The May long weekend isn’t just a chance for people to get together and enjoy the unofficial start of summer, but for bears to officially wake up from their slumber and start scavenging for food.
Daniel Mikolay, who works with the WildSafeBC program alongside the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society, said the long weekend is typically when bears can be easily seen meandering through residential neighbourhoods, typically looking for food sources and poorly sealed garbage cans.
“This is the time of year where you’re getting last year’s cubs searching for food,” Mikolay said. “They’re out on their own and especially around May long is where you have a spike in sightings and calls.”
There were numerous posts on Facebook groups, such as Albion Neighbours, over the weekend, showing bears rummaging through unsecured garbage containers and walking along fences.
“The time in between the dandelions blooming and the berries are ripening is when they’re looking for stuff,” Mikolay said of bears.
There have already been close calls. The conservation officer service confirms charges are pending for a man who left unsecured food waste in a sub-division on Dewdney Trunk Road, attracted a group of bears.
Mikolay calls bears “lazy eaters” who will only venture into populated places for alternative food sources when their natural sources run out.
He said it’s important things like bird feeders and pet food are kept out of harm’s way, and added that the recycling society sells certified bear-resistant bins.
You can receive a bylaw fine of $100 for early set-out of your garbage, organics or recycling. It’s also a violation of the BC Wildlife Act, and people can be dinged an extra $230 for an infraction.
Mikolay said you can get hit with the fine multiple times.
He also warns people to keep dogs on a leash when walking through public spaces, such as Albion Park.