The Fernie Wildlife Action Committee has requested that Fernie council agree to a six-step program to reduce human and bear conflicts in the community.
“It’s a tool for ourselves and the city to help reduce human and wildlife conflicts. The bear hazard assessment is step number one in becoming a bear-smart community,” committee member Steve Kuijt.
“Our committee is here to help reduce wildlife conflict in Fernie and the surrounding area. To do this we want to work with the community and the city.”
If the city signs off, the program would include preparing a bear hazard assessment, a bear/human conflict management plan, revising planning and decision-making documents, implementing an education program, bear-proof waste management systems and implementing bear smart bylaws.
They are also asking that a member of city staff and a council member join the committee.
“Ultimately we’d like to get the City of Fernie to a place where they can commit to pursuing bear smart status,” he said.
“This will be the thing to take us forward in a recognized and very proactive stance. Accomplishing this would drastically reduce the wildlife and human conflicts that we’re currently seeing on an annual basis.”
Kuijt said other communities such as Tofino and Kamloops have adopted this and their bear issues aren’t nearly as bad.
Those places have had problems but let me stress, they have not had problems like we’ve had problems,” he added.
“We do away with more bears per capita than anywhere else in the province.”
Council will be looking at the proposal further and staff have been asked to prepare a report to bring back at a future council meeting.
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