It's a little depressing how often local authorities have to repeat warnings to be bear aware in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
After some recent incidents – including an attack on a local woman – bears are back in the news in the region.
But bears are never really out of the news, or out of public consciousness. Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are bear country, backed up against mountains and the vast park and wilderness areas of the Pitt River watershed and Golden Ears. Bears, along with deer, coyotes, raccoons, opossums, and skunks are just part of the environment.
But every year, either bears are destroyed, or people or pets come into too-close contact with bears, because humans continue to provide a supply of food for the biggest carnivores in the region.
Having bear-resistant trash bins, cleaning up any outdoor picnic debris, keeping barbecues in the garage or shed, and cleaning up fallen fruit all serve to keep bears from becoming used to humans and human yards as a source of delicious snacks.
The more bears think that humans are a source of tasty calories, the more they'll seek out human places, including yards, parks, barns, cars, and houses.
Bears are pretty smart, they have an incredible sense of smell, they're very strong, and they do not respect No Trespassing signs.
When a bear is shot by Conservation Officers, it's usually our fault, collectively. The same precautions that keep humans safe from bears, also keep bears safe from humans.
And the truth is, we like having the bears nearby. They're a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Just as long as they aren't chewing up our bird feeders or licking the barbecue.
