Editor, The News:
Re: Bears about, be aware (The News, May 30).
I would like to express my thanks to the driver of the pickup who stopped me during my midday jog along 272 Street in Whonnock on Monday. He said a bear was running along behind me, and kindly offered me a lift further down the road.
While I was talking to the driver, a couple in a passing car saw the situation, turned around, and chased the bear off the road with their car. I thank these people as well.
I continued my run, but was somewhat nervous on the way home along the same route. This was certainly not the first time I have encountered bears while hiking or jogging here in Whonnock, but it is happening more frequently. The bears are now way more numerous and are completely fearless.
We are long-time (25 years) Whonnock residents who moved here to enjoy the rural life, with its opportunities for growing our own fruit trees, berries, vegetables, chickens, knowing full well that there were bears, coyotes, deer and other wildlife here on the urban fringes and that they go with the territory. However, when bears and cougars lose their fear of humans, and are allowed to increase in great numbers, they can become dangerous.
The Bear Aware program appears to consist of an expensive website to state the obvious: there are lots of bears here, and to blame residents for growing food that bears like.
A few years ago, Maple Ridge was subsidizing compost bins. Now it seems there could be a large fine for having an unsecured composter, or an apple tree that may appeal to a bear.
The human population hasn’t increased much here in Whonnock in recent years, and long-time residents do know how to deal with their garbage; newcomers learn quickly.
It would be a shame to have to drive into town for a run on the treadmill, to the post office, or to the Whonnock cemetery to visit my mother’s grave rather than running or walking here at home.
Must I pack bear spray, bear bangers and an air horn outside?
I know there are those who enjoy the excitement of bear encounters, but I am old enough to prefer my exercise without having to be armed and looking over my shoulder when I’m out in the ’hood.
As with the case of the over abundant Canada geese that made Whonnock Lake for a time, an unsanitary and unusable mess, there can be too much of a good thing.
City dwellers whose experience of nature come mostly from the National Geographic channel might not like it, but there needs to be fewer bears out here.
Thanks again to those kind strangers who stopped to help.
Mark Mellish
Maple Ridge