The 2011 bear season in the Tri-Cities was one of the busiest in recent years, with 17 bruins destroyed for garbage habituation or because of car accidents or injuries. A least one bear was relocated and seven bear cubs were sent to Critter Care in Langley.
Bear issues were top of mind for people living near green belts and dozens of homeowners in the Tri-Cities had to be reminded or formally warned to keep their garbage locked up. Business owners and construction companies were also issued warnings to remove garbage or lock up dumpsters.
Conservation officer James Kelly, who was transferred to the region this year and lives in Coquitlam, spent much of his summer following up on bear complaints. although his job also entails enforcing hunting rules and environmental regulations. He said bears were active in the Tri-City region this year because the berry crop was poor.
"[Younger bears] kind of get pushed down the mountain and end up following the green belts where they get into garbage. Then they're hooked and nothing's going to get them off garbage."
Each year, 10,000 calls are made to the Provincial Conservation Officer Services' 24-hour toll-free line in B.C. and those dealing with bears in Mission, Maple Ridge and the Tri-Cities are passed on to Kelly and his team to decide if the problem bears pose a safety risk.
There were two tragic stories of carelessness with garbage. In one case, a mother bear had to be shot and her cubs taken to Critter Care after they were found rooting in a dumpster left open on school property at Summit middle in Coquitlam.
Another female bear with cubs was shot in Anmore for chasing a man who was walking his dog. The bear was a regular in the area and had often been seen knocking over garbage. The village has since tightened up its garbage laws and is establishing a Bear Aware program.
Many bear advocates were also shocked to learn bow hunting of bears is legal on blueberry fields in Coquitlam after a bear injured with an arrow was tracked near Minnekhada Regional Park and destroyed.
The province is also cracking down on people who don't get rid of wildlife attractants. Under new rules proposed by Attorney General Shirley Bond, a $230 fine could be levied for mismanagement of food, compost and garbage waste that attracts dangerous wildlife, such as grizzly and black bears, cougars, coyotes and wolves. The fine is likely to be levied against people who are repeat offenders.
In Coquitlam, the city appointed a year-round urban wildlife co-ordinator - Drake Stephens, long-time Bear Aware co-ordinator - to deal with bears and other animal issues.
