May 2006
Monthly Archive
Sat 27 May 2006
By JENNIFER MALONEY Staff Reporter North Shore Outlook May 25 2006 NOTE: If you are a North Shore resident pls go to: www.northshoreoutlook.com and answer the question of the week : Should North Shore Municipalities adopt garbage by-laws that dissuade bears? Yes or No? and then submit and review results to this informal poll.(Bear Matters) A North Vancouver bear conservationist wants the District of North Vancouver to rethink its bear survey. The 14-question survey was posted on the District’s website last week to gauge residents’ opinions on how the North Shore should manage bears that wander into residential areas. The questions were influenced by a $10,000 study, the Bear Hazard Assessment, which examines how the North Shore is responding to garbage-feasting bears and makes suggestions for improvements. But bear conservationist Barbara Murray said the survey expects residents to answer complicated questions that require a lot of background knowledge. She noted the survey is a one-time opportunity for residents to show an interest in protecting North Shore Bears and should be made more clear. A copy of the survey was also sent to Wayne McCrory, the bear biologist who conducted the Bear Hazard Assessment. While McCrory commended the District for following his recommendation to consult more with the public about its bear problem, he said the survey doesn’t prioritize the suggestions as his report did. He said the questionnaire also gives the impression that bear-proof containers would be required in all North Shore neighbourhoods, when his report suggested they be tried in one or two areas before being gradually phased in. He also cautioned that it’s important for the District to make sure proper bear measures are taken “otherwise you’ll be living with this headache for a long time and eventually someone’s going to be hurt.” District manager of Parks and Environment Richard Boulton said the survey was developed by District staff with input from the North Shore Black Bear Network. He said the idea was to gauge residents’ knowledge on the issue as well as bring awareness that the study is complete. He added the survey will also give District staff an idea of what direction the public would like to see the District take to address bears in the community. The District is hosting an open house tonight from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at District Hall where McCrory’s recommendations will be presented. For more info on the study or the survey visit www.dnv.org
North Van District posts online survey to gauge public’s perception of garbage bear issue and to seek workable solutions.
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Tue 16 May 2006
Join us at the upcoming informal Open Houses highlighting the Bear Hazard Assessment Study (BHAS). A wildlife consultant undertook the study and the funding came from the District of North Vancouver, City of North Vancouver, District of West Vancouver and North Shore Black Bear Network. This study was part of the Bear Response Management Program which was implemented to reduce Bear/Human conflict on the North Shore.
The Bear Response Management Program was initiated in 2005 and a highly successful partnership with the Provincial Conservation Service Office, District of North Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver City and the North Shore Black Bear Network was completed.
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Tue 16 May 2006
Posted by Barb under
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Dear Bear Friends, I have sad news about the first bear death in North Vancouver between the Riverside and Berkley(Blueridge) areas this morning. This bear was seen near my home on May 7 and then remained in area until this morning. It was about 4 years old by his size and had a yellow tag in his right ear. People were complaining that this bear was habituated to people (not moving away with pots and pans and yelling) and conditioned to our garbage. added note: Relocation site West Harrison Lake Area-over 160kms away with mountains and rivers inbetween…we can assume that other bears forced this male bear out and back to orginal territory as social order is very strong within the resident bear populations especially where food sources are at a premium. Females are even more likely to trek back to home territories given they are as transient as males.
The Conservation Officers did haze the bear with two or three bangers at 8:30am but shot off a lethal round at 10:30am I believe. I was told by authorities that his tag was from the Harrison area….about 100miles away? Let’s hope this bear’s death makes people and our local government understand that it is ‘our’ responsibility to STOP this cycle of killing bears. It will surely persist if there are no proactive measures undertaken like those described in Wayne McCrory’s Bear Hazard Assessment Study. North Vancouver residents please go to one of the two open houses this week: May 18th 6:30pm to 9pm at Seniors Centre –Parkgate or May 25 District Hall at 6:30 to 9pm or go on line to see BHA Report and comment on it until June 4. Go to: www.dnv.org and just look up Bear Hazard Assessment Report.
Thank you,
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Mon 15 May 2006
Officer, dogs fight off bear
David Carrigg, The Province
Published: Monday, May 15, 2006
An off-duty Mountie was mauled by a bear on a trail north of Quesnel yesterday.
Quesnel RCMP Sgt. Gary Clark-Marlow said the officer was jogging at 10 Mile Lake with his two dogs at noon.
Clark-Marlow said the dogs were running ahead of the officer, who did not want to be named, when they encountered a medium-sized black bear.
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Sun 7 May 2006
Bears are awake and staking out the neighourhoods in B.C.!
Please be careful with attractants as they are hazardous to a bear’s health. This bear was out and about at 3pm on a sunny Sunday in North Vancouver finding a bin in a carport that he had probably remembered from last year.
The very sad thing is that this bear has a yellow ear tag and when the authorities catch up with him he will be killed. He had a chance and was relocated as close as 30kms or as far away as 300kms. We will not know where he is returning from until the bear is killed and his tag number is read. Many bears return back to their home range over many, many miles. Relocation rarely works and many times the bears do not survive in a new territory when there are already other resident bears(as is the case in most relocation sites in B.C.)
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Sun 7 May 2006
Posted by Barb under
News1 Comment
Bear Hazard Assessment Recommendations going Public
OPEN HOUSE Bear Hazard Assessment Study’; //–>
Bear Hazard Assessment Study Open House
Join us at the upcoming informal Open Houses highlighting the Bear Hazard Assessment Study (BHAS). A wildlife consultant undertook the study and the funding came from the District of North Vancouver, City of North Vancouver, District of West Vancouver and North Shore Black Bear Network. This study was part of the Bear Response Management Program which was implemented to reduce Bear/Human conflict on the North Shore.
The Bear Response Management Program was initiated in 2005 and a highly successful partnership with the Provincial Conservation Service Office, District of North Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver City and the North Shore Black Bear Network was completed.
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Sat 6 May 2006
A Good Morning to all of you and many thanks for your interest and support in our quest to give Helena a new home. We thought we give you a short update as to how our fundraiser is coming along. We are happy to report that we raised just over $ 10000 so far, an incredible amount of money in such a short period of time. Many people have contacted us and are starting fundraisers or provided us with donations that we can utilize as fundraisers. I will keep you informed on these fundraisers and maybe you can help us spread the word.
The Prince George Hockey Team has taken on Lena’s cause and is actively fundraising to help her. Manager Brandi Brodsky said they felt she was calling to them, as their team is called the Prince George Cougars. You can go to http://www.pgcougars.com/cats/471/Help+Save+Helena and see what they are doing.
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Thu 4 May 2006
Posted by Barb under
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Three Conservation Corps will assist with capturing and collaring nuisance bears. , Pique Newsmagazine, 04 May 2006
The provincial government is kicking in $52,000 towards the second year of a black bear monitoring and research program in Whistler that will examine non-lethal aversion options.
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Wed 3 May 2006
Bear concerns not backed up by facts: Nunavut gov’t Last updated May 15 2006 09:01 AM CDT
CBC News Polar bears are becoming the poster-species for “doomsday prophets” of climate change, even though groups pushing for higher protection for the animals don’t have the evidence to prove their case, says Nunavut’s manager of wildlife.
Dr. Mitch Taylor made the comment in a 12-page document for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s review of the animal’s status.
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Wed 3 May 2006
Posted by Barb under
News1 Comment
Trophy bear could be offspring of grizzly-polar mating
Species close enough to produce cubs in zoos, but animal may be first ‘pizzly’ found in wild
Nathan VanderKlippe, CanWest News Service
Published: Wednesday, May 03, 2006
YELLOWKNIFE — Jim Martell had spent nearly $50,000 for this moment, as he stared through the scope of his rifle at a male polar bear.
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Tue 2 May 2006
Dogs will work to reduce bear-human encounters
Edmonton Journal
Published: Tuesday, May 02, 2006
EDMONTON — Alberta has purchased another two Karelian bear dog puppies which will be trained to help keep bears away from specified territories.
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Tue 2 May 2006
Canadian Press
Published: Tuesday, May 02, 2006WHITEHORSE - A sow grizzly attacked and killed a man who came within five metres of her and her cubs inside their den.
The 28-year-old Whitehorse resident was killed Friday while staking a mineral claim east of Ross River in eastern Yukon.
Jean-Francois Page was pronounced dead at the scene by two investigating RCMP officers and a conservation officer with the Department of Environment. Ross River RCMP Const. Brian White said Monday police were notified by members of the staking crew at about 4:30 p.m. that one of their co-workers was missing, as they were unable to raise Page by radio.
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Tue 2 May 2006
Polar bears, hippos marked for extinction
More than 16,000 plants and animals at risk, up 500 from 2004
Sam Cage, Associated Press
Published: Tuesday, May 02, 2006
GENEVA — Polar bears and hippos are among more than 16,000 species of animals and plants threatened with global extinction, the World Conservation Union said today.
According to the Swiss-based conservation group, known by its acronym IUCN, the number of species classified as being in serious danger of extinction rose from about 15,500 in its previous Red List report, published in 2004.
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