Is your bird-feeder safe?
It may not be safe from hungry bruins who are fattening up this time of year to get ready for hibernation, which takes place later in winter.
This season has been a busy one for the BC Conservation Officer Service and city workers who have been handing out fines and warnings in record numbers.
"We're seeing a lot more enforcement," said Cody Ambrose, a conservation officer who monitors the area for wildlife and poaching complaints. The CO service alone has handed out more than two dozen $230 fines to people for not looking after their garbage.
In Coquitlam, the city has handed out over 500 warnings, double what was delivered last year, and in Port Moody, as many as 86 homeowners were fined for leaving garbage unsecured.
Port Coquitlam fined six homeowners for wildlife attractants.
The big three problem areas this time of year are people putting their garbage out the night before so bruins have a lot of time to get at it, leaving out bird feeders that attract bears or failing to collect fallen fruit.
"If you don't want bears in your yard, then don't reward them," said Drake Stephens, Coquitlam's Urban Wildlife Coordinator.
