The Editor,
It is garbage day on my street. Everyone's trash is out, locks undone and ready for pickup. As I hear the bang of a can being knocked over and the dogs in the neighbourhood barking, I see the bears are back.
They don't just come on garbage day. They come because there are cans that are not properly stored. Bears are attracted by the smell. This is not the result of garbage being out just on garbage day but a result of a few homeowners who do not manage their garbage properly.
We can co-habit with bears - they do their own thing in the forest, without us providing garbage food. Please store your garbage properly, secured, and if at all possible in your garage.
If we all do our part, we can prevent bears from being shot.
Susan Zanders,
Port Moody
CONFLICTS
The Editor,
Re. "Limit bear attractants: officer" (The Tri-City News, May 9).
This is in reference to the conservation officer's comments regarding the new strata housing and residence waste management on Burke Mountain: "It's the big general message we're trying to get out: We want to limit the attractants and for people to store them appropriately," said Sgt. Todd Hunter.
It was stated long ago by many (including myself) that there would be human-bear conflict the further we move into bear territory. There has been a general increase in human-bear conflicts wherever bears and humans meet and that is common to all areas where bears and humans live together, not just Burke Mountain.
Unfortunately, earlier this month, there was an incident in northern Alberta where a black bear killed a woman. But a 2011 article stated that 63 people had been killed in 59 attacks by black bears from 1900 to 2009 in North America, with 86% of those attacks occurring since 1960.
Experts on bear behaviour emphasize that deadly attacks remain rare, although maulings or other aggressive incidents have become more common. We have more people living in bear habitat. The rise in incidents with bears is a function of more people coming into contact with bears.
The point is this: Nobody wants to see an incident anywhere that involves someone getting killed. Please, as Sgt. Todd said, manage your waste responsibly for you and your family's safety.
Philip Warburton,
Port Coquitlam
