Local resorts and hotels can make a real difference minimizing human conflicts with wildlife, says Sue Davies of WildSafeBC.
She said Saturday that Glacier House Resort owner Daniel Kellie recently asked her to show his staff how to keep conflict with wildlife to a minimum.
“They called me to help with making the property less attractive to wildlife and with educating the staff, so the staff could pass on their understanding of wildlife to their guests,” she said in a statement on Saturday, July 19.
“I just wish everyone were as proactive about reducing conflict with wildlife. Some other businesses are going a long way toward being wildlife-aware, but Glacier House has really gone the extra mile.
“The very best way to approach the problem of wildlife conflict is to avoid it in the first place, and Glacier House is on the right track.”
Earlier consultation with WildSafeBC led to the installation of bear-resistant steel bins on the property, secure storage of food waste including a locked grease barrel, and now the staff have had a full presentation on wildlife and how to avoid conflict. Each room will also have brochures on bears, coyotes, cougar, and deer, with brochures available for guests to take away also.
WildSafeBC is committed to teaching people how to reduce conflict with wild animals in Revelstoke.
Glacier House Resort is the first local establishment to which Davies has made a presentation. She’d like to do more.
“I’d love for other resorts, hotels, camp grounds, and even restaurants in the area to be as proactive as Glacier House,” Davies said. “I’d be more than willing to put together a package to suit each business; brochures, information session with staff, helping with reducing wildlife attractants on the property and such. And this applies to those businesses down town too. Remember, there are certainly bears and coyotes throughout the whole town, even the occasional cougar too.”
You can contact Sue Davies at 250-837-8624 or via e-mail at revelstoke@wildsafebc.com to take up her offer of wildlife-proofing your business.
For more information on managing wildlife attractants please visit www.wildsafebc.com or www.revelstokebearaware.org.
To report wildlife sightings or conflicts with wildlife please call the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.
