Two residences in Sooke were the latest to be targeted by black bears in a region where bear encounters have become all too common.
First, it was Corrine Paul who went out to her car on Thursday morning to find her car door was open.
After some initial confusion, she soon determined that it wasnB次元官网网址檛 a thief who had been rummaging through her vehicle B次元官网网址� but a bear.
Neighbour Tim Ayres said there were scratch marks on the car door and some other damage that indicated it had been a four-footed thief that had broken into her car.
B次元官网网址淏ears are very smart,B次元官网网址� said Debb Read, an urban wildlife specialist for Wild Wise Sooke.
B次元官网网址淭his bear was doubtlessly sitting in the woods and watching. TheyB次元官网网址檒l learn how to open doors and access all sorts of things, just by watching.B次元官网网址�
The bears B次元官网网址� apparently a mother and her cub B次元官网网址� then made their way over to AyresB次元官网网址� property where they managed to get into a small shed, despite the shed being solidly constructed and secured by several latches.
B次元官网网址淚 guess they were after the kitchen compost bin I had out there. It was scheduled to go out the next morning, and I thought it was OK given that it was well secured,B次元官网网址� Ayres said.
B次元官网网址淏ut once they decide to get in, itB次元官网网址檚 pretty hard to stop them. They got in and had a real party in there.B次元官网网址�
Given that this is the first time the bears have visited these properties, the problem, said Read, likely lies with someone else in the neighbourhood.
B次元官网网址淭hese bears have become habituated, judging from their behaviour. They should be hibernating right now, but so long as they can find food, they wonB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淭he answer is the same message weB次元官网网址檝e been trying to get out over and over again. Secure your garbage and any other food sources that the bears might be able to access. This includes things like pet food and bird feeders and, obviously, garbage.B次元官网网址�
Read said her organization is not happy to hear about situations like the one on Thursday morning.
B次元官网网址淲e now have a bear thatB次元官网网址檚 obviously habituated and sheB次元官网网址檚 teaching her cub the same behaviour. I would predict that within a few months the conservation service will have to set a trap to capture these bears and that could lead to them being destroyed,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 a real shame. ItB次元官网网址檚 not the bears that are bad. TheyB次元官网网址檙e doing what they do naturally. ItB次元官网网址檚 the bad habits of some people who cause the problem.B次元官网网址�
Wild Wise Sooke plans to visit the neighbourhood and educate residents on what they need to do and help them identify problems that might be attracting the bears.
As for Ayres, heB次元官网网址檚 aware of the correct way of dealing with his garbage and pet foods, but sometimes even if one does everything right, itB次元官网网址檚 possible to have bear problems if a bear is habituated by the behaviour of others.
B次元官网网址淚 guess it comes with the territory. We have three small kids so weB次元官网网址檙e just being a little more cautious when we let them out to play,B次元官网网址� Ayers said.
mailto:tim.collins@sookenewsmirror.com
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