Beware of hungry bears, warns BC Conservation Officer Service
Posted March 28, 2019 11:26 am.
Last Updated March 28, 2019 11:32 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
METRO VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The City of Port Moody is reminding residents to be bear-aware as the hungry animals start to wake up from hibernation.
The city is warning people to stash away anything that may attract the animals to their properties.
Garbage is at the top of the list, with residents being asked to lock their garbage cans and to avoid putting them out before 5:30 a.m.
But BC Conservation Officer Marc Plamondon says garbage isn’t the only thing people should be careful with.
“Also a lot of people during the winter, they have their bird feeders out because the bears aren’t around to get into them,” adds Plamondon. “Once the bears are out though, those bird feeders become bear feeders.”
He says bird food provides a lot of calories for bears without them having to work as hard to get the same calories in the wild, noting they’re a bear-favourite.
Barbecues can also be a draw for bears, he warns.
“So if epople are out barbecuing make sure when people are done to burn off the grill completely and clean up trhe grease traps and everything like that,” he adds.
Bears have also been spotted in other parts of the Lower Mainland over the past week or so
Plamondon says there’s plenty of helpful advice at WildSafeBC.com.