Bears seek out garbage in WV neighbourhood

Erin McPhee

emcphee@nsnews.com

AN attempt to relocate a black bear family drawn into a West Vancouver neighbourhood by garbage recently resulted in one cub’s death.

The death of the bear cub might have been avoided, had people in the neighbourhood been more careful, said Tony Webb, spokesman for the North Shore Black Bear Network.

The mother bear and her two cubs had been monitored by the provincial Conservation Officer Service since mid-summer, said Jason Hawkes, a conservation officer. Eventually, the bear family headed south and crossed Highway 1, ending up in a West Vancouver neighbourhood.

Webb said he believes the bears were enticed by “negligently-managed” garbage.

For about a week and a half, the family hung out around the highway and 17th Street, feeding on residential garbage, said Hawkes. As the bears were feeding on garbage and living in a high-traffic and mainly residential area, both residents and the bears were deemed to be at risk.

“It’s not a good place for bears to be living,” said Hawkes. A number of bears have been struck by cars in that area in the past.

Conservation officers decided to move the bears to a more appropriate area. Approximately a week and a half ago, the bears were tranquilized and an attempt was made to relocate.

But one of the bear cubs didn’t survive the move. The cause of death is unknown.

“It was unfortunate,” said Hawkes. “We always do everything we can to make it safe for them and obviously their health is a priority for us as well while we’re working with them.”

North Shore residents need to get better at properly managing both garbage and fruit trees that can attract bears, said Hawkes.

There are a number of active bears — both adults and cubs - on the North Shore on the lookout for food, said Hawkes.

“With the amount of garbage that’s out and how warm the climate’s been here, they are not going to hibernate until things get cold, if they do get cold,” he said.

So far this year, five bears have been destroyed on the North Shore after they began hanging out in residential neighbourhoods after being attracted by garbage.

To contact the Conservation Officer Service phone 1-877-952-7277.

For more information on bears and proper garbage management, visit the North Shore Black Bear Network’s website at www.northshorebears.ca.