- Keep your garbage secure – store it indoors, in a secure shed, or in a bear-resistant enclosure.
- Only put your garbage/yard waste/recyclables out on collection day - never the night before.
- Manage your fruit trees so that fruit is picked as it ripens, and no windfall accumulates.
- Bring bird feeders in from April through November – and when they are out, ensure that the ground underneath is kept free of seeds.
- Feed pets indoors.
- Maintain your compost so that it doesn’t smell. Add fruit slowly. Never add meat or dairy.
- Protect fruit trees, beehives and small livestock with properly installed & maintained electric fence.
- Respect wild animals by not feeding them. Food-conditioned wildlife are more likely to come into conflict.
- Keep barbecues clean and odour free.
- Report any wildlife in conflict immediately to the Conservation Officer Service 24/7 at 1-877-952-7277.
Bears and Wildlife
Emergencies and urgent situations
If life is immediately in danger, call 9-1-1.
Report serious and recurring conflicts with wildlife and sightings of bears, cougars, wolves, or coyotes in your neighbourhood to:
- Conservation Officer Service, available 24/7 at 1-877-952-7277.
- Reporting is uploaded daily to wildsafebc.com/warp.
Prevention tips to keep wildlife wild and our communities safe
If we manage wildlife attractants around our homes and neighbourhoods, we help prevent wildlife conflicts:
- Secure all attractants that may lead to conflict with bears and other wildlife.
- Remove bird feeders and store garbage securely.
- Wait until the morning of collection day to put out carts.
For tips on specific animal safety, please visit the WildSafeBC website
Find specific species reduction information below.
Information and resources
10 ways to prevent wildlife conflicts
Garbage management regulations
Under Section 2.2.3 of the Solid Waste Management Bylaw, you must only put out garbage, yard waste and recyclables between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the day of collection.
It is also an offence under the BC Wildlife Act section 33.1 to attract dangerous animals \such as bears, wolves, cougars and coyotes with unsecured attractants.
For more information on reducing human-wildlife conflict visit wildsafebc.com, follow WildSafeBC Central Okanagan on Facebook, or contact the local WildSafeBC Community Coordinator at centralok@wildsafebc.com.
Find more information from the BC Ministry of Environment on their Staying Safe Around Wildlife page.
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