Great turnout, 45 people!  Thanks to everyone for your particpation.  I know I can count on you,  your families and friends to help enure that people remain safe and wildlife wild in our communities and when out in recreation areas.  Thank you to the Sparwood Golf Club for hosting, Sparwood Trails Alliance and to Jen King from the Sparwood Mountain Bike for helping make this event a big success.  Have fun and be safe out there!

To learn more about wildlife and safe use of bear spray go to www.wildsafebc.com

Photo courtesy of Jen King

Berry pickers, bikers and hikers be prepared and expect to encounter bears if you are travelling through berry patches.  A bear and her two cubs of the year have been reported daily on the Montane trail network by the new bridge on the inclusive trail.

Bear sightings also reported on the road to Rosen Lake left of the Y.  The bear was on the side of the road eating berries.  Grizzly bear sightings reported in Sparwood Heigths and black bear sightings by the hospital on Pine Avenue.

The safest bear encounter is one prevented.  Make noise to warn bears of your presence and avoid surprise encounters.

Fernie black bear family mowing the lawn!  Photo courtesy of Marcie Welsh

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

WildSafeBc and the Sparwood Trails Alliance will be cohosting a Wildlife Safety and How to Use Bear Spray Workshop.  Come along and learn how to respond to wildlife encounters and get hands on experience using inert bear spray (like the real thing but without the sting of the pepper), tomorrow, August 6th at 6 pm at the Sparwood Golf Clubhouse.   Free of charge, everyone welcome.

The safest wildlife encounter is one prevented.  Having bear spray accessible and knowing how to use it will give you the confidence to do the right thing (stay calm, assess the situation and respond accordingly) and not give in to the instinct to run (which can trigger the chase instinct).  Like wearing your seat belt, if used properly, bear spray could help save your life!

For more information contact the WildSafeBC Coordinator, fernie@wildsafebc.com

Come along and learn how to respond to wildlife encounters and get hands on experience using inert bear spray (like the real thing but without the sting of the pepper).  The safest wildlife encounter is one prevented.

Having bear spray accessible and knowing how to use it will give you the confidence to do the right thing.   Stay calm, assess the situation, respond accordingly and not give in to the instinct to run, which can trigger the chase instinct.  Bear spray has been determined to be an effective deterrent that can reduce injury and potentially safe your life. Like a seat belt, it should be considered essential safety equipment when travelling in wildlife country.

Free of charge.  Meet outside the Fernie Info Centre on Highway 3, today at 5:30 pm.

For more information contact the WildSafeBC Coordinator, fernie@wildsafebc.com

A bear and cubs were seen in a backyard on  Ridgemont Avenue early this morning.  We all enjoy living here and must always be aware of our surroundings and respectful of our environment.  Thank you to everyone who is making an effort to prevent human/wildlife conflict.  We have many new seasonal residents and visitors so it’s up to us who have been here a while to lead by example and help our new neighbours and friends.

At home: store garbage in a secure garage or shed or inside your house until collection day, bring in bird feeders between May and November, clean your BBQ’s and manage all other attractants responsibly.

Hiking and Biking:  Make noise to warn wildlife of your presence, watch for signs of wildlife activity (claw marks, tracks, and fresh scat), travel in groups in daylight, do not litter on trails, carry bear spray and know how to use it.

For more information go to www.wildsafebc.com

Fernie Balck Bear.  Photo courtesy of Marcie Welsh

Monday July 22,  A black bear and cubs were seen on Sherwoody Forest trail, moose sightings reported at the top of Phat bastard and on Montane trails yesterday.

Be prepared and expect to encounter wildlife anytime.  Make noise to avoid surprise encounters and warn wildlife and other trail users of your presence.

For more information go to wildsafebc.com

It was a pleasure to present to Elkford Library’s Summer Reading Club.  Thanks to everyone for their participation.  I know that I can count on you to help ensure that Elkford remains a safe place for people and wildlife.

To book a presentation for your group contact fernie@wildsafebc.com

WildSafeBC, the Fernie Chamber of Commerce and the Sparwood Trails Alliance will be cohosting Wildlife Safety and How to Use Bear Spray Workshops.  Come along and learn how to respond to wildlife encounters and get hands on experience using inert bear spray (like the real thing but without the sting of the pepper).

Fernie: Tuesday July 23 at 5:30 pm at the Fernie Chamber of Commerce, 102 Commerce Road (Fernie Info Centre)

Sparwood: Tuesday August 6th at 6 pm at the Sparwood Golf Clubhouse.

The safest wildlife encounter is one prevented.  Having bear spray accessible and knowing how to use it will give you the confidence to do the right thing.   Stay calm, assess the situation, respond accordingly and not give in to the instinct to run, which can trigger the chase instinct.  Bear spray has been determined to be an effective deterrent that can reduce injury and potentially safe your life. Like a seat belt, it should be considered essential safety equipment when travelling in wildlife country.

For more information or to book a workshop for your group contact fernie@wildsafebc.com

In the event that you absolutely cannot keep your garbage indoors and inaccessible to wildlife between collection days, here are some options for Fernie residents to consider:

• Freeze smelly items until the day of collection
• Bring your garbage to the transfer station (free) or use one of the communal bins (also free)
• Always put the cart out the morning of collection and never the night before

As always, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to prevent dangerous wildlife from accessing unnatural food such as garbage on their property as per the BC Wildlife Act, Section 33.1. The City of Fernie Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845, http://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/city/bylaws-policies.html also requires all waste to be stored indoors between collection days.

For more information on preventing human/wildlife conflicts go to www.wildsafebc.com

Monday July 8.  Bear sightings were reported by mountain bikers on the Forever Blue and Uprooted trails in Montane over the weekend.  Be prepared and expect to encounter bears anytime!

The safest wildlife encounter is one prevented. Your best defense is to be aware of wildlife in the area.

 Make Noise to avoid a surprise encounter (use your human voice, clap hands or two rocks together – especially near running water or in dense brush)

• Carry a walking stick (adults can carry Bear Spray in a side holster)
• Walk in groups
• Keep dogs leashed and/or under voice control

     If you encounter a Bear:

• STAY CALM
• DO NOT RUN
• Let the bear know you are human (arms out to side)
• Use your voice in a calm, assertive manner.
• Back away slowly and allow the bear an escape route
• Never turn your back on wildlife
• Do not approach or feed wildlife

Call 1-877-952-7277 to report human/wildlife conflict