Wildlife-human conflict in winter concerns Central Okanagan: WildSafeBC

WildSafeBC encourages people to pay attention to wildlife during winter.

There have been 276 sightings of black bears so far this year, the most reported to the Department of Conservation, according to Central Okanagan Regional District Coordinator Lauren Wishart. Deer placed him second in his 205 sightings. Wishart added that there were more bear sightings than average in the spring.

“This is due to late spring weather,” she said. “This has reduced the availability of natural food in the mountains and brought us closer to the community.”

Wishart noted that while the bears returned to the wild in the summer when natural food was more available, sightings returned as fall approached, with the bears foraging in preparation for hibernation.

Wishart says a major driver of human-bear conflicts is the availability of unnatural foods.

“Litter was noted in more than 60% of reports where attractants were identified.”

An ongoing challenge is getting people to manage bear attractants, especially as it relates to fruit trees, not just litter, she added.

“This is likely due to improper storage of garbage and the common misconception that fruit trees are a natural food source that does not harm bears.”

Wishart noted that while bears may quickly enter their burrows, many other animals do not hibernate, so residents need to become accustomed to other wildlife and ways to prevent conflict.

For more information, please visit the WildSafeBC website.

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@Gary Barnes109
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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Central Okanagan Regional AreaWest Kelowna CityWildlife