With the arrival of fall, sightings of bears typically increase at this time, as they begin to look for food again before hibernating.
Bears enter into a period called hyperphagia from late August to November. Hyperphagia translates to extreme eating, and bears may consume over 20,000 calories per day. During this time, bears are active day and night, and may forage over 17 hours per day.
Port Coquitlam residents and businesses are encouraged to play a role and are reminded to secure their waste and remove other attractants.
Bears are food-driven and feed on natural and unnatural food sources including bird feeders, suet, chickens, rabbits and garbage. After bears find a meal once in a garbage cart, they quickly learn to check all the homes on a street, likely return and teach their cubs to do the same.
Bylaw Services staff continue to work with the provincial Conservation Office to track bear activity and conduct proactive joint enforcement. The City's Ambassador has also been out in the community performing waste cart audits to ensure residents and businesses are securing their waste and removing other wildlife attractants.
Residents and businesses can do their part and avoid a $500 fine by following the City's garbage regulations:
- SECURE garbage and food scraps in either a wildlife-resistant enclosure (e.g. garage or shed) or by using the City's wildlife-resistant cart lock
- SET OUT carts between 5:30-7:30 a.m. on collection day and re-secure your carts by 7 pm.
Properties without secure storage space for carts are required to use a City cart lock, or certified alternative, at all times except for the day of collection. If a garage or shed is not an option, secure the cart in an upright position by strapping it to a tree, post, fence or other stable structure. Instructions for proper lock use are available at portcoquitlam.ca/lockitright.
Residents who would like to request the additional third arm for added security or to be placed on a waitlist for a lock can contact Public Works at [email protected] or by phone at 604-927-5496.
The best protection against bears is to physically keep waste and other attractants out of reach:
- Keep carts in the garage or in an area not accessible to wildlife.
- Reduce odours by ensuring carts are kept clean by sprinkling a small amount of baking soda or vinegar
- Freeze meat and strong-smelling food scraps, and wait until collection day to put them into the green cart.
- Keep pet food inside.
- Clean barbecues after use and keep freezers indoors or locked up.
- Don't store strong-smelling garbage (diapers, grease barrels) or scented products (pop cans, toothpaste tubes, hairspray, mouthwash, etc.) outside.
- Harvest fruit, berries and vegetables before or as they ripen, and clean up fallen fruit.
- Remove bird feeders from April to November, or suspend them high.
- Block access to small animals (chickens, rabbits) and berry bushes.
The increased bear activity in neighbourhoods is directly related to the availability of food. After bears find a meal once in a waste cart or from a backyard fruit tree, they quickly learn to return to the area and teach their cubs to do the same. These "garbage bears" lose their natural fear of humans and often become aggressive over time.Be Cautious on the Trails:
- Travel with someone else or a group.
- Be alert where bears may not be able to see, hear, or smell you.
- Make noise (talk loudly, clap or sing) to let the bear know you are there.
- Keep children close and dogs on a leash at all times.
- Watch for fresh bear signs (droppings, tracks, scratches on trees, overturned boulders, or smashed logs).
- Never approach a bear - maintain a distance of at least 100 metres.
Residents can report unsecured wildlife attractants in their neighbourhood at portcoquitlam.ca/report, using the Report it App or by calling 604-927-3111. The public is also advised to call the Provincial Conservation Officer Service 24-hour toll-free hotline at 1-877-952-RAPP or at rapp.bc.ca if they witness an aggressive or threatening bear or if there is a conflict that threatens public safety.
For more information about regulations and resources,visit portcoquitlam.ca/bears or call 604.927.5496.
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Media Contact
Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email [email protected]