If there's something strange in your neighbourhood, who you gonna call?
No, not Ghostbusters.
If you see a bear exhibiting abnormal behaviour, such as eating human garbage, not leaving a yard or neighbourhood, walking downtown or bluff charging or exhibiting other aggressive behaviours, you had better call the BC Conservation Officers Service RAPP (Report All Poachers and Polluters) toll-free number, 1-877-952-7277.
Chances are if these things are happening in your neighbourhood, the bear has become habituated to human garbage and other attractants.
And now, as bear season heats up, with bruins looking to fatten up on high calorie food, conservation officers need your help to track problem areas.
"In my zone, [Fraser North] each officer has a leadership component — a beat position. They represent each community and on a biweekly basis, we're sharing information on potential trends and patterns," explained Sgt. Todd Hunter. "That's where we need help with the education and enforcement component, so we can deal with the behaviour of the animals."
But it's not just strange bear behaviour the conservation officers are worried about, it's careless human behaviour because not looking after green waste bins, ripe fruit, pet food, bird seed and other attractants draws bears.
It's when bears get used to eating from human food sources that they can become a problem, and if their behaviour becomes unpredictable and unusual, conservation officers may have to relocate, haze or, in some instances, kill a bear.
A case in point: On the day a bear attacked a 10-year-old girl on a trail in Coquitlam, RCMP and conservation officers were chasing bears out of the the Ozada-Tahsis Avenue neighbourhoods on the other side of the Coquitlam River and reminding homeowners to lock up garbage and get rid of attractants.
"It's worked fairly well with how we have it set up," Hunter said. "We share a map, and then a depiction of our data input on a map, so they can see a pattern and the specific streets. We share that [with the cities] and they can help us with education and enforcement."
Not every call can be returned, Hunter said, but every one is logged, tracked and the information shared.
"If they do phone in, be patient, and if they don't get what they're looking for, maybe it isn't something that fits our priority and matrices."
Hunter recommends checking out various websites for information, including wildsafebc.com and the BC Government website under Conservation Officer Service. City websites also have helpful information.
CALL/DON'T CALL
• Don't call: A call to the RAPP line isn't necessary if a bear is exhibiting natural behaviour — even frolicking on a backyard trampoline or in a pool isn't a cause for concern if the bear leaves readily and doesn't return. If it's on a trail and departs when you arrive, that's normal behaviour, too. A sighting on a road or sidewalk isn't a call for a concern but if it's walking downtown, a call to the RAPP line is warranted.
• Call: If a bear is knocking over garbage cans and won't leave a yard or neighbourhood, it could be there is a human food source. Call so city bylaw officers and conservation officers can deal with the situation. Provide as much detail as possible, including what possible attractants the bear might be drawn to, and ask for a file number in case you have to call back.
• Call: if a bear is persistently approaching and not backing up readily if you do back up.
• Call: if there is property loss involved, such as a bear knocking over a fence to get at food.
Overall, don't be afraid to call if you see a problem. Conservation officers' first goal is to protect human safety but tracking information could make it easier for authorities to crack down on garbage scofflaws and other problem human behaviour that leads to bear issues.
"We don't respond to sightings until there is an unusual circumstance and concerns about people's safety," Sgt. Todd Hunter said.
