Happy Birthday, Bear Smart!

kc dyer
1 day ago
3 min read

Fifteen Years of Working Together

Bear cub (Tsaw'in) prior to rescue, December 2022. Photo by Michelle Langford.

This year marks Lions Bay's 15th anniversary as a Bear Smart community, but the history of supporting bears and other wildlife in and around the Village goes back even farther.

In 2004, Lions Bay's then-Chief Administrative Officer Lori Pilon worked together with resident Norma Rodgers to apply for a new "Bear Smart Community Program" grant being offered by the Ministry of Environment. The grant was available to communities who experienced problems that arose from living among bear populations.

The application was successful, and the Village received funding for a Bear Hazard Assessment, Bear Management Plan and bear-proof public bins, paid in increments as requirements were completed. Bear Smart requirements included bylaws that prohibited bears from accessing human food and enforcement for violations, bear education for residents and students, and bear-proof public bin installation. The grants also required the formation of a Bear Smart Committee (BSC). In 2005, a committee was convened to create an education program, monitor progress toward achieving Bear Smart Community status and ensure good communication with the Conservation Officer Service (COS).

After six years of hard work, Lions Bay became a Bear Smart Community in 2011. By 2014 bear activity had decreased and bear issues were minimal.

However, in 2021 there was a marked increase in bear activity province-wide and bear problems began to increase, causing the BSC to be reactivated. Since 2022, four bears have been killed in the Village.

In two cases, bears wandered into homes through open doors; in one instance through a dilapidated garage door and in the other, a bear attempted to open a door where garbage was stored. All were subadults. The BSC renewed their efforts to remind residents about the Bear Smart program, including increased education at the community school, bear alert signage, community/media updates and information, brochure distribution, participation at local events and improved communication with the Conservation Officer Service.

When a small cub was spotted in the Village in December 2022, the community rallied to help Critter Care rescue him for rehabilitation. Later named Tsaw'in (the Squamish Nation's word for a Coho salmon) by the children of Lions Bay School, he was released back into the wild in late June, 2023.

These concentrated efforts, combined with the hard work of Lions Bay residents to ensure attractants are kept out of the reach of local bears, have paid off. Most human-bear interactions have been positive ones in the past few years, and no bears have been killed as a result.

In 2026, Lions Bay Bear Smart discarded the "committee" term, so as to avoid being confused with formally-appointed committees of Council, and this volunteer group is now known as the Bear Smart Team.

This year, the Bear Smart team produced information postcards that were distributed by the Village and have met with the Conservation Officer.

At the recent Bird Friendly event, residents had a chance to test their knowledge, and most came through with flying colours. Rodgers was especially impressed with the younger residents she met at the event.

"The children once again proved how knowledgeable they are about bears in the Village," says Rodgers. "Young residents had a chance to test their bear knowledge and everyone aced the quizzes provided."

More information can be found at the Lions Bay Bear Smart site, including a page where residents can report bear sightings. And this year, the Bear Smart Team will once again be taking part in Canada Day festivities at the Beach Park.