Nelson bear death prompts reminders about spring attractants

Bear killed after accessing garbage 

 

Conservation officers have killed the first black bear of the year in Nelson after it accessed garbage behind an unlatched door near View Street. 

 

Why bears return to human food

 

I spoke with Grant MacHutchon, a wildlife biologist specializing in bears. He has been conducting research on bear behaviour for nearly 45 years.

 

Grant says that once a bear becomes conditioned to calorie-rich human food, conservation officers are often left with limited options.

 

“You know if a bear’s got a lot of experience and is well food-conditioned then it’s pretty hard for them to do much with that animal”.

 

However, he says it takes more than a few incidents of poorly managed attractants to condition a bear.

 

“It usually takes some time, some number of incidents for a bear to get bolder and more assertive in its behaviour when it’s seeking out food.”

 

Preventing future conflicts

 

Katie Graves is the founder and director of the Ursa Project,  a non-profit in Nelson that advocates and educates to decrease preventable bear deaths in the city. She is urging people to take precautions around their homes. The first step is making your residence less accessible in general.

 

“Please be careful with your doors and lower windows as well”

 

Katie also recommends using the original scent Pine-Sol to deter bears from accessing garbage cans or sheds. 

 

People can freeze smellier garbage so that storing it indoors doesn’t create unpleasant odours. 

 

Grant says it’s important not to put garbage out for collection the night before. Bears will learn when garbage days are and seek it out in those areas. He says secure storage can make a difference. 

 

“They’re less motivated to try if it’s well stored”

 

He also says that bird feeders can be an issue.

 

“If they see a big ball of fatty sunflower seeds hanging from a rope or a branch and somebody’s yard they’d be pretty motivated to get it”

 

With spring underway, Katie offered a useful step people can take with fruit trees to prevent attractants later in the season.

 

“You can use a very strong hose and sprayer or a power washer if you can just blast off some of those blossoms; the fruits at that part of the tree will not set fruit.”

 

She believes that with a little foresight and some practical considerations humans and bears can live harmoniously.

 

Grant leaves us with this overarching message.

 

“Takes each citizen of Nelson to take responsibility and say, this isn’t somebody else’s problem – this is my problem I need to do something about it, and the best thing you can do is just not make those attractants available.”