North Kootenay Lake
Bear Smart Annual
Report 2011
North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
1 TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
FIGURES ......................................................................................................................... 3
1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Program Information..................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Report Summary ............................................................................................................ 4
1.3 Community Profiles: Past and Present ....................................................................... 5
2. BEAR SIGHTINGS AND BEAR MORTALITY DUE TO HUMAN-BEAR CONFLICT IN 2011
................................................................................................................................................... 7
3. ATTRACTANTS................................................................................................................8
3.1 Garbage ........................................................................................................................... 8
3.2 Fruit Trees ....................................................................................................................... 8
3.3 Birdfeeders ...................................................................................................................... 8
3.4 Compost .......................................................................................................................... 8
3.5 Outdoor Freezers and Fridges ..................................................................................... 8
3.6 Livestock and Feed ........................................................................................................ 8
4. PROGRAM DELIVERY ................................................................................................... 9
4.1 Presentations .................................................................................................................. 9
4.2 Electric Fencing .............................................................................................................. 9
4.4 Fruit Harvesting ........................................................................................................... 11
4.5 Fruit Tree Removal ...................................................................................................... 11
4.6 Public Displays ............................................................................................................. 12
4.7 Neighbourhood Signs ................................................................................................. 12
4.8 Cooperation with the following Organizations and Community Members:...... 13
4.9 Work with Conservation Officers.............................................................................. 13
4.10 Bear resistant bins........................................................................................................13
5. VOLUNTEERS ................................................................................................................. 14
6. BEAR SMART .................................................................................................................. 15
7. BARRIERS TO THE PROGRAM ................................................................................. 15
8. RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................ 17
8.1 Electric Fencing for Small Livestock Owners and Orchards ................................. 17
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
8.2 Installing and Maintaining an Effective Electric Fence .......................................... 17
8.3 Removal of Unmanaged Fruit Trees ......................................................................... 17
9. THE FUTURE OF THE NKL BEAR SMART PROGRAM ...................................... 19
10. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... 20
APPENDIX 1 LETTERS OF SUPPORT............................................................................22
APPENDIX 2 NEWSLETTER MAIL-OUT.......................................................................26
2 FIGURES
Figure 1 Google earth image of the North Kootenay Lake area ............................................................... 6
Figure 2 The number of PWOR calls and mortality rates due to conflict from 2005-11. ...................... 7
Figure 3 Calls to the PWOR line tracking attractants each month for 2011. ....... Error! Bookmark not
defined.
Figure 4 Mesh style electric fence ................................................................................................................. 9
Figure 5 Temporary electric fencing for fruit trees................................................................................... 10
Figure 6 Electric Fencing can be a fun family activity ........................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 7 An ad for summer visitors in the Pennywise Go & Do ............................................................ 10
Figure 8 NKL Bear Smart Program Coordinator at the Lardeau Valley Harvest festival .................. 12
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Program Information
The North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Program aims to reduce human-bear conflict through
education and attractant management. The main tools identified by the program coordinator to
reduce bear conflicts in this area are protecting livestock and fruit trees with electric fencing and
promoting the use of bear resistant garbage bins. Funding for the North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart
Program in 2011 was received from BC Hydro’s Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, the
Regional District Central Kootenay, Columbia Basin Trust, BC Conservation Foundation’s Bear
Aware Program, and the Village of Kaslo.
The Bear Aware educational program has been delivered in Kaslo since 2005 and in the North
Kootenay Lake area since 2006. Program activities have increased in Meadow Creek after the
program coordinator moved to the north lake area in 2007. There has been a significant decrease in
the number of black and grizzly bears destroyed in the area in the past 5 years. The program has
partnered with many different community organizations and receives great support locally.
The huckleberry crop in 2011 was not productive and the fall season brought more grizzly bears
into conflict than in the past 2 years. At least 4 black bears were destroyed in Meadow Creek, and
additional 6 or 8 black bears in Kaslo area. There were 23 calls made from this area to the
provincial wildlife (PWOR) hotline from this area.
1.2 Report Summary
This annual report is specifically for the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program and provides a
detailed description of program activities in the area around the Meadow Creek Spawning
Channel. The spring season of 2011 started in early May with a grizzly killing a goat in Howser
and the fall season was very busy because the natural huckleberry crop was scarce and bears were
hungry and highly motivated to find food.
In Meadow Creek grizzlies were sighted in every month except July. From August through midOctober grizzlies generally stay at the Channel or in the remote parts along Meadow Creek eating
Kokanee. In late October and early November the Kokanee carcasses are gone (eaten or
disintegrated) and bears are easily drawn to nearby residential attractants in their search for food
before the winter denning period.
The focus of the program continued to be a combination of education about attractant
management and making tools such as electric fencing and bear resistant bins available to
residents. The bear-resistant bins and electric fencing have been being openly received and have
worked in all situations to prevent bears from receiving anthropogenic foods.
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
Letters of support for the North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Program are shown in Appendix 1.
1.3 Community Profiles: Past and Present
Many of the first Europeans in the North Kootenay Lake area were transient miners, but some
stayed to build homesteads and orchards, making this area a major fruit producing region at the
beginning of the last century. Bears (including grizzly bears) have been regularly destroyed in the
North Kootenay Lake area for decades due to human-bear conflict.
Nestled between the Selkirk and Purcell Mountains, the Meadow Creek Kokanee Spawning
Channel at the north estuary of Kootenay Lake supports >500,000 spawning Kokanee each fall.
This provides both black and grizzly bears with a reliable natural food source of spawning and
dead Kokanee from August through October each year. There have been significant conflicts
between residents and bears in this prime low elevation habitat since the first pioneers ‘settled’ the
land, especially in the area adjacent to Meadow Creek as it flows from the spawning channel.
In 2011 the program had strong support in Kaslo and the North Kootenay Lake area from
community members, schools, businesses and financial support from local governments. There has
been a noticeable decrease in available attractants in local communities and residents generally
have an increased awareness of bear behaviour and how to prevent conflicts.
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
FIGURE 1 GOOGLE EARTH IMAGE OF THE NORTH KOOTENAY LAKE AREA INCLUDING HOWSER, MEADOW CREEK, COOPER
CREEK, AND ARGENTA
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
2. BEAR SIGHTINGS AND BEAR MORTALITY DUE TO HUMANBEAR CONFLICT IN 2011
The number of bear mortalities and calls reporting conflicts are influenced annually by the
availability of natural foods (i.e. huckleberries). 2010 and 2011 were sparse for vaccinium spp.
production. In 2011 significant conflicts with a grizzly involved predation on domestic goats in
Howser and a sheep in Meadow Creek.
80
70
60
50
Calls to RAPP line
40
black bear mortalities
30
grizzly bear mortalities
20
10
0
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
FIGURE 2 THE NUMBER OF PWOR CALLS AND MORTALITY RATES DUE TO CONFLICT OF BLACK AND GRIZZLY BEARS
FROM 2005-11.
8
sighting
garbage
fruit
compost
livestock
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
freezer
pet food
birdfeeders
livestock feed
property damage
FIGURE 3 CALLS TO THE PWOR LINE TRACKING ATTRACTANTS EACH MONTH FOR 2011 (NB. SOME CALLS HAD MORE
THAN ONE ATTRACTANT). AS THIS FIGURE SHOWS, FRUIT AND LIVESTOCK ARE THE GREATEST ATTRACTANTS.
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
3.0 Bear Attractants
3.1 Garbage Residents of the North Kootenay Lake area have developed better
management of garbage since 2005, and in 2011 most residents did not leave garbage outside.
Continuing education was needed to increase understanding of how storing garbage in sheds that
are not bear-proof is an unsafe practice. Such a practice can simply teach bears to break open
sheds and other structures to find the food within. It would be beneficial to have a garbage by-law
passed by the Regional District of the Central Kootenay to ensure that garbage is managed.
3.2 Fruit Trees The unmanaged fruit trees in and on the edges of our neighbourhoods
are major sources of human-bear conflict. Old fruit trees are located on paths near cover (trees,
shrubs) that are easily accessible to bears and have become reliable food sources. In Meadow Creek
unmanaged fruit trees encourage grizzlies that are feeding on spawning redfish to enter people’s
yards and use the main roads to get there. These bears are not well-accepted in the community.
3.3 Birdfeeders Bird feeders continued to provide food for bears. Birdfeeders
attracted bears that were foraging in neighbourhoods to approach houses and to climb onto decks
and porches - to be rewarded with a fine protein source.
3.4 Compost Many residents in the NKL area have well-managed gardens and
compost. However, the usual compost methods may not always be enough to deter bears. In some
locations of greatest bear activity, the program coordinator recommends not composting outdoors
until the bears are denning. In any year these helpful hints can reduce bear problems: covering
compost additions with soil or leaves, never adding meat or dairy, turning the compost regularly,
and sprinkling dolomite lime to reduce smells. Alternatively, one can try vermi-composting.
3.5 Outdoor Freezers and Fridges There was only one report of a bear getting
into a freezer in 2011 in the Shutty Bench area. The bear had eaten plum cake, smoked salmon, and
pork chops. The residents moved the freezer inside and the conflict ceased. Storing a freezer
outdoors can be energy efficient; however this can also make the food (often frozen meat) in the
freezer a temptation for bears. Keep the freezer inside or fix strong metal straps around the freezer
with an appropriate locking mechanism. Freezers should also be kept clean of any meat or fish
smells on the outside of the freezer.
3.6 Livestock and Feed Livestock and livestock feed continued to attract bears,
especially at butchering season, which happens in late fall, just as bears are at the height of
hyperphagia before entering the den. The management of feed and offal and using electric fencing
prevents conflicts. There were 4 cases of predation conflict in 2011: one black bear and chickens;
one black bear and a sheep; and 2 cases of grizzlies and goats.
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
4. PROGRAM DELIVERY
4.1 Presentations On May 5th, the program coordinator hosted a meeting with the
Conservation Officer Service and residents at the Lardeau Valley Community Centre (LVCC) in
Meadow Creek. This meeting was very well attended, with ~40 people in the audience. This
meeting served to introduce the Meadow Creek Bear Management project and to have the leaving
CO Len Butler state his support for the project. Len had been the CO for the area since 1993 and is
very well respected in the community. The new CO Jason Hawkes was also there, and the meeting
served to introduce Jason and to provide residents with information about new protocols
regarding grizzly bear management in our area.
On Oct 4th, the program coordinator hosted a presentation with grizzly biologist Dr. Michael
Proctor at the LVCC. This presentation focused on the management project to date and how the
local population of grizzlies fits into the greater meta-population of grizzlies in the Selkirk and
Purcell ranges. Part of the focus of both these meetings was to promote the need for attractant
management in Meadow Creek to prevent bear conflicts.
4.2 Electric Fencing
The use of well-installed and well maintained electric fencing is effective in keeping small livestock
and fruit trees safe from bears. Bears that kill livestock are usually destroyed immediately. In 2011
the program installed 11 electric fences to prevent conflict with bears in the Meadow Creek area. In
all 11 cases, the fencing proved effective. In November there was a case where a black bear broke
into one of two peacock coops at Perry Remple’s and killed all the peacocks in that coop. The next
day the program coordinator installed electric fencing around the second coop. There was clear
sign that the bear returned the second night and entered the empty coop, the fenced coop
remained safe and all predation ceased, though the bear was still active in the area.
There was another case where a sow grizzly with 3 cubs got some pig feed at a small farm. Electric
fencing was installed around the pigs and though the bears were in the area for a few days, they
did not enter the pig pen. There were also fruit trees electric- fenced (e-fenced) in Meadow Creek
that were formerly attracting bears, which were not touched behind the e-fencing provided
through the program. Subsidies for the cost of fencing were made available from the Fish and
Wildlife Compensation Program in the Meadow Creek area. Electric
fences were installed at the following residences in the Meadow Creek
area in 2011: Cord Bauer (Meadow Creek Road), Ray Remple
(Howser), Ann McNab (Howser), Ellen Wasser (Cooper Creek Road),
Sonja Franz (Cooper Creek Road), Perry Remple (Argenta Road), Jenn
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FIGURE 4 MESH STYLE ELECTRIC
FENCE
North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
Berg Hwy 31), Gary Wagner (Howser), Don Edwards (Meadow Creek Road), George Brinkman
(Hwy 31), and Shad Wilson (Hwy 31).
FIGURE 5 ELECTRIC FENCING
CAN BE A FUN FAMILY
ACTIVITY!
FIGURE 6 TEMPORARY ELECTRIC
FENCING FOR FRUIT TREES
4.3 Media
The Pennywise, our local newspaper, sponsored weekly display ads in their paper. These ads keep
residents informed of local bear activity and sightings and reminders on management of common
bear attractants. The program also posted classified ads and additional display ads throughout the
season. Ads were also used as notices for workshops, fruit harvesting, bear information, and
upcoming events. The program coordinator also mailed a newsletter to every Post Office Box in
the area (see Appendix 2).
FIGURE 7 AN AD FOR SUMMER VISITORS IN THE PENNYWISE GO & DO
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
4.4 Fruit Harvesting
Responsible management of fruit trees is of primary importance in Kaslo and the North Kootenay
Lake area. In 2005, Bear Aware identified the excess of unmanaged fruit trees as a prime source of
human-bear conflict in the region and so the program coordinator started working in partnership
with the North Kootenay Lake (NKL) Fruit Tree Project. Working in partnership with The Fruit
Tree Project allowed the program to prioritize trees for harvesting in order to keep bears out of the
areas near JV Humphries and Jewett Schools. The Fruit Tree Project was designed to put those
with excess fruit (or those unable to harvest their fruit) in touch with volunteers who harvest the
fruit for themselves. This project managed fruit to help feed local families while educating about
bear smart practices.
The windfall fruit was distributed to livestock owners in the area. This partnership played a critical
role in cleaning up excess fruit that would otherwise be available for bears. Part of the success of
this project is attributed to local awareness of utilizing a food source that otherwise often goes to
waste. Some residents enjoyed feeding and watching wildlife, especially bears, in their backyards.
There is a very real need for education: how the practice of “leaving the fruit to the bears” does not
help bears but in fact often leads to their destruction.
Harvesting fruit as soon as it is ripe will not always keep it safe from bears. Well installed, well
maintained electric fencing will allow fruit to ripen on the tree and prevent bears from breaking
tree branches. The Kaslo Food Security Project, sponsored by North Kootenay Lake Community
Services, and the Fruit Tree Project worked together with the NKL Bear Smart Program to increase
local food security in the area while reducing human-wildlife conflict.
In Meadow Creek, apples directly across from and beside Jewett School and near the creek were
harvested in partnership with the Bear Smart Program. Some fruit trees in the area were harvested
through the Fruit Tree Project and the fruit was utilized by the Fruit Tree Project's canning
workshops at the Hall.
4.5 Fruit Tree Removal
There are still some ‘rogue’ fruit trees in the area that have not been managed for decades that
produce only small, scabby fruit. Nobody was interested in using this fruit and it continued to
draw bears into our community annually. This situation is greatly improved in 2011 through the
harvesting program and utilizing this fruit for juice and livestock. The program also promoted the
removal of unused fruit trees by residents.
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
The program was able to remove 4 of these trees in 2011 along Hwy 31 in Meadow Creek, but the
other trees that have been recommended for removal are on private land and the landowners are
not willing to cut down their fruit trees. However, they were supportive of the program
coordinator harvesting the fruit to prevent bear conflicts.
4.6 Public Displays
FIGURE 8 NKL BEAR SMART PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT THE BOOTH AT THE LARDEAU VALLEY HARVEST FESTIVAL
The NKL Bear Smart Program promoted Bear Aware practices with the educational display board
at the following events:
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Kaslo Saturday Market, every Saturday in Kaslo;
Lardeau Valley Market, every Sunday in Meadow Creek;
Kaslo Garden Festival May 24th;
Kaslo Jazz Festival Market July 29-30th;
Meadow Creek Kokanee Spawning Channel Open House, September 11th;
Argenta Fall Faire, Argenta Community Hall, September 17thand
Meadow Creek Fall Faire, Lardeau Valley Community Hall, September 24th.
A total of approximately 950 people were outreached to through the display board at
community events.
4.7 Neighbourhood Signs
“Bear in Area” signs were hung in identified neighbourhoods of Kaslo and a “Grizzly with Cubs”
sign was hung along Meadow Creek Road. Many residents commented on how effective they
thought the signs were at raising awareness and providing a timely reminder about bear activity.
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
4.8 Cooperation with the following Organizations and
Community Members:
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The Kaslo Fruit Tree Project (with 35 community volunteers)
The Food Security Task Force, sponsored by North Kootenay Lake Community Services.
The Pennywise, our local newspaper
JV Humphries and Jewett Schools
BC Conservation Corps
BC Conservation Foundation
Bear Aware
BC Hydro’s Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program
Columbia Basin Trust
Village of Kaslo
Regional District of Central Kootenay
Conservation Officer Service
Lardeau Valley Community Centre
Meadow Creek Store
4.9 Work with Conservation Officers
The BACC was in contact with Conservation Officer Jason Hawkes throughout the season and
responded to bear calls on his request. When Jason was away, the BACC was in contact with
Senior Officer Arnold DeBoon from Creston with regards to bear problems in the NKL area, and
responded to calls from the RAPP line upon his request.
4.10 Bear Resistant Bins
The loan of bear resistant bins for garbage and livestock feed has gone a long way to mitigating
bear conflicts and raising support for the program. In 2011 there were 12 bins loaned to residents
of the Meadow Creek area. These were especially effective in two cases where a mother grizzly
with three cubs was in the area of people with babies who are currently building houses on their
property but have nowhere to store garbage. Bears love baby diapers and without the timely loan
of these bins to these residents, the grizzly family quite likely would’ve become conditioned to
human garbage. Instead, the bins protected the bears from this unfortunate outcome, and the
residents were grateful for the help and have become program supporters.
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
5. VOLUNTEERS
The NKL Bear Smart program was partners with the Feeding Families, and the “Not Bears Fruit
Tree Project” that had 35 volunteer fruit harvesters. The partnership is effective at managing the
excess of fruit in the area. The volunteers harvested the fruit for their own use.
Bear Aware volunteers worked at the Saturday Market booths in Kaslo and put up and took down
the sandwich board every Sunday in summer at Meadow Creek, totalling 50 volunteer hours.
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
6. BEAR SMART (THIS IS FOR THE MUNICIPALITY OF KASLO)
The criteria for Bear Smart Communities are:
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Prepare a bear hazard assessment of the community and surrounding area.
Prepare a bear/human conflict management plan that is designed to address the bear
hazards and land-use conflicts identified in the previous step.
Revise planning and decision-making documents to be consistent with the bear/human
conflict management plan.
Implement a continuing directed at all sectors of the community.
Develop and maintain a bear-proof municipal solid waste management system.
Implement "Bear Smart" bylaws prohibiting the provision of food to bears as a result of
intent, neglect or irresponsible management of attractants.
In 2005 the BACC produced an initial Bear Hazard Assessment and Bear-Human Conflict
Management Plan for Kaslo and drafted both Bear Hazard Assessments and Conflict Management
Plans for the communities of Meadow Creek and Mirror Lake in 2006. Ongoing updates of these
documents continue annually and are available at the Kaslo Village Office.
The NKL Bear Smart Program has contributed to the Official Community Plan by recommending
that the Village plant non-fruit bearing plants/trees in new development landscaping. Bear Aware
also recommended that it be the responsibility of landowners (especially absentee landowners) to
manage their fruit trees through local fruit harvest or tree removal.
The Village of Kaslo purchased additional bear proof bins for Front St. in 2009.This was a
recommendation of the Kaslo Bear-Human Conflict Management Plan in 2005. With the purchase
of these additional bins, Kaslo was well on its way to a Bear-Proof Waste Management System.
Almost all residents of Kaslo managed their garbage to avoid attracting bears. Support from both
the local RCMP and the Village of Kaslo has helped to encourage those who were leaving garbage
accessible to bears to change their behaviour. Fourteen bear resistant bins for residential use were
purchased and lent to residents in 2011 (five in 2008, eight in 2009, and ten in 2010).
The Village of Kaslo adopted a new wildlife attractant bylaw and also a new garbage bylaw in
2009. These bylaws are an excellent tool in ensuring bear attractants are managed in Kaslo and are
the product of three years of work in this direction from the program.
Bylaws are available at http://kaslo.ihostez.com/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=628
7. BARRIERS TO THE PROGRAM
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
The NKL Bear Smart Program is reliant on outside funding necessary to continue implementation
of the program each year. A stable funding source would ensure the continued reduction of bearhuman conflict in the future as human development increases. The attitudes of some residents
towards bears in the Meadow Creek area have changed through program activities. Residents
generally now accept living in coexistence with bears, as opposed to just shooting them on sight.
Part of the reason for improved attitudes towards coexistence is that as residents manage their
bear attractants they experience less conflict with bears. The electric fencing is a key aspect to this
as there is very little tolerance for bears that predate on livestock or break fruit trees, but the
fencing allows for residents to have more of a ‘live and let live’ attitude.
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
8. RECOMMENDATIONS
8.1 Electric Fencing for Small Livestock Owners and Orchards
The use of well-installed and maintained electric fencing is probably the most effective method to
keep bear attractants such as small livestock and fruit trees safe from bears. In 2007 two grizzlies
that were killing pigs were shot in the spring, and three black bears were shot for killing poultry.
In 2008 and 2009 such bear mortalities were mitigated through the use of electric fencing installed
through the program. The program suggests that the addition of well-trained guard dogs in the
electrically fenced area may be the most effective known deterrent for bears. The program
coordinator’s time and expenses as well as fencing subsidies for small holders with livestock are
needed to ensure that electric fencing will be properly installed.
8.2 Installing and Maintaining an Effective Electric Fence
When installing an electric fence as a bear deterrent a good ground rod connection and 4-6 steel
wires (not the nylon/plastic variety used for grazing animals) spaced 8-10” is recommended.
Baiting the wire at a bear’s nose height (~18”) with a half cooked piece of greasy meat such as
bacon or sausage will encourage a bear to touch the wire with its nose or mouth. This method is
far more effective than giving a bear the shock through its thick fur. If you live along a bear
corridor or in high density bear season such as the fall in Meadow Creek, you can replace the bait
every 2 weeks to condition new bears that may come into the area. For electric fencing to be
effective, you need to check your voltage and walk your fence line to look for any shorts in
electricity (usually caused by vegetation touching the fence wires and identified by a spark or a
“clicking” sound). Electric fence energizers for predator fencing are available from Margo
Wildlife Supplies for $225 (as of November, 2011), plus the cost of wire and insulators. The
program coordinator developed a new style of electrified mesh fencing that will also keep out
smaller predators (see Figure 4).
8.3 Removal of Unmanaged Fruit Trees
There are many unmanaged fruit trees in the North Kootenay Lake area, some of which are
mapped in the Bear Hazard Assessments. Utilizing fruit through the Fruit Tree Project is the best
option for many of the productive fruit trees in the area. Fruit is needed to feed many low income
families. Ongoing education (and electric fences), will make it possible to manage fruit trees and to
avoid having bears become food-conditioned. The area has many old, beautiful, productive fruit
trees from heritage stock. These heritage trees, in particular, should not be replaced as long as the
fruit is managed. There are several “rogue” trees that have not been managed in years and
produce small, scabby fruit. These trees are usually growing in isolated pockets of cover (forest or
tall brush) along our transportation routes, some of which were probably seeded by past
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
generations of bears themselves. This food source attracts wild bears to human settlement. As the
bears become more comfortable with the sounds and smells of humans, they are tempted to come
closer to another food source: garbage. The program recommends the ongoing and careful removal
of the unmanaged trees identified in the Bear Hazard Assessment maps. This will have to be a
cooperative effort of the Village of Kaslo, the Regional District, and individual landowners and
coordinated by the Bear Smart Program.
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
9. THE FUTURE OF THE NORTH KOOTENAY LAKE BEAR SMART
PROGRAM
Community knowledge about bear behaviour and attractant management is growing, and now
only a few identified residents continue to leave garbage accessible to bears. The loan of bearresistant garbage bins has really helped residents manage garbage and helps to gain support for
program activities. Most people now realize that the bears approach residences to forage because
we provide easy meals for them. The program will need to continue into the future because there
will be more human developments built in bear country and new residents moving into the area.
A remote sensor camera would be an excellent educational tool, especially for pictures of bears and
the effectiveness of electric fencing. We also need other useful pictures, such as: any garbage left
out, fruit to be managed and of local bears. The North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Program is
reliant on consistent funding that will provide the continuity necessary to continue Bear Aware
education principles to the communities of the area. This funding will help to implement the
recommendations of the author to mitigate bear-human conflict and reduce unnecessary bear
deaths. The NKL Bear Smart Program, the Fruit Tree Project, and the Meadow Creek Bear
Management Project have been well received and supported by community members, local
politicians, schools, local RCMP, health professionals, local biologists, businesses, and the CO
Service. There is widespread support for the continuation of these programs in the North
Kootenay Lake Area.
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
10. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Program and Fruit Tree Project wishes to thank the
following organizations for their financial support, without which delivery of the program would
have been impossible:
Columbia Basin Trust; Bear Aware Community Coordinator wages
BC Hydro’s Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program; $10,000 for program coordinator, electric
fencing subsidies, outreach, bear resistant bins for loan
Bear Aware; educational materials and support
British Columbia Conservation Corps; administration
British Columbia Conservation Foundation; administration
The Village of Kaslo; $2,500 for office costs and advertising
The Regional District of Central Kootenay; $3,000 for wages
The Pennywise newspaper; $1,600 for advertising
Thanks also go to the following supporters:
Kaslo Food Security Project
North Kootenay Lake Community Services
Kaslo Saturday Market
Lardeau Valley Community Centre
Meadow Creek Store
Nelson District Conservation Officers
Dr. Joanne Siderius
Dr. Michael Proctor
And most of all,
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
To the bears.
Appendix 1: Letters of Support
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
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North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
Dr. Michael Proctor
PO Box 606
Kaslo, BC V0G 1M0
October 30, 2011
To Whom It May Concern:
RE: Support for Gillian Sanders, coordinator of the North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Program
and Feeding Families, Not Bears
I am a research scientist who has studied grizzly and black bears in southeast British
Columbia for the past 15 years. I am currently working on applied research and management to
improve the status of grizzly bears in the trans-border area of the southern Kootenay region.
Through this work I am very familiar with management actions that make a difference to bear
populations. The single most effective goal for grizzly bears is to reduce human-caused
mortality. In this region, most unnecessary bear mortalities (black and grizzly) are caused by
bears being attracted to human food sources such as garbage, livestock or fruit trees. The North
Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Program and Feeding Families Not Bears are important and effective
tools in the effort to reduce unnecessary bear mortalities. From a bear population perspective
they help to minimize bear mortality (a problem for regional grizzly bear populations). From a
human perspective they help to reduce human-bear conflict for both bear species, an important
goal in learning to coexist with large carnivores. Feeding Families, Not Bears reduces excess
fruit available to bears and provides access to fresh local fruit for local community members. I
believe it is an essential link to the effectiveness of the Bear Smart Program in the North
Kootenay Lake area.
In the past few years Gillian has worked with Conservation Officers and residents to
install electric fences to reduce human-bear conflicts. This initiative proved effective in all cases
where residents took the effort seriously. This fencing program has been responsible for repelling
many grizzly bears from potential conflict with livestock and helped educate landowners about
keeping bear attractants under control. Continuing and expanding the electric fencing program to
residents raising small livestock and/or fruit trees is essential for the long-term conservation of
grizzly populations.
Gillian Sanders coordinated these projects with excellent results. There is a growing
awareness of what attracts bears to our community and how to prevent conflict. The continued
outreach to communities such as Meadow Creek is an identified need in the area.
I have hired Gillian to work for me on bear research projects for the past 10 years.
Through this work she has developed a keen appreciation for the delicate public relations
perspective required for successful bear management work and community education. She is a
dedicated and enthusiastic individual who will do a good job in continuing the Bear Smart
Program and Feeding Families Not Bears in Kaslo and the North Kootenay Lake area. I support
her efforts to continue and expand these programs and offer any expertise I may offer in her
work.
Sincerely,
Michael Proctor
Page 24
North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
Appendix 2: Newsletter was mailed to every Post Office box in the area on Sept 22nd, 2011
Page 25
North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Annual Report 2011
Meadow Creek Less-Lethal Bear
Management Project
A partnership between BC Conservation Officer Service,
grizzly biologist Dr. Michael Proctor, and the
North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Program.
The majority of bear conflicts can be prevented through managing attractants such as fruit, garbage,
pet food, compost, livestock feed, and livestock. Electric fencing is effective to protect fruit trees and
prevent bears (and other predators) from killing livestock. However, the Meadow Creek Kokanee
Spawning Channel brings high densities of grizzlies to our community each fall. Most bears stay on
the fish, but after the spawn is over some bears are drawn into the community by other attractants.
Less-lethal options are now available to establish boundaries around our homes and
to move bears away from areas that we don’t want them to be.
If you have bear problems call the
North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Program 250-353-1137
Information
Meeting
7pm Tuesday
October 4th
LVCC
Page 26