Education and outreach are still the main focus of Coquitlam’s efforts to eliminate interactions between people and bears but the city’s bylaw enforcement officers have not been afraid to issue fines to people who are still not getting the message.
So far this year, Coquitlam staff have issued 14 tickets to residents and businesses that have failed to secure animal attractants on their property. That number is higher than all of 2015, which saw 10 tickets issued, although stepped-up enforcement did not begin until September, according to a staff report.
Of the 973 calls that came into the BC Conservation Service in 2015, staff said animal attractants were the primary cause of the interactions. The report also noted that two bears were destroyed last year and four more were relocated.
“Bear sightings, complaints and property damage occurred in all areas of Coquitlam with urban development and access to residential attractants the primary contributing factors,” said the staff report.
Bylaw officers continue to warn residents who may have unsecured animal attractants, like garbage or compost on their property.
So far this year, 261 notices of violation have been issued while 664 were written in all of 2015.
The increased enforcement mixed with education and outreach comes at a time when the overall sighting numbers have been trending downwards over the last three years. For example, 2014 saw 1,195 calls, four animals destroyed and eight relocated, a further drop from 2013, which saw 1,565 calls, seven bruins destroyed and zero relocated.
While a number of the 2015 calls were concentrated in the northeast neighbourhoods of Coquitlam, no area was spared a bear sighting. Bruins were spotted as far away as Maillardville and Burquitlam-Lougheed area, with clusters of calls seen in the Cape Horn area, Thermal Drive and Ranch Park.
The most common attractant-related service requests dealt with garbage being unsecured (62%) or out to early (33%).
@gmckennaTC
