Bears stealing apples from the family tree might be a cute subject for a YouTube video but not picking that ripe fruit could net you a $500 fine.
That's the warning from Stephanie Warriner, manager of environmental services for the city of Coquitlam, who says ripe fruit, garbage and green waste with food in it are bear attractants and therefore subject to a city fine if accessible to bruins.
So far this year, 55 fines has been handed out, netting the city a hefty $27,500.
Warriner said staff have no choice but to issue fines when warnings don't seem to be working.
"We are very serious about this. Sometimes, there is a perception people are going to get warnings or multiple warnings — they're not.
"We've spent 10 years educating Coquitlam about proper ways to store garbage when they should put garbage out and take steps to keep wildlife out."
The city has hired a new wildlife co-ordinator, Julie Kanya, replacing Drake Stevens, who retired, and she works with a dedicated team to patrol neighbourhoods seven days a week to enforce the Solid Waste Bylaw and the Wildlife and Vector Bylaw.
In addition to the $500 fines handed out this year, 1,300 warnings have been handed out since January.
The city has also applied for Bear Smart status and expects to learn whether it has successfully met eligibility criteria this fall.
