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Wounded bear spotted in Coquitlam

Conservation officers advise people to lock up their garbage in either a garage or shed
Bears
A sow and and cub relax outside a home in this undated photo.

The latest wildsafebc.com wildlife map shows Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam are a hotbed for bear sightings, with dozens of reports of bruins in neighbourhoods stretching from Como Lake to Dominion Avenue.
And easy access to garbage is the reason why.

"The most dangerous time is right now and people need to make their community safer," said Sgt. Todd Hunter of the BC Conservation Officer Service, adding that four traps are currently in circulation in the Tri-Cities, Hunter said.
Some of the bruins being sighted are injured, making them unpredictable.

"We discovered a number of bears having wounds that are consistent with a crossbow and or being shot," Todd said, urging residents to stay away from bears and to lock up their attractants in sheds or garages.

NO NATURAL FOOD

Simply locking up the carts and leaving them outside is not enough to deter bears, Hunter said, noting people should rinse their carts to keep the smells down.

Bears have been coming down the mountains looking for food but there isn't much besides grass for them to eat this time of year. That's why they turn to high-calorie garbage.

"They're really hungry and they're not moving off readily when people try to scare them away, they're defending their food source," he said.

For that reason, Todd is urging residents to do a better job of managing bear attractants.Coquitlam is cracking down, too, and has handed out 93 tickets for $500 fines for early set-out of garbage (prior to 5:30 a.m.).

A compliance evaluation is also being conducted to see how many people aren't following city bylaws.

THERE'S A COURSE YOU CAN TAKE TO LEARN MORE

This information will be used to further inform our outreach and enforcement strategy," said Stefanie Warriner, Coquitlam's environmental services manager, in an email. "In the meantime, residents who place their carts at the curb prior to 5:30 a.m. on the day of collection, or who otherwise do not secure garbage and other food attractants on their property, should expect to receive a ticket from the city for violating the city’s bylaws.

THE DETAILS:

Residents can also sign up to attend the city's Bear Smart 101 workshop to learn more about bears and how live safely with them.

The free event will be held on Wednesday, July 12 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way) — a change from the original venue, council chambers, because of demand — and will cover a range of topics, from dealing with animal attractants to valuable safety tips. Wildlife expert Tom Saare will lead the class and talk to residents about what to do should they come face to face with a bear on a trail or in their backyard.

For more information, call 604-927-3500, email urbanwildlife@coquitlam.ca or go to www.coquitlam.ca/bearsmart.