Black bears broke into an alarming 35 vehicles between Tofino and Ucluelet this year and eight bears were killed after becoming food-conditioned past the point of no return.
Local WildSafeBC coordinators Bob Hansen and Marianne Paquette presented to TofinoB次元官网网址檚 municipal council at Nov. 24B次元官网网址檚 regular council meeting, providing an update on the programB次元官网网址檚 efforts this year and mapping out the road ahead for keeping wildlife wild and communities safe.
Along with the 35 vehicle break-ins, Hansen said bears broke into 35 sheds, 21 commercial waste bins, eight outdoor freezers, eight chicken coops and four commercial grease bins.
He said there were 51 close encounters between people and bears and seven cases where a bear entered a residence with people inside.
He added that the WildSafeBC team recently conducted a survey of commercial bins and that 48 per cent of the 93 bins surveyed were not secured.
Paquette spoke to the programB次元官网网址檚 public engagement in 2022, which included six wildlife ranger presentations at schools, reaching 190 students and teachers as well as 18 wildlife awareness and safety presentations reaching 280 participants and eight display booths that reached over 1,050 people.
She added that five door-to-door activities were conducted in neighbourhoods experiencing high wildlife activity where information packages were delivered to 370 residences.
She said five local businesses achieved WildSafeBC Business Pledge and nine more are working towards it. Two local campgrounds committed to the Bare Campsite Pledge.
She added 14 electric fences were installed through the program this year and 18 new bear resistant bins were purchased.
Hansen noted TofinoB次元官网网址檚 work towards adopting a new wildlife attractant bylaw and said it would be a significant milestone on the path to co-existence.
B次元官网网址淭hat really addresses a significant gap in our efforts to co-exist with wildlife,B次元官网网址� he said.
He suggested Tofino should also consider including waste management requirements in business licence applications as well as development permits.
He also urged council to apply for Bear Smart status for Tofino.
B次元官网网址淲ith the passing of the bylaw and all of the other things that have happened in the past year, all of the requirements for Bear Smart status have been met by the district of Tofino,B次元官网网址� he said.
He said WildSafeBC is working with the district offices in both Tofino and Ucluelet as well as each communityB次元官网网址檚 destination marketing organizations to expand the wildlife information being delivered to residents and visitors.
He said the local program is also hoping to secure multi-year funding commitments from both districts to increase the programB次元官网网址檚 capacity and scope.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 really like to build on the momentum thatB次元官网网址檚 been built up over the last five seasons,B次元官网网址� he said.
Coun. Duncan McMaster asked about the reception Hansen and Paquette received from local businesses when they reached out during their survey.
Paquette said the WildSafeBC team meets with local businesses to see if theyB次元官网网址檙e interested in taking the pledge and conducts an initial walkthrough, pointing out areas in need of improvement to keep wildlife wild and communities safe.
B次元官网网址淲e give them a full report with all the information they need,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hen we provide them with ongoing support.B次元官网网址�
Hansen added staff training is a key part of the pledge.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 part of an ongoing relationship over time,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淓ven though they may have achieved all of the requirements, weB次元官网网址檒l continue to train their staff as time goes on so our relationship continues past meeting all those requirements.B次元官网网址�
McMaster asked if theyB次元官网网址檇 encountered any resistance from businesses and Hansen responded that it sometimes takes significant events, like a bear accessing a business, before interest booms.
B次元官网网址淎t times, thereB次元官网网址檚 immediate interest and off we go and then thereB次元官网网址檚 other instances where thereB次元官网网址檚 some interest and thereB次元官网网址檚 a passage of time and then a whole series of incidents that increase the interest,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 sort of the pattern we see. Sometimes there are significant events that happen that are motivating.B次元官网网址�
He added the new bylaw would help further motivate residents and businesses to follow WildSafeBCB次元官网网址檚 guidelines.
B次元官网网址淭here are very specific requirements that relate to businesses and residents within that (bylaw) and those werenB次元官网网址檛 there previously,B次元官网网址� he said.
Coun. Tom Stere asked what the long-term funding requirement might look like to expand the program, but Hansen responded it was too early to put a specific dollar figure on that work.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 various things to talk about there in terms of what would be a reasonable request, balanced with what we hope to be able to achieve,B次元官网网址� Hansen said.
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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