The Kelowna Conservation Officers Service is asking residents to be wary of leaving out unprotected garbage after the wildlife agency received 129 reports in August of bears accessing exposed trash, subsequently jeopardizing public safety.

sa国际传媒淧eople arensa国际传媒檛 the only creatures being pushed around by the fires,sa国际传媒� said Kelowna conservation officer Ken Owen.

sa国际传媒淲ith the recent wildfires within the Okanagan, bears and other wildlife that live in the adjacent forest fringe areas to our communities have suddenly been displaced.sa国际传媒�

Owens noted that once a bear obtains discarded foods from garbage, it will become single-minded and more determined to access food sources, even going as far as to break into homes.

sa国际传媒淏ears that become highly food-conditioned and habituated to humans are often destroyed because of concerns for human safety,sa国际传媒� he said.

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Under the Wildlife Act, he said that conservation officers can issue dangerous wildlife protection orders (DWPO) if food attractants sa国际传媒� such as garbage sa国际传媒� pose a significant safety risk by drawing bears into public areas.

sa国际传媒淭he DWPO directs the person in charge of a premise to move or remove food attractants within a reasonable time,sa国际传媒� said Owens. sa国际传媒淔ailing to abide by the terms of a DWPO may result in a violation ticket or further follow up.sa国际传媒�

He added that Kelowna conservation officers will be joined by the West Kelowna Wildsafe BC Coordinator in conducting bear attractant audits within the City of Kelowna and West Kelowna and the Central Okanagan Regional District (CORD), where they will be enforcing the Wildlife Act and educating the public in removing or securing non-natural attractants.

sa国际传媒淭hese bears, when relocated, often return to their original home territory or become sa国际传媒榩roblemsa国际传媒� animals in other communities,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淚n addition, translocated wildlife often fail to adapt to their new habitat and, as a result, may starve to death or be killed by the animals that already occupy the area.sa国际传媒�

He offered the following tips to prevent onesa国际传媒檚 garbage from being accessed by bears:

• Keep all garbage securely stored until collection day. Store attractants in a sturdy building or place in a certified bear-resistant garbage container.
• Manage your fruit/nut trees and berry bushes responsibly. Pick ripe and fallen fruit/nuts daily. Remove unused fruit/nut trees. Install bear electric fencing which is cheap and portable.
• Bird feeders often become bear-feeders, so only feed birds during the winter months.
• Take feeders down between April and November. 1 kg of birdseed equals 6,600 calories. Keep ground free of seeds.

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aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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