Bear Aware at Home
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Every year Black Bears are lured into our neighbourhoods, garages, yards, parks and schoolyards because of attractants such as garbage and fruit. This is both a hazard to residents and bears. Often the bears are destroyed, as they become a nuisance or a “problem” bear.
Securing your household garbage so that it is inaccessible to bears is one very important part of being a “Bear Smart” community. Household garbage is the number one reason bears frequent Squamish neighbourhoods followed second by fruit trees.
If bears discover a place where they can access garbage, they will return time and time again to that source. They will pass this knowledge onto their cubs who in turn will pass it on to their cubs.
At home
- Do keep all garbage secure from bears. Keep your residential garbage totes locked.
- Do rinse out all recycling material to reduce odours.
- Do put your garbage out curbside between the hours of 5am-7pm and not the night before.
- Do hang your birdfeeders at least 10 feet off the ground and at least 6 feet away from any trees or climbing structures.
- Do try attracting birds with flowers and/or a bird bath.
- Do keep an odourless compost by liming and turning frequently, cutting food into small pieces to aid in decomposing and never add meat, fish, fats or oils.
- Do consider an indoor worm composter.
- Do feed pets indoors and keep all bowls indoors.
- Do keep barbeques clean and grease free by burning an extra 5 minutes after removing food.
- Do clean all barbeque tools.
- Do lock all outdoor fridges/freezers or consider moving them indoors.
- Do talk to your neighbours about managing their attractants
Community Harvest Program
If you have fruit trees and are unable to harvest your fruit, Bear Aware would like to help. Through the Community Harvest Program volunteers will come and pick the fruit and re-distribute it within the community. Or, if you would like to volunteer your time to assist Bear Aware with fruit picking, please contact the Bear Aware office at: 604-815-5066.
