Effective May 1, 2015, the Anderson Beach Recreation Site will be closed to overnight camping and parking between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. due to overuse by visitors, the presence of bears in the area and ongoing issues with unmanaged wildlife attractants.

The recreation site, located in the Squamish River Valley on Magee Road, was closed completely in 2014 from Aug. 2 to Sept. 8 after several encounters with grizzly and black bears. They were attracted by the presence of human food and garbage, and contributed to the fatality of a young grizzly bear. It is critical the recreation site remain free of these types of attractants.

Day use of the recreation site is still permitted. If visitors encounter bears that seem unafraid of humans or have gotten into food or garbage, call the RAPP line toll-free at 1 877 952-7277 or *7727 on cellphones.

Signs have been posted in the area reminding users of the overnight camping and parking restrictions, and Natural Resource Officers from the ministry’s Compliance and Enforcement Branch and local RCMP will be patrolling the area. People could be issued fines of $58, and up to $115, if found at the site after 11 p.m. Vehicles could also be towed.

A number of other excellent campsites farther up the Squamish River remain open and provide a range of recreation opportunities. Levette Lake includes bear-proof caches to help keep food secure. Unfortunately, regular flooding at Anderson Beach does not allow for the use of bear-proof food caches.

Squamish is one of a handful of designated Bear Smart communities in B.C., and has undertaken an extra level of commitment to mitigate conflict between people and wildlife. The Bear Smart Community program encourages local governments, businesses and individuals to work together to address the root causes of human-bear conflicts, reducing the risks to human safety and private property as well as the number of bears that have to be destroyed each year.

Learn More:

Recreation Sites and Trails BC: http://www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca/

Bear Smart Community program: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/bearsmart/

RAPP line: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/cos/rapp/rapp.html

Media Contacts:

Greig Bethel
Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5621