Oliver Road to Minnekhada Park has been closed until further notice over safety concerns after several people were seen harassing bears in the area.
Many bruins venture into the northeast Coquitlam neighbourhood this time of year, where numerous berry crops are set to be harvested. Cody Ambrose, a conservation officer with the Ministry of Environment, said this has led to an increase in visitors, some of who have been seen chasing the animals.
"We don't want people harassing the wildlife and that is ultimately what is happening down there," he said. "They try and approach the bears to get that better picture.
"It is a safety issue... People aren't the smartest when they are approaching the bears."
He added that as a bear becomes more accustomed to seeing humans, they are less likely to return to the wild and forage for natural food sources.
Farmers in the area have erected electric fences around the field, a measure that Ambrose said has been successful at keeping bears away. But most of the berry crops are still unprotected, which means bears will continue to visit the area as they bulk up for their winter denning period.
"Electrifying their fields is what the conservation officer wants to see," Ambrose said. "The bears are attracted to the blueberry fields and if we keep them out there, we can disperse the bear population."
Ron Wood, an operations supervisor with Metro Vancouver, said the regional district and the farmers in the area have agreed to keep the road closed until further notice (Oliver Road is jointly owned by Metro Vancouver and a farmer in the area).
Wood said farmers are expected to conduct a big harvest over the next few days, which would remove much of the food source that is attracting bruins to the area.
"Once the berries are removed, the bear activity decreases," he said. "We will monitor the situation after the harvest."
Minnekhada Park is still open and can be accessed by the Quarry Road parking lot north of Oliver Road.
In the meantime, residents can call 1-877-952-7277 to report any bear or wildlife activity to the B.C. Conservation Office.
CHECK OUT THE BEAR MAP
WildSafeBC, formerly known as Bear Aware, has launched an interactive map that displays wildlife activity in real time.
Cody Ambrose, a conservation officer with the Ministry of Environment, said the Wildlife Alert Reporting Program is constantly updated based on reports the office receives from the public. Different icons represent various species and when they are clicked on, an outline of the issue is displayed.
WildSafeBC is an organization dedicated to reducing human-wildlife conflicts throughout the province. It focuses on keeping wildlife in the wild and reducing situations where animals may come to harm.
To see the map, go to www.wildsafebc.com/WARP. To report wildlife activity to the B.C. Conservation Office, call 1-877-952-7277.
