Conservation officers respond to a bear call in Port Alberni on Thursday, Oct. 24. (Stuart Bates)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Bear aware

Conservation officers relying on fines to help keep bears at bay

Oct 25, 2019 | 9:27 AM

NANAIMO — Conservation officers are vowing to fine people who don’t do their part limiting human-bear conflicts in the Nanaimo and Oceanside regions.

Ministry of Environment data supplied to NanaimoNewsNOW showed 530 regional bear calls reported to conservation officers so far this year, compared to 350 reports for the 12 months prior.

Central Island BC Conservation Officer Sgt. Stuart Bates said education efforts instead of fining the public isn’t working.

“We’ve been doing this for a few years now. We’re not educating anymore, the education they’re going to get is a $230 ticket,” Bates said.

Bates said some people don’t realize not properly securing their garbage or leaving exposed fruit in their yards can draw bears right to them.

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“It’s up to them and they are legally required to secure the attractants so a bear can’t get into it.”

Bates said conservation officers expected bear calls to increase in 2019 after cubs wandering off to fend for themselves became habituated to human food sources.

Five bears throughout the mid-island were destroyed this year, according to the province.

Most Vancouver Island bears hibernate, typically hunkering down by mid November.

Wildlife sightings in urban areas can be reported to the BC Conservation Officer Service by phoning 1-877-952-7277.

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