The Conservation Officer Service will release three bear cubs back into the wild soon, while three have already been e released on April 22.
The cubs were rescued last year in Squamish and transferred to the Critter Care Wildlife Society.
The District of Squamish, in partnership with the COS and Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD), is asking for the community’s help to ensure that these bears, and all wildlife, can remain in the wild by discouraging them from finding food in our neighbourhoods.
“This is a second chance for these bears, and also a second chance for us as a community to think about and change our behaviour so that we can do our part to prevent this cycle from happening again,” says District of Squamish Mayor Karen Elliott.
“By putting extra care into managing attractants and encouraging wildlife to move through our neighbourhoods instead of giving them a reason to stay, we can ensure a positive outcome for all.”
Trapping, rehabilitating, and relocating bears is only a temporary measure that is stressful for the animals, and requires many resources, says Simon Gravel with the Conservation Officer Service.
“The most effective solution is for neighbourhoods to manage and remove attractants in the first place. Simple efforts will help to ensure this situation is not repeated this year, which is the outcome that we all want to see,” he says.
