A typical example of a *habituated* black bear, coming into residential areas and often breaking into sheds, bins, and other garbage containers and posing a potential threat to residents

A typical example of a *habituated* black bear, coming into residential areas and often breaking into sheds, bins, and other garbage containers and posing a potential threat to residents
Photo Credit: Louisiana Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries

Human laziness leading to high death toll of bears

In Revelstoke, B.C., nine bears killed over garbage this week alone

A conservation officer in British Columbia spoke out in anger this week over the need to kill “habituated” bears

These are bears that have become used to entering residential areas seeking the easy food source in garbage left in easy access by residents, and are unperturbed by human presence.

Eighteen bears including nine bears this week alone, have had to be euthanized this summer in Revelstoke after entering the community and raiding garbage bins left out by residents.

Red pointer indicates Revelstoke in the southern interior of British Columbia
Red pointer indicates Revelstoke in the southern interior of British Columbia © google maps

Dan Bartol an officer in the Columbia Kootenay Zone was involved in the killing of nine bears within three days.  Speaking to CBC Calgary news, he said he is exceptionally frustrated that the message that garbage needs to be stored in secure containers and away from bears reach seems to be ignored by too many residents.

Garbage is easily the biggest attraction bringing bears into communities where they can pose a threat to people
Garbage is easily the biggest attraction bringing bears into communities where they can pose a threat to people © Wild Safe BC

Bartol was also reacting to criticism after shooting a bear in a downtown alley in the middle of the day. He said he had no choice as a tranquilizer would have taken several minutes to take effect during which the bear could easily pose a threat to passersby. He blamed those who left open food containers in the alley for attracting the bear in the first place.

Adding to the problem are a number of fruit trees in backyards with ripe fruit not being picked and/or falling to the ground and not being picked up, making another easy treat and attraction for the bears.

Conservation officer Dan Bartol speaking with CBC Calgary news about the unpleasant need to kill bears which have become habituated to people through garbage and fruit left within too easy access by residents of Revelstoke, B.C.
Conservation officer Dan Bartol speaking with CBC Calgary news about the unpleasant need to kill bears which have become habituated to people through garbage and fruit left within too easy access by residents of Revelstoke, B.C.

Bears have an excellent sense of smell, and can detect potential food sources from quite a distance, easily tracking down the smell from unsecured household food waste and ripe fruit around houses and restaurants.

In one case, a bear came within a few feet of a child in a garage.

Bartol told CBC that tranquilizing the bears and transporting them away is not often a solution saying they just make their way back, or become a problem in a different community as they have learned that human habitation means easy food sources.

He said the best thing is  to prevent them from becoming habituated to garbage in communities in the first place. To do that, garbage must be kept out of bear’s reach.

A problem situation in a many communities across Canada that are close to nature. Here a young black bear goes after garbage in Whitehorse in 2013.
A problem situation in a many communities across Canada that are close to nature. Here a young black bear goes after garbage in Whitehorse in 2013. © Ken Knutson via CBC

To avoid human-bear conflicts and habituated bears, some communities and neighbourhoods across Canada have adopted the “bear smart” programme which includes bear-proof containers.

Bears are very strong, and can easily break into things like sheds to get at unsecured garbage.
Bears are very strong and can easily break into things like sheds to get at unsecured garbage. Very sturdy bear-proof containers have been adopted by some communities lying close to wilderness as a means to avoid habituating bears. © Dan Bartol

additional information-sources

Calgary Herald

After nine bears killed, Revelstoke needs to clean up its act says wildlife officer

The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/23/nine-bears-killed-in-canadian-city-of-revelstoke-after-raiding-the-garbage

The Star

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/08/23/its-avoidable-9-bears-killed-in-a-week-in-bc-community.html

CBC

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/revelstoke-bears-9-killed-1.3731591

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