Learn about living with bears; creating bear smart communities; recreating in bear country; bear safety at work; and managing bears (for wildlife officials).

Whistler Basics

Whistler Basics - Living in Bear County

Are you a resident or business owner in Whistler? Learn how to live in bear country.

The nitty gritty blog on How to Stay Bear Smart in Whistler.

Got Garbage?

Waste Depots at Function Junction and Nesters take trash, recycling of all kinds and compost. There’s also a Re-Use-It Centre at the FJ site, as well as a Re-Build-It Centre near the end of Alpha Lake Road. For more information, click here.

Bear accesssing garbage in WhistlerNo vehicle to get your trash to the compactor site? These services are available in Whistler for a fee:

Georges’ War Wagon – Refuse Removal 
For: household garbage, or construction debris
Call: Mike Cook at 604-721-4875 (cell)

RMOW Solid Waste Bylaw

Whistler Specific Resources

Download brochures and flyers for home, recreation or your business. These are specifically designed for Whistler residents, businesses and visitors.

Residents:

Bear Smart Whistler Resident’s Guide – download

Wildlife Smart Landscaping for Whistler – A Resident’s Guide – download. Bear food plant list.

Composting in Bear Country – download

Visitors:

Download in English; Deutsch (German); 惠斯勒访客指南 (Chinese); Nederlands (Dutch); 日本 (Japanese); française (French) and español (Spanish).

Bear Viewing: Where to find bears and how to behave while viewing them. Download a brochure here – print in color, both sides, then fold twice.

Campers:

Quick Bear Smart Guide for Campers – download in English; Deutsch (German); française (French) and Nederlands (Dutch).

Camping in Bear Country – download full colour brochure, printed on 8.5 x 11 front & back, folded twice.

Business & other commercial applications:

Bear Viewing Info for Hotel Concierges and extra teaching points.

Whistler Businesses – download folding brochure.

Restaurants: Bear Smart Program.

Campgrounds: 3 flyers per 8.5 x 11″ paper – download in English; Deutsch (German); française (French) and Nederlands (Dutch).

Landscaping Companies: A Professional’s Guide. Bear food plant list.

Bear-proofing Garbage Enclosures – click here.

Construction Site Management Strategy – download.

Guidelines for Bear Smart Buildings – download.

Resources for living with other wildlife: bats, cougars, coyotes, deer, moose, raccoons, rattlesnakes, rats, skunks and wolves.