Black bears are awake from their winter slumber and starting to graze around for food in rural areas outside Nanaimo. (Stuart Bates)

By Ian Holmes

bear care

Local bear sightings rise, $230 fines await for those who don’t manage food attractants

May 23, 2020 | 7:48 AM

NANAIMO — Bear sightings in rural areas in the mid island region have suddenly surged, leading to a BC Conservation Officer Service warning to get rid of food attractants.

Central Island Zone Sgt. Stuart Bates told NanaimoNewsNOW several recent reports of primarily female bears with their cubs were made in Extension, Cinnabar Valley and South Wellington.

He said reported black bear sightings also jumped west of Parksville in the Errington area.

“Sometimes this time of year if the moms and cubs feel comfortable around people they’ll come closer to people to get away from the big males because it’s the mating season and the males will try to kill the cubs,” Bates said.

Some recent local bear sightings were linked to food sources left out by humans which lured the animals, Bates said. He warned they’ll be writing $230 tickets to people who don’t properly contain food attractants.

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“That includes your garbage, your bird seed, you have to clean up your fruit,” Bates said. “We had done enough education as far as we were concerned and some people, unhappily, got tickets.”

Last year conservation officers changed philosophies by shifting away from warnings and education to stiff fines under the BC Wildlife Act.

Bates didn’t recall how many tickets were written in the Nanaimo area last year, but he recalled nine were handed out on a single day.

He strongly encouraged people to phone-in any bear sightings, noting the perception doing so is a death sentence for an animal isn’t true.

“The worst thing people can do is not call us. If you don’t call I won’t know there’s an issue and the bears will continue to be habituated. Not calling me is the quickest way for a bear being put down.”

Bates said fortunately they haven’t had to destroy any bears throughout the mid island region this year.

Meanwhile, Bates said they haven’t managed to find a small cougar in the Nanaimo River area believed to be linked to a pair of recent interactions with humans and dogs.

Conservation officers intend to put the big cat down due to its inability to fend for itself and the public safety risk it presents.

Bates said an unconfirmed sighting of the same cougar was made recently in the Extension area.

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

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes