New Denver joins BC Bear Smart team
By Contributor
New Denver is the newest B.C. community to prove it’s bear aware.
This Central Kootenay village is the seventh community in the province to earn coveted Bear Smart status, thanks to its collaborative efforts to reduce human-bear conflicts.
Surrounded by a creek and forested trails, with easy access to fruit trees, wild berries, clover patches and household garbage, this tiny village along the shores of Slocan Lake is an enticing place for black bears.
“Congratulations to the people of New Denver for their hard work in reducing human-bear conflicts,” said Mary Polak, Minister of Environment.
“Residents took steps to help limit opportunities for bears to wander into their neighbourhoods and create problems. This helps ensure the safety of residents and their property, and the bears as well. I hope other communities are looking to New Denver as a great example to follow.”
The Bear Smart Community Program encourages local governments, businesses and individuals to work together to address the causes of human-bear conflicts, while taking action to reduce the risks to human safety, property and bears themselves.
A bear conflict management plan was created for the Upper Slocan Valley, outlining action to tackle the region’s challenges with bears. The community has replaced garbage bins with bear-proof versions. Its waste management system now includes commercial dumpsters – solving the problem of large amounts of garbage being available for looting bears.
Public outreach, including events, presentations, door-to-door canvassing and media coverage, raised awareness to residents about bears and the need to limit attractants. Bear warning signage was placed on trails and other areas used by the public, including local provincial parks and campgrounds.
Through the Harvest Share program, electric fencing was installed to keep bears away from fruit trees and livestock. Programs also ensure fruit is picked before bears can get to it.
New Denver joins Naramata, the City of Kamloops, the District of Squamish, the Village of Lions Bay, the Resort Municipality of Whistler and the City of Port Alberni as Bear Smart communities.
Quick Facts:
- The Bear Smart Community Program is designed by the Ministry of Environment, in partnership with the British Columbia Conservation Foundation and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.
- Community requirements to attain Bear Smart status include preparing a bear hazard assessment of the community and surrounding area, developing a bear-proof solid waste management system and addressing bear hazards.
- Relocating wildlife is not a viable or long-term solution in managing these types of conflicts.
- The most effective way to reduce human-wildlife interaction is to secure food attractants, such as garbage, birdseed, compost, pet food and fruit.
- In B.C., it is an offence to feed or leave attractants available to dangerous wildlife.
- Over the last two decades, human-bear conflicts in B.C. have been reduced. This can be partly attributed to public awareness programs such as Bear Smart and WildSafeBC.
