SQUAMISH EARNS BEAR SMART STATUS SQUAMISH

Squamish is a Bear Smart Community

In 2004, due to a natural food shortage and a subsequent increase in human-bear conflicts, 27 bears were destroyed. The high number of conflict issues and resultant destructions was impetus for the District of Squamish to initiate the Bear Aware/Bear Smart Program.

On September 25th 2010, the District of Squamish was the second community within BC to receive Bear Smart Accreditation from the Ministry of Environment.  The District of Squamish has successfully completed numerous recommendations from the 2006 Bear-People Conflict Prevention Plan and efforts to implement and follow through with further initiatives are on going. 

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Motorists to Become Bear Smart

Bear Crossing Warning Signs Installed Along Highway 99 in Squamish

Squamish is a Bear Smart community and now motorists driving through Squamish will be a bit more bear aware with the installation of two new Bear Crossing warning signs.

One sign will be located at the entrance to Squamish and one is located north of Depot Road on Highway 99.

The District of Squamish was one of many stakeholders brought together to discuss measures to mitigate wildlife-vehicle collisions along the Sea to Sky highway.  This resulted in the District of Squamish partnering with the Ministry of Transportation, Miller Capilano Maintenance Corporation, and the Get Bear Smart Society to install a series of Bear Crossing warning signs from Squamish to Whistler.

Read the full release.

Read the Ministry of Transportation Newsletter article.

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Visual Screen to Prevent Viewing Wildlife on Highway 99 at Culliton Creek Bridge

Forty five cedar trees were planted along the east side of Highway 99 by the Culliton Creek Bridge to act as a visual screen preventing commuters from stopping and viewing wildlife. Earlier in the year, in response to an increase in bear activity along Highway 99, a group of  concerned stakeholders gathered  to discuss measures to mitigate bear-vehicle collisions along the Sea-to-Sky Highway . The Culliton Creek Bridge was identified as a high hazard area with numerous bear sightings and consequent traffic interruptions from vehicles slowing down and/or pulling over to view wildlife. This initiative was the second in as many weeks to help mitigate highway conflict. On October 14th, bear warning signs were installed along Highway 99 from Squamish to Whistler; these five signs are the first of their kind in British Columbia.

The planting of trees along the eastside of the bridge, at both the north and south ends, provides a visual screen to any wildlife that might be foraging. Blocking the vehicle sight lines to wildlife will reduce the likelihood of vehicles stopping and creating dangerous highway hazards. This tree planting initiative will keep both humans and wildlife free from conflict.

“The District of Squamish is a Bear Smart certified community and we are very pleased to be partnering with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoT), Miller Capilano Maintenance Corporation (MCMC) and Carney's Waste Systems on the Highway 99 tree planting initiative at the Culliton Creek Bridge," said Mayor Greg Gardner.

The District of Squamish is committed to creating opportunities and finding solutions to reducing human-wildlife conflict. This innovative initiative was set in motion by a co-operative venture between the District of Squamish Bear Aware Program, the MoT, MCMC, and Carney's Waste Systems and would not be possible without assistance from these important community partners. The District of Squamish is committed to ensuring both residents and visitors are aware that we are not only living, but also commuting in bear/wildlife country.

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