Time to be Bear Smart!

The early spring has Kootenay bears waking up! They are hungry after their long winter nap and looking for any available food source, including human garbage and food waste. Every year, hundreds of bears are destroyed as a result of conflicts between people and bears. Conflicts can occasionally lead to scary close encounters, and on a rare occasion, human injuries and deaths.

Fortunately, BC has Bear Smart community programs in many areas and there is plenty of information available on the provincial website: Bears - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)

You can report aggressive or threatening bears to 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP), or contact your local police.

If you encounter a bear:

• Do not feed bears, ever.
• Remain calm. Do not run or climb a tree.
• Keep a healthy distance from the bear.
• Stay together in a group if you can.
• Go indoors if possible, and bring your pets inside too.
• Watch and wait until the bear leaves.

Make noise if you are outside and carry bear spray if you are planning an outdoor activity like taking a hike.