Bears

Port Coquitlam is home to many black bears. Once bears begin to associate food with people, they may lose their natural fear of humans and become aggressive, putting both the bear and people at risk.

Keep our wildlife, homes, and neighbourhoods safe by being bear aware. Port Coquitlam properties are required to follow the City’s Solid Waste Bylaw, which includes requirements to secure waste carts and other wildlife attractants. Report unsecured carts/attractants to Bylaw Services at portcoquitlam.ca/report, by emailing [email protected] or calling 604.927.5440.

Do your part, follow the bylaw, and avoid $500 fines:

Lock It Right

• Lock it up: Lock 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 or another wildlife-resistant lock certified by the BC Conservation Foundation.
• Set it out: Set out unlocked carts between 5:30-7:30 a.m. on collection day and re-secure your carts by 7pm.

Secure Attractants

• Keep carts in the garage or shed if possible.
• Lock your carts, even when empty, except on collection day.
• Secure carts in the upright position (ie: against something solid like a tree, post, or fence using ratchet straps). If the bear can’t get the cart on its side, it has great difficulty accessing its contents.
• Freeze meat and strong-smelling food scraps, and don’t put them into your green cart until collection day.
• Spray lids with ammonia or peppermint oil mixed with water.
• Feed pets indoors, clean barbecues after each 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 higher than 3.3 m.
• Clean BBQs after use.
• Make sure you’re using your City cart lock correctly.
• Sprinkle backyard composters with lime to keep odours down, and don’t compost meat, fat, dairy, oils, fish, unrinsed egg shell or fruit. Put them in your green cart instead.

Bear Encounters

When traveling around our community, bear encounters are possible. Knowing how to respond safely can help protect both you and local wildlife.

Watch the video below for tons of tips on bear safety in Port Coquitlam.