Burnaby isn’t exactly known as a playground for bears like its neighbours to the east and north, but sightings of the wild animal appear to be on the rise.
James Kelly, a conservation officer, noted the conservation service has received a number of calls about bears in the past couple of years, with an increase coming last year.
“Last year we’ve started seeing more,” he told the NOW. “This year we’ve had a fair number in the Burnaby Lake (area) and a lot up on SFU mountain.”
Exactly how many bear sightings there have been in Burnaby is not clear. Kelly explained the conservation service changed the system of recording sightings recently, adding the service should have a better sense of the numbers next summer.
So if the number of bruin sightings is up, what’s bringing them to the city?
Kelly suggested there could be a number of factors, but accessibility to food sources is the likely the culprit.
And one community’s success at keeping bears at bay could turn into another’s problem.
Kelly said communities like Port Moody and Coquitlam have offered bearproof bins to residents and have implemented bear education programs.
Burnaby does not have any such garbage programs in place.
“If the food isn’t accessible there, the bear is going to go where the food is accessible,” Kelly said.
The conservation officer noted some of the increased calls could also be related to a sow who recently kicked her cubs out, adding a couple of teenage bears are bound to cause a few extra calls.
Coun. Nick Volkow said he was unaware the number of calls about bear sightings was on the rise, suggesting the education programs in places like North Vancouver and the Tri-Cities may be working to the city’s detriment. He said he would be bringing the issue to both engineering and parks staff.
“Our species is encroaching on every other species, they’ve got to go somewhere,” he said.
The city’s website does offer a reminder to residents when it comes to garbage and wildlife, including bears.
“To minimize any interaction with wildlife, particularly bears, it is important to manage any potential attractants on your property,” the website states.
Other tips on the website include:
w Keep your collection containers for garbage, recycling and yard waste/food scraps stored in a secure location until your collection day.
w Ensure all blue box materials are rinsed thoroughly.
w Place all food scraps into your green bin, as they are collected first.
