Bear Friends,

Again sad news to report from this past early Weds at 12:30a.m. in Capilano Area of North Vancouver (I believe). I was given a verbal account by our Park Ranger and the Bear Response Officers at our monthly Wednesday meeting of the North Shore Black Bear Network that our 6th bear was trapped and then later that morning killed by officials.

This young, healthy male bear (perhaps 3yrs old) was thought to be responsible for a break and enter earlier in the week and then for destruction of a garage door in efforts to get at contained garbage.

There can not be a 100% ID of the offending bear as he was not marked with the District Paint Ball Gun as other bears have been. If you see a bear this season call 990-Bear(2327) and ask for it to be marked for quick identification, before it gets into trouble.

There were meetings about the bear between the Network members, Conservation Officer Service and the Park Ranger. It was decided that there was not an option to relocate this bear as there are limited spots this year and they would rather use those spots for female bears and cubs. Relocation is not that effective but it removes a nuisance bear from people and sometimes that bear will re-situate itself in another region….sometimes?

Please everyone, if you have a bear in your area, or you suspect you might, close all windows and doors at night and try and keep your contained garbage as clean smelling as possible. If you can, empty wet smelly garbage mid-week at a work dumpster or call 990-Bear and ask for locations of District dumpsters or ask for one to be moved to your area.

The total death toll for bears is North Van: 4(3 returned with tags fr last season), West Van: 1 + 1 relocated West Van bear killed in Squamish this season = 6 nuisance bears dead from North Shore bear population, rough estimate 20-30 left from last season after 10 killed and 57 relocated plus one tagged orphan went to Critter Care Rehab Centre and then was relocated away from North Shore residential area?

Pls keep vigilant regarding garbage, fruit and birdseed…hyperfeeding season is still two months away.

Bears Matter!
Barb Murray