A bleak cycle for northern bears

The Northern Bear Awareness Society is reporting a decrease in the number of bears euthanized by conservation officers this year.

20 bears were put down this season, compared to 45 in 2014…

But President Dave Bakker says there is a grim trend to the region’s numbers.

“Whenever there is a very high number one year, it’s low the next year. But then it will slowly creep its way up.”

85 bears were destroyed in 2010, with only 12 put down the next year.

“Environmental factors do play a huge role,” added Bakker. “Last year was a terrible year for natural berries, so you’re looking at 1,100 calls to 630 this year.”

A strong summer for natural food sources this year kept numbers down through the mid-season, but as the berries dispersed and cooler temperatures rolled in, calls spiked in comparison to the 38 reports from July and August.

“The calls for September and October shot up to 382. That’s where the vast number of bears were destroyed, totalling 13, all because they had wandered into a neighbourhood to increase their food supply. Bears don’t come into residential neighbourhoods looking for food. They come in because there is food.”

For Bakker, one of the most painful realities of these numbers is that the majority of bears are perfectly healthy.

“They weren’t sick, though were injured from auto-mobile accidents. They had large amounts of body fat, had good teeth, and healthy coats. They weren’t sickly at all. They go into a stage at this time of year where they just want to keep eating. The residential food sources are just too easy. There’s no such thing as an over-fed bear.”

Precautions aren’t being taken as soon as bears come out of hibernation.

“I think a lot of residents are waiting for it to happen, and then they start taking proactive steps. But as soon as a bear finds a food source, it’s already too late.”

Food sources aren’t limited to garbage cans.

Residents with unpicked fruit trees and bird feeders also see more than their fair share of neighbourhood bears.

“You put out a bird feeders, you’re going to get birds. You put out a garbage can, you’re going to get bears. If we take that accessibility away from them, you’ll see a huge reduction in the number of calls, and a huge reduction in the number of bears destroyed every years. You look at Prince George and will still average 35-40 bears destroyed every year.”

Bakker noted that people take excellent care while camping, and this is a matter of exercising the same caution at home.

As it is with most issues, it appears prevention is the biggest key, and the Northern Bear Awareness Society is urging more caution when the furry creatures wake up from their winter nap.