Several bears have been sighted in Campbell River recently, including at least one roaming the downtown core.
Witnesses posted photos and video on social media of a large black bear encountered recently on Alder and Beech Streets, beside the Scotiabank. Another large bear was spotted on 9th Avenue at Greenwood Street. And a mother and two cubs were recently photographed at McPhedran and Evergreen Roads, and spotted at Dogwood and Rockland Roads.
It’s been an unusually busy summer for the BC Conservation Service, which dealt with nearly 6,000 calls in August about black bears, double the monthly average from the past 13 years. They also had to put down 151 bears, the most ever recorded for the month.
The service has advice for how to keep yourself, your family and your property safe from bear encounters.
Safety
Do not feed bears. It’s against the law to feed dangerous wildlife.
Remain calm. Do not run or climb a tree. Slowly back away, talking to the bear in a quiet, monotone voice. Do not scream, turn your back on the bear, kneel down or make direct eye contact.
Keep away from the bear. Do not try to get closer to it. If the bear gets too close, use pepper spray (within 7 metres) or something else to threaten or distract it.
Stay together. If you are with others, act as a group. Keep children close – pick up and carry small children.
Go indoors. Bring pets indoors if possible.
Watch the bear until it leaves. Make sure the bear has a clear escape route. After the bear is gone and it’s safe, make sure there is nothing in the area that will attract bears back again.
Prevention
Keep garbage inside until the morning of garbage collection. Odorous garbage can be kept inside a plastic bag and frozen until garbage day
Pick fruit as it ripens. Ripe fruit has a high caloric value and is a highly sought after food source by bears. Let friends or neighbours pick your fruit if you are not going to use it. The Campbell River Fruit Tree Project through Greenways Land Trust connects fruit tree owners who can’t harvest them with volunteers, who will come pick the fruit and make sure it goes to a good cause, not into the stomach of a roaming bear.
Visit the BC Conservation Service for more information about being bear-smart.
