A Ucluelet black bear has followed its nose into peril.
The region celebrated a significant achievement in 2023, , but that performance doesnB次元官网网址檛 seem destined for a repeat as UclueletB次元官网网址檚 wayward bruin has become a frequent diner at unsecured food sources around town.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e having a challenging time with that particular bear,B次元官网网址� WildSafeBC Pacific Rim coordinator Bob Hansen told the Westerly B次元官网网址. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 showing up all over town and itB次元官网网址檚 really getting good at finding garbage and other things of interest that are not secured. ItB次元官网网址檚 to the point now where we receive reports everyday and, sometimes, multiple reports everyday. ItB次元官网网址檚 really highlighting for us all the things that we need to improve on.B次元官网网址�
He said two other bears are breaking into bins in Tofino as well as one in Millstream and another in Hitacu, but UclueletB次元官网网址檚 bear seems to be sniffing its way to death row the fastest.
He added WildSafeBC keeps track of the regionB次元官网网址檚 bears with the help of reports made directly to the organization as well as local social media posts and information received from the BC Conservation Officer Service and Parks Canada.
B次元官网网址淭hrough that detailed tracking day-to-day as the season goes on, we actually get a very good idea of the description and behaviour of individual bears,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got a pretty good idea whoB次元官网网址檚 who, where they are and where they tend to be active.B次元官网网址�
He said the bear thatB次元官网网址檚 found itself in trouble in Ucluelet was safely foraging on natural foods earlier in the season before it discovered accessible garbage, compost and other unnatural sources.
B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, weB次元官网网址檝e seen it happen with many bears over time, something in particular tempts them away from the natural foods and, once they experience that they can get an easy meal and easy calories from unnatural foods, they quickly shift their energy towards finding those unnatural food rewards,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 whatB次元官网网址檚 happened with this bearB次元官网网址or many weeks, it was just foraging naturally in and around the community, but now itB次元官网网址檚 really focused. ItB次元官网网址檚 a prime example of what we describe as a food conditioned bear.B次元官网网址�
The and UclueletB次元官网网址檚 is running out of time to move along before the Conservation Officer Service is forced to step in.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really at risk of meeting a bad end,B次元官网网址� Hansen said. B次元官网网址淭he Conservation Officer Service have to balance public safety versus conservation of the animal and, at some point, they may have to make a tough decision and try to remove the animal. That tends to be how things go once a bear is seriously food conditioned.B次元官网网址�
He said local residents must collectively commit to two key actions to help keep the regionB次元官网网址檚 wildlife wild, explaining that all garbage and compost carts must be anchored in place and the brass carabiners being used to keep lids shut must be replaced with steel ones.
B次元官网网址淭he biggest challenge facing all our communities right now is something we can fix, but it really will take every single resident to take action themselves,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚f (the bins) are outside and they have stuff in them, then they need to be anchored so the bear canB次元官网网址檛 drag them off and (people) need to replace the brass carabiners with steel carabiners. Those two actions would hugely reduce the number of reports and conflicts that are happening.B次元官网网址�
The brass carabiners were provided to residents with the new garbage and compost bins passed out as part of the Alberni Clayoquot Regional DistrictB次元官网网址檚 upgraded waste collection program in 2022. Bears have figured out how to break through the brass like butter though, so residents are being urged to replace the brass carabiners with steel ones available at local stores.
He added WildSafeBC Pacific Rim recently distributed information packages to about 250 residences in an effort to shut off the dire straits bearB次元官网网址檚 access to waste and push it towards natural food sources.
B次元官网网址淲e went door to door to door in multiple neighbourhoods where the bearB次元官网网址檚 been most active to ensure that each resident has the information they need and weB次元官网网址檒l continue doing that from this point on,B次元官网网址� he said.
He added information can also be found on WildSafeBC Pacific RimB次元官网网址檚 website at wildsafebc.com as well as its Facebook page and the regional districtB次元官网网址檚 website at www.acrd.bc.ca.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a vast amount of easily accessible information available to people through those sources,B次元官网网址� he said.
He suggested a solid berry crop should help keep most bears well-fed and out of trouble.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the things thatB次元官网网址檚 giving me some hope right now is that itB次元官网网址檚 the best berry crop IB次元官网网址檝e seen in years,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 just so much natural food available to the bears right now and I suspect thatB次元官网网址檚 why we donB次元官网网址檛 have more issues going on in our communities. The frequency of conflicts seems to have slowed with the exception of the Ucluelet bearB次元官网网址f we reduce the ease of accessing carts, then thatB次元官网网址檚 really going to encourage (bears) to focus on those abundant natural food sources.B次元官网网址�
