Bear With Us...
- Douglas Miller
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Thoughts on keeping bear traps out of Lions Bay
This weekend, a baited bear trap, as shown in the photo, appeared at one end of Mountain Drive. In this editorial, former mayor Douglas Miller shares his thoughts on what this means for the Village.
It is extremely disappointing to see another bear trap in our Village.
The appearance of a trap is likely due to one or more residents who are not managing attractants (such as recycling and/or garbage) in a responsible manner. Bears have a sense of smell far more sensitive than ours. Bears can smell a small amount of food from a great distance. Sometimes the cause is a new resident that has not been made aware of ways to avoid problems with our bear population.
Many who see bear traps assume that the “problem” bear will be relocated and will live happily ever after. Unfortunately, this is not the probable outcome.
If a bear has been attempting to break into a home, it may be deemed to be a “dangerous bear” and it will be destroyed. (Conservation Officers often use the term “euthanized” but the reality is less pleasant.)
A bear frequenting a neighbourhood and causing a new resident to be fearful, may be classified as a “problem bear” and it may actually be relocated. Unfortunately, due to a lack of resources within the Conservation Officer Service, the bear will be relocated within its territory. That bear will eventually return to the Village. Sooner or later, that bear will also be killed.
Relocation of trapped bears is not the solution.
The forests behind us are crawling with bears. We could kill a bear every day and there would be another one available to take its place. A reasonable person would also conclude that the practice of simply killing bears that come into our community is not the solution.
Furthermore, do we want our children to learn that the best way to solve a problem is to kill it?
What is the solution? As individuals and as a community, we must do better at minimizing bear attractants. If you are unaware of what that entails, contact the local BEAR SMART Team at lionsbaybearsmart.ca
Bears are beautiful, sentient beings deserving of our respect.
Successful coexistence is the solution.
The Watershed values your opinion.
Share your thoughts below, or email editor@lionsbaywatershed.ca
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