Young bear cubs are becoming a common sight in the Tri-Cities as bear families fan out in search of food.
But while cute, don’t photograph these wild creatures or let them become accustomed to your neighbourhood, warns conservation officer Chris Miller.
With Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody expected to become hot spots for bear activity in the coming weeks, it’s extremely important to lock up attractants, such as garbage and green waste, pet food and bird seed, according to Miller.
But it’s not just food that’s a problem.
Miller said it’s important not to welcome bears, no matter how cute, and to encourage them to stay away, he recommends people make a loud noise, such as banging a pot or starting a car alarm.
“Keep those bears afraid of people at all costs,” he said, suggesting people should let bears know they aren’t wanted but at a safe distance.
Bears have become part of the fabric of life in the Tri-Cities, but don’t photograph the young cubs, which are only a few months old and puppy-sized. Doing so in close range will teach the cubs to be comfortable with humans, something that could endanger them later in life.
“Those cubs are in a very impressionable stage right now,” he said.
Stay away from sows, too. If the mother bear was accessing human-sourced food last year, she’ll be teaching her young ones the same behaviour.
This is the time of year to be scrupulous about removing attractants so bad habits don’t start. It’s also important not to assume a cub left alone is orphaned, Miller said, noting that it’s not unusual for the sow to leave a cub in a tree for several hours.
When that happens and COs receive a call, they won’t intervene for 24 hours, because the sow will typically return in that time.
“We don’t want to take a two month old cub away from her mother,” Miller said.
The call to keep bears wild comes as both the cities of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam remind residents that they could be fined $500 for leaving attractants out.
In recent press releases, both cities urged residents to lock up, freeze and remove attractants.
Port Coquitlam also noted that it is picking up green waste more frequently and making waste cart attachments available to prevent bears from accessing the bins. There’s even a third arm that makes carts more secure.
Residents who have not yet received a lock or would like to request the additional third arm for added security can contact Public Works at [email protected] or by phone at 604-927-5496
Last year was one of the busiest for bear issues in the Tri-Cities, with controversy over how conservation officers handled bear calls, including stories about an emaciated bear cub that was taken to Critter Care by residents and another about how bears were transported to the Langley facility.
Critter Care is now in in the process of releasing bear cubs back into the wild after a winter at the facility. Eight were released April 22 and the non-profit is fundraising for the remaining 21.
It costs $85 a day to rehabilitate a bear cub and with COVID-19, an annual gala has been cancelled. To donate, visit here:
