The Bears are Back ...
- kc dyer
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
(...And they're hungry)
It's that time of year again.
With the return of our ursine neighbours, it's also time to lock in those good habits to help protect the local wildlife.
A year ago, former Mayor Douglas Miller shared his thoughts on keeping bear traps out of Lions Bay.
Nothing has changed since then. Bears wake up hungry after their winter hibernation, and their excellent sense of smell means that any food stored in accessible places such as garages or sheds becomes an attractant.
Last week a bear trap was placed in the Village by Conservation Officer Services (COS) after a bear reportedly gained access to a resident's garage. The trap was later removed. The Watershed has reached out to COS for comment.
Lions Bay has been a Bear Smart Community since 2011. The group, made up of local volunteers, focuses on education to ensure residents know how to be Bear Aware.
On its website, Lions Bay Bear Smart has an entire page of tips on reducing attractants around the home. These include:
Use bear-proof waste containers, and never store your garbage or food/organic waste outside unless it’s in a bear proof enclosure.
Freeze smelly garbage in a bag and add it to your food waste on collection day.
Do not store food in outdoor fridges and freezers.
Keep barbecues clean.
If you have a compost heap, stick to garden waste only. (Fruit and meat in a compost heap attracts rats as well as bears).
Keep pet food inside.
Remember that bird seed and feeders are irresistible to bears. (You can read more about how to be a Bear Smart bird feeder HERE).
Village bylaws regarding waste disposal have recently changed to allow any residents unable to make their waste-collection time-slot to purchase approved bear-resistant, clip-lock style garbage/food waste carts from the Village. Chief Administrative Officer Ross Blackwell says that staff are trying to get the program in place as soon as possible, but are still working with the waste-collection provider to work out the details.
In Thursday's Village Update, staff put out a call for residents interested in purchasing bear-resistant carts to email reception@lionsbay.ca by April 20 so that an order can be made.
In a Q&A piece addressing changes to the garbage collection bylaw, Councillor Neville Abbott notes that waste collection time slots are now in place year-round to avoid confusion.
"The goal is that approved time slots continue to be the norm, because limiting time at the curb has been very successful in restricting access to attractants by bears and other wildlife on garbage days."
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