There has been an increase in bear activity related to fruit trees in Squamish, says Conservation Officer Service.
“In Squamish and across BC, Conservation Officers are seeing increased bear activity related to fruit trees,” the service said.
“Please make sure you are picking your fruit and securing attractants to avoid facing fines.”
The service will be patrolling communities across the province to enforce legislation related to attracting dangerous wildlife.
Conservation Officers are targeting areas with a history of bear conflicts, and communities where unsecured attractants, such as garbage, pet food, birdseed and compost have led to problems with bears in the past.
“It is critical for everyone to do their part to help keep wildlife wild, so bears don’t gain appetites for non-natural food or lose their fear of humans – putting both bears and communities at risk,” the service said.
To report bears or any other wildlife, call the the 24/7 RAPP line at 1.877.952.7277 or https://forms.gov.bc.ca/environment/rapp.
To report a Wildlife Attractant Bylaw concern, contact 604.815.5067 or bylaw@squamish.ca.
Squamish ranks fourth among the top five communities in BC for bear activity in 2019, and ten bears were destroyed in 2019.
David Lassmann says
Yes, this is the time of year when fruit ripens. I have seen pieces of apples in bear scats around my home. The bears have also been eating blackberries and even mountain ash berries. In the mountains they are eating blueberries.