wildlife Act on Monday, Nov. 14 that, if passed, could result in fines of $230 for "the mismanagement of attractants (such as food, compost and garbage waste) that could invite dangerous wildlife, such as grizzly and black bears, cougars, coyotes and wolves." The change was part of an omnibus bill by the Attorney General and is not yet law.. For Sylvia Dolson of the Get Bear Smart Society, it will be a welcome change if it's passed. "Conservation Officers definitely need more enforcement options," said Dolson, adding that she's pleased that offenders can now instantly receive a fine. "(Currently) officers have to issue a Dangerous Wildlife Protection Order first, giving the offender an opportunity to comply with their request to clean up attractants. "While it sounds good on the surface, the legislation has flaws. If, for example, a restaurant had an accessible grease bin outside on their loading bay, COs could order them to make the grease inaccessible to bears. As soon as they complied the order was null and void and no fine could be levied for their non-compliance. They could then again become accessible to bears on the next day, and COs would have to issue a new order. The Act had no teeth." Dolson said the fines would only affect a handful of individuals and businesses that don't comply with laws, which she said were there for our safety as much as the safety of the bears. "Most people willingly comply once they are aware of the problem," she said. "Those few who don't, however, cause 95 per cent of the conflicts." Conservation Officer Service checking hunters, anglers Hunting and fishing seasons are very much underway in the region, and the B.C. Conservation Officer Service has been busy enforcing laws and regulations governing both activities. Some examples include charges against a male in the Pemberton area who was driving with a loaded firearm in his vehicle. In the Squamish area, two men were charged for exceeding the catch limit for fish and for having too many rods in the water. Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:20:07 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1456 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1456 Reading the editorials and articles about Jeanie the bear and the circumstances leading up to her death paints a very disturbing picture (Pique Oct. 27). How is it possible that all the restaurants mentioned, which have been in this town for years are incapable of managing their food waste? Let's start with the biggest corporate entity here, Whistler Blackcomb. Two of its restaurants were "broken into" by Jeanie. How do you break into the Roundhouse or the GLC? Buildings with rock and steel cladding, steel fire doors and wire-reinforced glass? You don't. If you leave a door open or have latches a bear can manipulate then the animal will "enter" a building. I lived 500 metres from the Whistler Landfill for decades. Couldn't see it, couldn't smell it, but this area had the highest concentration of bears in all of Whistler. Saw them every day. Bears, which because of the RMOW's largely ineffective efforts, knew all about garbage. My house is made of wood, with wood doors, has lots of windows on the first floor and I have never had a bear "break in." Even when the landfill closed and I witnessed the largest diaspora of starving, raised on garbage, desperate bears in Whistler's history I didn't have any problems. (I'm) not saying it is easy. Constantly educating friends, tenants and visitors about zero food waste outside takes effort. So how is it possible for me, one lone individual, to coexist with bears and Whistler Blackcomb cannot? A company who has been operating in bear habitat since 1965? What's WB valued at? I read it was $700 million. A company that can build one of the biggest gondolas in the world, but can't manage its trash? I blame Jeanie's death, for the most part, on Whistler Blackcomb's poor and sloppy management of its food waste because when she gained access to their restaurants, and a food source beyond her wildest dreams, she was then a dead bear walking. There is no chance of rehabilitation once this happens. The irony here is that Jeannie made money for WB, with tours and increased visitation. Was a financial asset. And this is how they manage their assets? As far as ... any other restaurants involved in this sad story I would like to rake them over the coals too. To do that I think maybe a social media shaming site is needed. If anyone out there with more tech savvy than me sets one up so pictures of restaurants that have overflowing garbage cans and don't manage food waste could be posted for all to see. I, for one, would love to, when going out to eat, be able to whip out my phone, check that site then reward businesses that show me they take this problem seriously. As for Whistler Blackcomb, I am so disappointed that you do not dedicate sufficient resources to deal with your garbage. The biggest company in town and yet what a poor example you set for everyone else. Lyall Fetherstonhaugh, Whistler   Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:30:38 +0000 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1455 http://www.bearsmart.com/media/1455 Once in awhile opportunities come along to do the right thing. A death is usually a time when you ponder life and make decisions about how and why a life was lived. Likely with the exception of a few, most people in Whistler have already moved on and forgotten Jeanie, one of Whistler's most photographed and celebrated bears, killed by Conservation officers a few weeks back. I think the troubling thing is that over the winter when the bears are asleep everyone will forget why she was killed. She was destroyed, as are many other bears every year, because she was repeatedly and consistently able to access waste and human food within the RMOW. Jeanie is really just a name given to a bear that lived on Whistler Mountain most of her life but she represents a relationship problem that has gone on in the resort for years. When food is scarce and bears in the area get hungry, we see bear-traps springing up everywhere and a conservation service that can't keep up with the demand. Well here is a new thought to consider: As a manager or owner of a business, when you decide to call the conservation service to bring in a trap to move a bear why don't you take a moment to reflect on these three things: 1.Why am I trapping a bear for a problem I created? 2.Where and how is a bear accessing my food waste? 3.How can this be fixed and 4.How fast can I fix it? Trapping a bear that accesses your restaurant, house or building is not a solution to the problem. If a bears enters your building one year, another will come in another year and if we kill and move all of Whistler's bears it will eventually just become a sad place where we tell people, "Oh, yeah there used to be bears here but we killed them all." There are many countries in Europe and the U.K. where this is true and now these countries are trying desperately to bring the wild animals back. They fly all the way to Canada to see wild animals and experience what "nature" really is. Therefore, my solution to the issue of bears breaking into our establishments is as such. Over the winter while the bears are asleep, think about doing the following: 1. Reinforce your garbage areas to the extent that a bear cannot access them "ever." (Yes this costs money, but so does replacing destroyed kitchens, doors and walls from bear break-ins) 2. Train all staff on keeping doors closed and locked when necessary to the same extent. 3. If you see a bear in your neighbourhood, don't just take pictures - refer to the first two solutions immediately and acutely. Finally, if you are looking for a better reason to follow this advice you can look to the current enforceable Whistler bylaw that carries fines for allowing wildlife to access garbage. We have the opportunity to either keep bears alive in Whistler or become just another place that can't co- exist with wildlife and the time is ripe to make the right choice. Kathy Jenkins, Pemberton Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:28:34 +0000