2013 was a quiet year for Revelstoke Bear Aware, says Bear Aware Coordinator Sue Davies in the organization’s 2013 Annual Report.
She said there were 39 reports concerning black bears and 2 reports concerning grizzly bears, totalling 41 reports, made to the RAPP line and to Revelstoke Bear Aware.
“Two black bears were destroyed in 2013,” Davies said in her report. “No grizzly bears were destroyed and no bears were relocated. The light pressure from bears this season was possibly attributable to the season producing a very good and consistent wild berry crop and the reduction of food available in the city.”
However, garbage continues to be the No. 1 attractant for bears, followed by fruit trees. Pet food and birdfeeders were also reported as attracting bears this season. Other common attractants such as compost, outdoor freezers and fridges, livestock, beehives, and BBQs were not reported this season, Davies said
“Last year was also a big one reducing fruit available to bears in Revelstoke,” Davies said in the report.
“The Gleaning Project collected 2,095 lbs. of excess fruit and donated much of it to various agencies around Revelstoke, including the Food Bank, a preschool apple-sauce project, a juicing demonstration, and the Local Foods Initiative preserving project. An Adopt-a-Fruit-Tree project was initiated and successfully matched up several properties with residents who wanted to adopt the trees and manage the fruit. Also, a fruit-tree mapping project identified many wild or unmanaged fruit trees in Revelstoke and sought solutions for management or removal with the owners.
Included in the report are recommendations for 2014. Key recommendations are summarized below:
- That Revelstoke Bear Aware continues to run an outreach program educating both residents of Revelstoke and newcomers about reducing human-bear conflict in bear country;
- That Revelstoke continues to work toward creating a bear-proof solid waste system, • That Revelstoke Bear Aware continues its education campaign to inform residents of their new responsibilities under the new Solid Waste and Recycling Bylaw No. 2006;
- That a wildlife attractant bylaw is created;
- That Revelstoke Bear Aware continues the Gleaning Project and the Adopt-a-Fruit-Tree project;
- That Revelstoke Bear Aware continues with its program of finding managementsolutions for unmanaged wild fruit trees in and around Revelstoke; and
- That Revelstoke Bear Aware continues to work with the City towards Provincial Bear Smart status.
Please click here to visit the Revelstoke Bear Aware website.
