Spring is in full swing, and so are the bears. Awake after their winter hibernation, bears are out and looking for food, reminding us of the need to be aware of their presence here on the Coast.
There have been many conflicts with bears on the Coast over the years, from simple sightings in gardens to the more extreme act of bears opening car doors and crawling inside, leaving major damage.
Conservation officer Murray Smith said his office receives 600 to 800 bear calls every year.
The Sunshine Coast was once a part of Bear Aware, an educational program of the B.C. Conservation Foundation that offers education on bears, but due to provincial funding cuts, the Coast no longer has the program.
"It saved us a lot of time, and it was great for the community. It was moving forward, then all of a sudden the legs got cut out from under it. We kind of have to start again," Smith said.
One local organization is still tackling the issue of community education - the Sunshine Coast Bear Education and Resource (BEAR) Network, a non-profit group specializing in raising awareness and assisting both businesses and the public.
Sara Stewart, education co-ordinator for BEAR, said one of the most important things people need to think about when it comes to bear safety is garbage, one of the animals' biggest attractants.
"Keep your garbage in a bear-resistant bin, because nothing is ever bear proof, it's only bear resistant. They're very smart animals," Stewart said.
In addition to taking extra care with garbage, Stewart also cautioned against the use of birdseed and hummingbird feeders as well as keeping up with clean up around fruit trees.
"A bear thinks with its stomach," warned Stewart.
Habituation of bears is also an issue, as many bears are losing their fear of humans and have no fear when making contact. This can be detrimental to both humans and bears, Stewart said.
"Once a bear is habituated, it is three times more likely to die at the hands of humans," she said.
So far this season, the phones have been quiet for BEAR, but Stewart anticipates more calls to come in.
"Due to the weather, it's been a poor berry season. I imagine we'll see the results of that in late summer, early fall," she said.
In addition to working on public education, Stewart said BEAR is in communications with the Coast's conservation officers and are hoping to engage in further dialogue.
While it helps to be aware of attractants and practise general bear safety, Stewart cited education as the most important factor in being bear aware.
"Education is the foundation of conservation," said Stewart. "As long as we can educate the public on how to protect the bears and how to protect themselves, we can continue to coexist like we have for thousands of years."
For more information on BEAR and bear safety, visit their website at www.livingwithbears.com or call 604-865-0588.
