A grizzly bear was reported at the bottom of Erics trail this morning.

 Hiking and Biking:  Make noise to warn bears of your presence, watch for fresh bear signs and travel in groups in daylight.  If you meet a bear, have your bear spray ready just in case, back away slowly and leave.  Do not run.  Give the bear space to escape.

For more information on grizzly bears go to www.wildsafebc.com

Wednesday May 23.  A bear was reported getting into garbage left outdoors in the 4th avenue area right by the elemenatry school.  Long time residents thank you for leading by example and keeping garbage indoors.  If you are new to town and have chosen to live in bear country make it your responsibility to educate yourself about how to keep yourself safe and wildlife wild.

Reminder, Waste Regulation No. 1845 bylaw in Fernie requires garbage to be kept indoors between collection days.  In BC it is everyone’s responsibility to prevent attracting dangerous wildlife to thier property.  (BC Wildlife Act, Section 33.1).

We need your help to ensure compliance from everyone.  Bylaw enforcement is complaint driven and will remain anonymous.  Thank you for reporting offenders to Bylaw Services, call 250-423-6817 or go to www.fernie.ca to report online.

Thank you for helping keep our community safe and wildlife wild.  For more information go to www.wildsafebc.com

Tuesday May 22.  Bears seen on Cemetary Bypass Trail yesterday afternoon. Bikers, your speed and quietness put you at greater risk for sudden encounters.

To stay safe on the trails, keep these tips in mind:

• Make noise (using your voice), especially when riding through areas with poor sight lines or through berry patches.
• Carry bear spray where you can easily reach it and know how to use it! It is best to keep the canister on your person in a hip holster to ensure you can access it when needed (as opposed to a backpack or on your bike). Check out https://vimeo.com/123217603 or search “WildSafeBC Bear Spray” on Vimeo to learn more about this deterrent.
• Leave the dogs at home. Your chance of encountering a bear is elevated when mountain biking and off-leash dogs and bears can be a dangerous mix.
• Stay aware of your surroundings. Are you in the middle of a huckleberry patch? Is there fresh scat on the trail? Are there off-leash dogs in the area? Is it early morning or dusk? If so, your chances of encountering a bear are elevated. Slow down and keep your eyes and ears peeled!

IF you encounter a bear:

• Never try to run or bike away from a bear.
• If the bear doesn’t notice you, ready your bear spray (just in case) and then slowly back out of the area, quietly.
• If the bear sees you, ready your bear spray (just in case). Talk calmly to the bear and slowly back out of the area. Do not turn your back on the bear.
• Bear encounters should be reported to the Conservation Officer hotline at 1-877-952-7277.

Now that the bear has learned where to find easy food he is likely to keep moving through other parts of town looking for food. Regardless of where you live in town, keep your garbage stored indoors, bring in bird feeders until the winter, keep barbeques clean and secure all other attractants and bears will move on.

Garbage Left Outdoors is a Wildlife Attractant

Keeping garbage indoors between collection days and keeping other attractants inaccessible to wildlife is the MOST EFFECTIVE way to keep people safe, prevent property damage and avoid the unnecessary killing of bears that come into conflict with people.  Thank you for keeping your waste cart stored indoors between collection days.

Don’t have anywhere safe and secure to keep your garbage between collection days?

You have options.  Excess garbage can be taken to the Transfer Station on Highway 3 free of charge or to the bear-resistant community bins that are accessible 24/7 at the following locations:  City Hall, Max Turyk Centre, Fernie Aquatic Centre, Fernie Memorial Arena and the Fernie Mobile Home Park.

Complying with Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845 and the BC Wildlife Act, Section 33.1, will result in a cleaner and safer community for wildlife and people.

For more information on wildlife safety go to www.wildsafebc.com

Keep your garbage stored indoors, bring in bird feeders until the winter, keep barbeques clean and secure all other attractants and bears will move on.

A bear was reported destroying a bird feeder on Cedar Bowl Drive, bear sightings reported by the Boat launch and along the dike trail towards Dogwood Park and on Ridgemont Lane.  Bears reported accessing garbage left outdoors in Sparwood Heights.

Keeping garbage stored indoors until collection day and securing wildlife attractants is the best way to keep people safe, prevent property damage, and avoid the unnecessary killing of bears that come into conflict with people.

Bottom line: Garbage, birdseed and pet food etc. attracts bears to your property making it more likely for the bear to break into your home creating a safety risk for your family and a death sentence for the bear.

For more information on wildlife safety go to www.wildsafebc.com

Be prepared and expect to encounter bears, moose and other wildlife anytime.  Bear and moose sightings reported on Stove trail yesterday.  Moose and calf by the Queen V/Sidewinder junction.  Wildlife will choose the path of least resistance to travel and are likely to move on quickly and cover alot of ground.

Make noise to avoid surprise encounters, carry bear spray and know how to use it just in case.

For more information on wildlife safety go to www.wildsafebc.com

Tuesday May 15.  A grizzly bear and her cubs have been reported passing through backyards on properties on Highline Drive in Fernie Alpine Resort.  As residents in wildlife habitat it is our responsibility to prevent conflict between people, bears and other wildlife.  It is much easier to keep human food and other attractants away from wildlife in the first place, than it is to teach bears, cougars, deer, skunks and rodents to stay away from unnatural food, such as garbage that they have learned to enjoy.

Thank you for keeping garbage in a garage, shed or indoors inaccessible to bears and other wildlife. It is everyone’s responsibility in BC to prevent dangerous wildlife from accessing unnatural food on their property.  (BC Wildlife Act, Section 33.1).

Keeping garbage stored indoors, securing wildlife attractants (birdfeeders, BBQ’s, fruit trees, pet food) is the best way to keep people safe, prevent property damage, and avoid the unnecessary killing of bears that come into conflict with people.

For more information on keeping wildlife wild and communities safe visit www.wildsafebc.com

A bear sighting was reported early this morning on Cypress Drive in Sparwood.  Thank you for keeping garbage stored indoors until collection day, bringing in bird feeders, cleaning BBQ’s and securing all other wildlife attractants.

The end result will be a cleaner and safer community for everyone.

For more information vist www.wildsafebc.com

Monday May 14.  A bear sighting was reported on Kiddy Up yesterday and Moose sightings have been reported throughout the trail network and in James White Park and behind Maiden Lake.

Fernie is Wildlife Country.  Be prepared and expect to encounter wildlife anytime.  Make noise to avoid surprise encounters and to warn wildlife and other trail users that you are around the corner.  Carry Bear spray, have it accessible and know how to use it.

For more information on preventing encounters with wildlife visit www.wildsafebc.com