With 26 bears destroyed this year to date, 2015 has been a particularly busy year for bears and wildlife officials.
Almost twice the number of bears were destroyed this year than in a typical season, according to Francine Ulmer, Powell River WildSafe BC Coordinator. And that number is set to hit at least 30 by the end of the season, she estimated.
Ulmer recently made presentations to City of Powell River council and Powell River Regional District committee of the whole detailing WildSafe BC’s efforts to help citizens manage bear attractants and reduce bear encounters.
Several bears have been destroyed within city limits, including a malnourished adult by École Côte du Soleil Elementary School, and a mother and cubs near Redonda Avenue behind Town Centre Mall. The latter were destroyed after the mother bear attacked a man walking his dog.
According to Ulmer, managing attractants is a more proactive approach that can prevent bear deaths. She told council destroying bears is a reactive approach that manages bears only after they have become a problem.
Ulmer also added that she will be looking to the city and regional district to continue funding the WildSafeBC program next year.
