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Black bears need personal space as they prepare for winter, says wildlife advocate

Spring and summer weather affecting hibernation schedule
31038389_web1_221124-SNM-Bear-Autumn-Update-PHOTOI_1
A black bear lumbers along the banks of the Sooke River. A wildlife advocate says that weather impacts bearsB次元官网网址 behaviour because it affects their food source. (Contributed - Gary Schroyen)

Bear behaviour is being disrupted by changes in spring and summer weather conditions.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been an odd year as far as the weather goes,B次元官网网址 said Sam Webb, program coordinator for Wild Wise, a Sooke-based volunteer organization that teaches people how to co-exist with wildlife through education.

B次元官网网址淲eather definitely impacts bearsB次元官网网址 behaviour because it affects their food.B次元官网网址

Since this spring was unseasonably cold, fewer plants were available. The salmon spawning season was delayed due to drought, so bears had to find food elsewhere, such as in unsecured garbage containers.

The reduction in rainfall affected more than plants and berries, Webb said.

B次元官网网址淪ince the rain wasnB次元官网网址檛 as heavy this year and the Sooke RiverB次元官网网址檚 not as high, it means people are getting closer to bears that are fishing,B次元官网网址 she said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 dangerous for people walking their dogs and disturbing the bears trying to eat.B次元官网网址

Wild Wise volunteers have been going to Sooke Potholes every weekend to pass out information on the need to respect wildlife.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of people donB次元官网网址檛 understand that bears donB次元官网网址檛 hibernate because the weatherB次元官网网址檚 cold. They hibernate due to a lack of food,B次元官网网址 Webb said.

B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, the period weB次元官网网址檙e in right now, hyperphagia, is when bears have an extreme drive to consume as much food as possible. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why securing garbage is extremely important, especially at this time of the year, so bears will go into hibernation when their natural food sources dry up.B次元官网网址

For more information on how to co-exist peacefully with wildlife, please visit .

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