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Coquitlam is ‘Bear Aware’ but bears still dying

Coquitlam is the first city in Metro Vancouver to be officially designated a Bear Smart community for its efforts in reducing human-wildlife conflicts.

Coquitlam is the first city in Metro Vancouver to be officially designated a Bear Smart community for its efforts in reducing human-wildlife conflicts.

But that designation comes after a bad year for bears in the Tri-Cities.

Insp. Murray Smith of the BC Conservation Officer Service said the accomplishment shows urban communities can be bear smart and said the city will be a “flagship” for the rest of the province. 

“We will use Coquitlam as an example,” he said. “Here’s what a large urban community has done. Hopefully, we will have more successes like Coquitlam.”

The city has spent more than a decade trying to achieve Bear Smart status, which recognizes communities for taking action to prevent human-wildlife conflicts.

In giving the award, Smith said Coquitlam had made great strides in its outreach and education efforts with residents. The city’s introduction of a wildlife-resistant solid waste system and stricter bylaws concerning the reduction of animal attractants were also acknowledged. 

Despite the recognition, some residents in Coquitlam and the rest of the Tri-Cities are not getting the message when it comes to reducing conflicts between humans and wildlife.

Last year, the city issued 1,400 warnings and 225 $500 fines, with 140 tickets issued following an incident in August when a girl was attacked by a mother bear at Coquitlam River Park. 

Between April and September of 2016, 15 bears were shot by conservation officials, with eight incidents occurring in Coquitlam; Port Moody saw four bears put down, Port Coquitlam three.

According to a city press release, the Bear Smart Community program was created by the provincial Ministry of Environment in conjunction with the B.C. Conservation Foundation and the Union of B.C. Municipalities. It focuses on preventative measures that encourage communities and residents to work together to reduce animal attractants and bear-human conflicts.

According to stats reported last week by The Tri-City News, there were 1,749 bear complaints in 2016 and, in addition to bears that were killed, eight were hazed and one was sent to a wildlife rehabilitation facility.

gmckenna@tricitynews.com

@gmckennaTC