The bears are back in town, and so is WildSafeBC!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From WildSafeBC Central Okanagan
Monday, June 20, 2022
WildSafeBC Central Okanagan is up and running for 2022, helping to keep wildlife wild and the community safe.
The public has reported several black bears locally, including some accessing unnatural food sources. This includes sows with cubs accessing garbage in the Shannon Lake, Glenrosa and Rose Valley neighbourhoods. When bears have access to garbage and other unnatural food sources, conflict situations can develop. Report sightings of bears, wolves or cougars in urban/residential areas, or wildlife in conflict, to the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.
Bears may become food conditioned and/or habituated to people. Habituated bears tolerate people in much closer proximity than what is safe for them and humans. Food conditioned bears may become very motivated to access unnatural food sources, which can lead to property damage or increased concerns regarding public safety. It is particularly unfortunate to see sows teaching cubs to forage for unnatural food among people – potentially leading to future conflicts and shorter lives of the bears.
The most effective action to keep bears wild and our communities safe is to secure attractants at all times. See the Top 10 Ways to Help Wildlife.
WildSafeBC Community Coordinator, Meg Bjordal, is back this season; and, we are thrilled to announce that a new WildSafeBC Community Coordinator, Lauren Wishart, will be joining the team. Meg and Lauren, will work in West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and Peachland and other local communities including Kelowna, Lake Country, and the Central Okanagan East and West Electoral Areas, to reduce human–wildlife conflict for the upcoming season. WildSafeBC acknowledges the land these programs operate on as the unceded traditional territories of the syilx/Okanagan Peoples and bears are of great significance to First Nations culture.
From now until the end of November, WildSafeBC Community Coordinators will be involved in a number of initiatives, including education programs, training sessions, and outreach at various events. You will see them at events around town, as they spread the word about how to keep wildlife safely wild and communities safe, including:
- Westside Daze
- Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) Parks Day
- RDCO Salmon Festivals
- And many more
For further information on reducing human–wildlife conflict visit wildsafebc.com, follow WildSafeBC Central Okanagan on Facebook, or contact local Community Coordinator, Lauren Wishart at centralok@wildsafebc.com or 250-309-2805.
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