WildSafeBC says you should be extra mindful of animal attractants on your property at this time of year as bears get ready for hibernation.
Kimberley-Cranbrook Community Coordinator Danica Lisk says bears will enter a phase called hyperphagia when autumn comes around, meaning the animals will consume up to 20,000 calories per day.
“They’re eating as much as possible because they need a big store of fat to make it through the winter,” explained Lisk.
“As they look for food, they’ll get into people’s garbage, fruit trees, bird seed, barbecues, pet food and livestock.”
Lisk says it’s especially important to clean up any attractants on your property in the fall.
“That could be as simple as keeping your garbage secure until collection day,” said Lisk.
“It also means maintaining your fruit trees, berry bushes and gardens. Take your bird feeders down if you can, feed your pets indoors and consider using electric fencing if you live outside of city limits.”
That said, bears in the Kimberley area are beginning to adapt to human routines.
“Bears can memory map, so they have somehow figured out when Kimberley’s garbage day is,” said Lisk.
“It’s mainly because of their nose; they can smell food up to two kilometres away.”
Lisk says the animals can become dangerous if they get used to being around people.
“That bear is going to become human-habituated and feel comfortable around humans. It could also become food-conditioned, which makes it more likely that the bear would become aggressive if that non-natural food source is gone,” explained Lisk.
If you see a bear in your community, you should contact WildSafeBC.
“If you call us, we’ll send out staff or the community coordinator such as myself and we’ll put up a bear sign and do an assessment of the area,” said Lisk.
If you head out into the wilderness, WildSafeBC said it is important to ensure you keep bear spray on you.
You can learn more ways to reduce conflict with wild animals here.
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