B.C. conservation warns bears are more active as fall approaches and natural food runs short
Drought, wildfires and poor berry crops across the province have reduced natural food sources. Bears may travel further into communities looking for garbage, pet food and birdseed.
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The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is warning that bears are becoming increasingly active as fall approaches and they prepare for hibernation, searching for food and fat reserves before winter.
Drought, wildfires and poor berry crops across various regions of British Columbia have greatly reduced natural food sources. As a result, bears may travel further than usual and search in new places, including residential areas, for sustenance.
The conservation service is urging the public to reduce bear attractants by securing garbage, pet food, and birdseed. Bears can become conditioned to find food in communities, which increases human-wildlife conflicts and raises the risk of bear euthanasia. As HOC reported in August, a bear was euthanized near Whistler after attacking a hiker in the Callaghan Conservancy. The same month, a three-year-old was airlifted after a bear attack in Maple Ridge, and the animal remained at large. The Conservation Officer Service emphasizes that giving bears fewer reasons to wander into communities—by removing food sources and securing attractants—is essential to reducing conflicts and preventing deaths.
The facts
Why are bears traveling into B.C. communities more often right now?
Drought, wildfires, and poor berry crops across British Columbia have reduced natural food sources. As fall approaches and bears prepare for hibernation, they are traveling further than usual to search for food and fat reserves, including in residential areas.
What should residents do to reduce bear encounters?
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service urges the public to secure garbage, pet food, and birdseed. Removing these attractants reduces the chances of bears entering communities and helps prevent human-wildlife conflicts.
What happened to bears involved in recent attacks in B.C.?
A bear was euthanized near Whistler after attacking a hiker in the Callaghan Conservancy. In a separate incident in Maple Ridge, a bear that attacked a three-year-old remained at large.
