By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Rare fines next step as humans continue to attract bears in south Nanaimo

Jun 19, 2017 | 3:43 PM

NANAIMO — Conservation officers are again blaming a number of people in the Cinnabar Valley area for bears roaming through their neighbourhood.

Troy Sterling with the BC Conservation Officer Service told NanaimoNewsNOW 20 warnings were recently issued to people in Cinnabar Valley for not properly storing wildlife attractants. He said most of the infractions involved garbage bins put on the street the night before collection day.

“Now that education’s gone through people have been warned, violations (fines) will probably be issued if there’s a recurrence, especially if they’ve already had a warning.”

Sterling noted a stiff $230 fine for not properly securing attractants can be issued but pointed out going that route is rare. He believed one such fine had been issued to a Cinnabar Valley resident this year.

Sterling said while fines are an option rarely used, they won’t hesitate to write tickets if people refuse their advice to help keep wildlife in the woods.

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He said habituation has led to “a number” of bears being put down this spring on the mid-island. He strongly advised people to phone in their human-wildlife conflicts to 1-877-952-7277.

“The sooner we know there’s a bear in the area, there’s something we can do other than destroy, and that’s our preference,” Sterling said.

island-news@jpbg.ca

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