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The Bear Necessities

City takes next steps in Bear Smart designation

May 7, 2019 | 10:01 AM

While some measures have been taken, more needs to be done to become a Bear Smart community.

Back in April, the City along with Northern Bear Aware and the Conservation Service launched a pilot program with new bear-proof garbage cans being tried in a neighbourhood in the Hart. It is one of many measures the City is undertaking.

In 2011, Council approved taking steps to attain Bear Smart status, which would reduce the number of human-bear conflicts, but it’s not easy to attain.

“Bear Smart programs and being recognized as a program has been going on for a long time but it seems to be a very long process in getting some communities on board,” says Dave Bakker with Northern Bear Aware. “I believes there’s only eight [communities] province-wide and, interestingly enough, there’s none that are north of Kamloops at the moment.”

The City has introduced bylaws that address the issue, but education is critical in attaining the designation.

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