Bears may wander into our neighbourhoods in search of food. Driven by hunger, they can consume up to 20,000 calories a day and have an exceptional sense of smell, allowing them to detect food from over one kilometer away.
Bears that become habituated to human food are more likely to approach homes, endangering themselves, our pets, and our community. Eliminating food sources is one of the most effective ways to keep unwanted wildlife, including bears, from hanging around your home.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
If you live within a bear area, you can take the following steps to keep bears off your property:
Keeping bears out of your garbage
- Secure your garbage and green waste carts on your property until the morning of pick up.
- Avoid setting out garbage and recycling carts too early on collection day and remove carts as soon as possible the same day.
- Store garbage, yard & food scraps, and recycling in bear-resistant carts/bins or store all carts/bins in a bear-resistant enclosure on the property. A bear-resistant enclosure is a fully enclosed structure of sufficient strength and design to prevent access by bears, like garages, sheds, fenced structures and enclosures.
- Rinse all materials fully before placing in collection carts/bins. This includes scented items like shampoo bottles and deodorant.
- Freeze smelly foods and place them in your yard and food scraps cart on collection day.
Additional tips for bear-proofing your home
- Compost correctly and avoid placing any potential attractants in your backyard composter.
- Pick ripe fruits and clean up any fallen fruits from your yard.
- Clean and empty the drip tray on your barbeque after each use.
- Remove bird feeders or suspend them on a cable.
- Feed pets and store pet food indoors.
- Do not actively put out feed for wildlife.
REPORT NUISANCE OR AGGRESSIVE WILDLIFE
If you encounter potentially dangerous wildlife, such as bears or coyotes, in a residential area, call the BC Conservation Officer Service’s Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) 24-hour hotline (toll free number 1-877-952-7277) or report it online.
Thank you for doing your part in maintaining a healthy, bear-friendly community!
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