Signs like these are popping up across parks in Prince George where bears are likely to be seen. (Photo Courtesy, City of Prince George)

By Veronica Beltran

new signs at City parks

City installs bear aware signs at City parks frequented by bears

May 6, 2020 | 1:42 PM

PRINCE GEORGE—City Crews are installing bear aware signs at City-owned greenspaces known to see bears throughout the year.

This is the City’s latest initiative in its work to help keep residents and bears safe, and is part of its effort to achieve official Bear Smart community status.

The Bear Smart Community program is a voluntary, preventative conservation measure that encourages communities, businesses and individuals to work together in addressing the root causes of human-bear conflicts; consequently reducing the risks to human safety and private property, as well as the number of bears that are destroyed each year.

The new signs include information on how to stay safe in bear country and how to report a bear to the B.C. Conservation Service.

According to the B.C. Conservation Service, over a ten year period, up until 2018, an average of 35 bears were destroyed per year in Prince George.

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City staff audited all of the City’s parks and greenspaces and determined which areas were the most prone to bear-human conflict.

79 out of Prince George’s 169 parks and greenspaces were determined to meet the criteria due to qualities such as vicinity to rivers and forested landscapes.

In addition to the new signs, park staff are working to continue adding measures to reduce human-bear encounters by, ensuring the City continues to maintain bear-resistent garbage cans at parks with high numbers of bears, locating play areas away from heavily vegetated areas, and improving lines of sight by planting bear-resistent plant species and removing or thinning vegetation near trailheads, trail switchbacks, and play areas.

The City’s goal is to apply for the Provincial Bear Smart designation later this year.