Compliance and enforcement officers are going door-to-door this summer to spread the word about preventing conflicts with bears.

Last fall, seven grizzly and 17 black bears had to be destroyed in the Mackenzie area, largely because they were attracted into town by unsecured residential garbage, poorly stored compost or unpicked fruit from trees. Removing these enticements is the best way to protect both people and bears.

Residents who leave out items that attract dangerous wildlife could be issued a Dangerous Wildlife Protection Order. Failure to comply with an order carries a $575 fine.

Quick Facts:

Last year, conservation officers responded to 2,827 bear complaints. As a result, more than 670 bears had to be destroyed.

Human-bear conflicts can be prevented by following a few simple steps, including:

• Keeping garbage inside a house, garage or shed until pick-up day.
• Removing unused fruit trees or picking ripe and fallen fruit daily.
• Never adding meat or uncooked food to compost and ensuring the lid is tightly covered.
• Storing pet food and dishes inside.
• Cleaning barbecue grills after each use and storing them in a secure area.

Learn More:

For more information on how to be Bear Aware, visit: www.bearaware.bc.ca

For how to become a "Bear Smart" community, visit: www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/bearsmart/bearsmintro.html

Media Contact:

Gary Van Spengen
Conservation Officer
Ministry of Environment
250 961-6238