Household Upkeep and Waste Management
How can you help ensure bears don’t get habituated to our residential areas?
• Keep organics in a secure organics bin. Store in an enclosed and secure area until collection day. Keep garbage bins free of organics.
• Bring your bins back from the curb after collection. Rinse periodically.
• Clean your BBQ after each use.
• Manage fruit trees by picking ripe fruit.
• Keep pet food indoors.
• Keep your smokehouses clean and dispose of fish waste properly.
www.kitsumkalum.com/curbside-garbage-organics-recycling-collection/
If you encounter a bear:
Stay calm
If the bear sees you, talk in a low, calm voice and then regardless if it has seen you or not.
Back up slowly
Never turn your back on a bear, or run. Running could trigger an attack.
Do not stare
The bear will see a direct stare as a challenge.
Give it space
Make sure it has a way to get away, and that you are not blocking access to a bear’s cubs or its food.
If a bear approaches you or charges:
Do not run!
Use your bear spray as it approaches
Play dead or fight back
Defensive attack
Usually, bears charge or attack because they are feeling threatened. Use your bear spray. If you don’t have bear spray and the bear makes contact with you – roll on your stomach, cover the back of your neck, remain still and play dead, they will lose interest and leave. Do NOT run!
Predatory attack
In rare cases, a bear may see a human as prey and stalk you along a trail. In these cases, try to escape into a building, car or up a tree. If you cannot escape and the bear charges, use your bear spray, lacking that, use anything at your disposal to fight off the bear (rocks, sticks, hiking poles).
Information from: www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/misc/bears/
For further information about bear safety visit WildSafeBC’s website
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