Revelstoke Bear Aware Society

The Gleaning Project gathers surplus fruits and vegetables from our community, helping to reduce bear attractants.  Residents with excess fruit can contact Revelstoke Bear Aware to arrange volunteers to harvest the fruit.  The volunteers receive some of the fruit and the remaining fruit is donated to Community Connections Food Bank.  The project also invites all residents to donate their extra fruit, berries and vegetables to Community Connections Food Bank.

The Bear Hazard map was used to identify “hot spot” areas of historic bear activity related to fruit.  A letter inviting residents to take part in the program was distributed to 50 homes during our door-to-door campaign.  The program was advertised through posters distributed throughout the community, through advertisements on the local radio station, and through articles in both local papers.

Community Connections Food Bank was pleased to receive 600 pounds of cherries, plums and apples from The Gleaning Project this year.  Community Connections Food Bank also saw an increase in the amount of fruit that was being donated outside of The Gleaning Project.  All of the volunteers received a Bear Aware Cookbook containing tasty ideas for plums and apples. Volunteers contributed over 48 hours into The Gleaning Project in 2010.

Natalie Stafl, Volunteer with The Gleaning Project

The Gleaning Project donated 600lbs of fruit to Community Connections Food Bank in 2010

Revelstoke Bear Aware, with in-kind support from the City of Revelstoke, held their first Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop in May 2010.  Fruit is identified as the second largest attractant, after garbage, for bringing bears into the community.  Pruning a fruit tree to a more manageable size allows for ease of picking and can reduce excess fruit for the resident. The tree chosen for the event was one that was in much need of pruning and had a history of a bear visiting it in 2009.  The local resident had asked for assistance from Revelstoke Bear Aware in 2009 as part of “The Gleaning Project.”

Fruit Tree Pruning- May 2010

Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop- May 2010

After large branches were removed, bear scratches were revealed

Participants in the workshop learned from the City’s arborist, Matt McCaw, how to prune fruit trees correctly, tools that are needed, how much a tree can be pruned and the correct timing.  Participants were also given the opportunity for hands on experiences in pruning branches themselves.

The event was a huge success with 25 participants attending.

2009 was a very successful year for bears in and around Revelstoke. This fall, I was often asked, “Where are the bears?” There was a total of only 34 calls made this year to the provincial Problem Wildlife phone line and to the Revelstoke Bear Aware phone line, compared with 162 calls last year. Revelstoke Bear Aware encourages everyone to report all bear sightings to determine where to focus the Bear Aware message. It would certainly appear that the reduction of reported sightings points to a decrease in the number of bears in the community.

Reports this season from Revelstoke’s many hikers, hunters and mountain bikers indicated there was a bumper crop of berries over a wide range of elevations. The abundance of natural food helped to keep our ursine neighbours in the wild, feeding on natural healthy bear food. Off course this does not mean we can be complacent. In the spring, there were reports of bears feeding on garbage and birdfeeders.

Only two bears this year were destroyed as a result of conflict with people. Both were black bears that were food conditioned to garbage. One of the bears was thought to have been living in one of the forested areas in our city for a number of years, enjoying a large bear stash (garbage collected from the surrounding houses). Although it would be preferable not to have any bears destroyed, two is much less than has been seen in the past three years.

The Revelstoke Bear Aware Society also had many successes in 2009:

• Bear resistant residential garbage can pilot project: the pilot project was completed in Johnson Heights with the bear resistant garbage cans receiving huge support from the residents.
• New Logo: Zuzanna Driediger, a local artist, volunteered her time and talent to create a new logo for the Society. (see above)
• The Gleaning Project: In conjunction with Community Connections Food Bank, this initiative saw many volunteers picking fruit. Nine large laundry baskets of fruit were donated to the Community Connections Food Bank
• Bear Hazard Map: Through in-kind support received from Parks Canada, GIS specialist Ron Larsen helped create a bear hazard map for Revelstoke
• Bear Hazard Assessment and Bear-Human Conflict Management Plan: Plan created for Revelstoke
• School garbage cans: Three elementary schools received bear proof garbage cans.
• Elementary school programming: 82% of elementary students in Revelstoke received information on bear biology, ecology and safety.
• City bear proof garbage bins: open garbage cans were replaced across from the Community Center and at Williamson Lake

left: Open garbage can across from Community Center, Summer 2008. (photo courtesy of Francis Maltby) right: One year later, the can has been replaced with a new bear-proof garbage can.

Revelstoke Bear Aware would like to thank Columbia Basin Trust, British Columbia Conservation Foundation, British Columbia Conservation Corps, BC Hydro, Columbia Shuswap Regional District and local businesses for the funding they provided to this year’s program. Also, thank you to Parks Canada, the Conservation Officer Service, the School District and the City of Revelstoke for their valuable support. Finally, a big thanks to the many volunteers that made this year’s program so successful.

Although the bears are heading into their winter dens for a much quieter existence, Revelstoke Bear Aware will continue to work through the winter months. This time of the year is when the annual report is completed and funding requirements and work plan for next season are determined. All indications are that the province will not continue to provide funding, so a search for new means to fund next year’s program will begin right away. This will ensure the Bear Aware message continues to reach the people of Revelstoke including the many newcomers and visitors to our community.

Thanks for a great year, and thanks to everyone that called in a bear sighting and who did their best to secure all the bear attractants on their property.

With warm weather and spring upon us, bears have left their dens to begin their search for spring vegetation, feeding on tender plant buds, grasses, dandelion flowers and other tasty morsels. It won’t be long before bears wander into Revelstoke and begin searching for other available food.

It is important that we are ready with the message: There isn’t any garbage, or other people related food here! Many people feel that we don’t see bears in town until the fall, and we don’t need to be diligent about garbage and other attractants until then. It is true that the number of bear incidents reported to the Provincial Wildlife Occurrence phone line and to Revelstoke Bear Aware is much higher in the fall, but there is still bear activity in the spring. Last year there were 20 incidents reported in June including a bear ripping apart a wooden enclosure to access garbage and two reports of a bear entering a home. Once a bear has gained access to garbage and other people related food, the bear is very difficult to deter and becomes a potential threat to people.

So… Now is the time to ensure that you are being proactive. Don’t wait for a bear to find attractants at your home, act now! The main attractants that need to be secured are:

1. Garbage: Store garbage in a secure place between garbage pick ups and don’t put your garbage out the night before garbage day. If you have limited options or will be away, there is a dumpster at the public works yard, available during business hours.
2. Fruit: Although fruit is not a concern at this time. It is a good time to think about pruning your fruit tree. Prune to reduce fruit this season, or to make fruit more accessible for picking
3. Compost: For many people their compost has been sitting through the winter. It’s time to turn it, and start looking after it to prevent smells. For more information on composting in bear country, visit our website below.
4. Birdfeeders: There is now plenty of natural food available for birds, it’s time to bring your birdfeeders in until next winter.
5. Barbeque grills: After you have finished using your barbeque, burn off any excess food that remains on the grill. Last year there was a report of a bear trying to take off with someone’s barbeque!
6. Pet food: Bring food dishes inside and store pet food inside.

If you see a bear in town please give Revelstoke Bear Aware a call. Reports of bear activity are used to determine areas to receive the Bear Aware education message. By reporting bear activity, the attractant that brought the bear can be identified and removed. This allows the bear the opportunity to move on and if reported early prevent the bear from becoming a garbage addicted bear and potential threat.

If you have any questions, would like to learn more about Revelstoke Bear Aware or would like to become a Bear Aware volunteer, give me a call at 250-837-8624.

Revelstoke’s School District #19 has purchased six bear proof garbage cans, with an additional two purchased by Parks Canada. “Parks Canada is pleased to be part of this project, which highlights environmental stewardship, and increases awareness of bear safety and ecology to the youth in Revelstoke,” says Ian Brown, Manager of Resource Conservation for Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks.

This proactive move by the school district and Parks Canada to address the availability of garbage in school yards is great news for the community and the safety of children at school. While bears will come into our community, they will keep on going if they don’t find any available food or garbage. By removing available garbage at school yards, there is less chance of a bear lingering or being there at all.

School children with new bear proof garbage cans

The bear proof garbage cans are smaller “mini” versions of the usual ones seen along the River Trail pathway and at many city parks, making it easier for children to reach. The schools that have received the garbage cans are Arrow Heights, Columbia Park and Mount Begbie. These schools were chosen due to increased bear sightings in recent years.

Talk to your children about the new garbage cans. Stress the importance of making sure all garbage after lunch and recess makes it to the cans. Although the cans are “mini”, some of the youngest children are still unable to reach and open the lid. I have received reports that the older children have been helping the younger children. It’s great to see they are working together. Keep up the great work!

I have only received a couple of reports of bear sightings in Revelstoke so far this bear season, but it is important to remember that bears are actively foraging for new spring vegetation. The possibility of running into a bear in our community, particularly in heavily forested areas, where bears travel under security cover, still exists. Please remind your children to avoid taking short cuts through heavily forested areas when traveling to school. If they do travel through these areas, travel in groups and make lots of noise, so a bear will readily identify them as human.

Talk to your children about the importance of how to act around bears. Never approach or feed a bear. If you see a bear, remain calm and leave the area.

Please report any bear sightings to the Provincial Problem Wildlife Occurrence phone line at 1-877-952-7277 or to Revelstoke Bear Aware at 250-837-8624.

If you have any questions about bear safety, give me a call or visit Video Express and view “Staying safe in Bear Country”, a free overnight rental. Have a happy and safe spring!

–Revelstoke Times Review, July 2009

One Hour with a Grizzly. That’s what is required for a garbage can to pass the test. Recently, residential garbage cans have become available that do in fact pass the test and meet provincial “Bear Smart” standards as “bear resistant”.

The Revelstoke Bear Aware Society and the City of Revelstoke are currently testing these cans in Johnson Heights. The City’s Waste Collection Strategy committee has implemented a one year pilot project, to answer a number of questions:

• Are they an effective means of reducing the number of bears entering our community?
• Are they easy to use for residents and refuse collectors?
• Would they be an effective way of implementing a bear resistant solid waste management system in our city?

The pilot project began on October 14, with each household in Johnson Heights receiving a bear resistant garbage can. During the first night of the pilot, a bear took off with one of the cans. The bear dragged the can down into the ravine, clawed it up, ripped off the Bear Aware sticker (smart bear), but did not get in! Over the next couple of nights I received reports of an angry, growling bear that was unable to access garbage and of a bear returning three times in the night and leaving unsuccessful. The next week, a bear walked by a garbage can, stopped, looked and carried on.

Johnson Heights was chosen for this pilot due to high bear activity in the past couple of years and limited ability to secure garbage. In the fall of last year and during the bear season this year I was alerted to bear activity on a number of occasions. The stories on my couple of trips to Johnson Height last season seemed to be endless and the number of garbage bags ripped apart, were plentiful.

For one year, Johnson Heights will be given the opportunity to be part of this very exciting and important study. The residents of Johnson Heights will put out the bear resistant can, for curb-side pick up each week, secure all other attractants on their property, record any bear incidents and complete surveys during the study.

When bears are not rewarded with food they will leave and move on to look for food elsewhere. It would appear that early in this study the cans seem to be deterring bears. Will the residents find the cans easy to use? Will the cans stand up to the cold winter weather? Will refuse collectors find them easy to handle, not only during the bear season, but during Revelstoke’s heavy snow winter months.

Time will tell.

If you have any questions regarding this exciting pilot project, or would like further information about Revelstoke Bear Aware, or the City’s Waste Collection Strategy committee, please contact contact Penny Page-Brittin, Revelstoke Bear Aware Coordinator, beaware @ telus.net or

250-837-8624.

Our Bear Hazard Map is now available, click here. The accompanying report is almost finalized.

The year 2008 was a tough year for bears in and around the Revelstoke area. Ten black bears and one grizzly bear were destroyed as a result of conflict. A grizzly sow and two cubs were relocated.

The berry crop this year was strong at lower elevations, but poor higher up in the mountains, resulting in a large number of bears searching for food in town. Bears came into town in June. There were reports of bears accessing garbage and even entering homes. Bear activity was quiet through the summer months until the last week of August through to the end of October, when bears were again actively searching for food in town. Bears gained access to garbage, fruit and livestock, resulting in food conditioned and people habituated bears that came into conflict.

Many residents believe that bears that come into conflict are relocated to another area. With the exception of some grizzly bears, this is not the case. A bear that has become food conditioned and habituated to humans, is a potential threat. It is too late for these bears. When relocated they will often return to the nearest community, in search of unnatural food. Relocated bears can also have a difficult time adapting to their new home, in potentially another bear’s territory. The cost of relocation is very high and due to limited success, is not done with black bears. Grizzly bears will sometimes be relocated because of a less healthy population number compared with black bears.

The above graph shows bear management in Revelstoke and surrounding area between 1986 and 2008. During the ten year period between 1986 and 1996, on average of 27 bears were destroyed each year and an annual average of 16 bears were relocated. In 1994, the municipal landfill was protected with electric fencing. Prior to this, the garbage at the dump provided a major food source for bears resulting in an unnaturally high number of garbage conditioned bears near Revelstoke. The bears, already accustomed to feeding on garbage at the landfill, started to access alternate food sources within the city. In an effort to remedy this situation, the Bear Management Committee was created. The goal of the committee was to develop strategies that would reduce bear/human conflicts and the unnecessary destruction of bears..

In 1996 the Bear Aware program began. The residents of Revelstoke have now been receiving the Bear Aware message for 12 years. The average annual number of bears destroyed as a result of conflict has been reduced to 7, but there is still much work to be done to reduce this number farther. Revelstoke Bear Aware will continue to educate on the importance of securing bear attractants. It is important to eliminate the really problem – unnatural bear food. If a bear does not find food, the bear will carry on and remain a healthy bear.

Thank you to all of the residents that called this year with your questions and concerns and to inform of bear activity. Thank you for securing your garbage, picking your fruit, and managing bear attractants on your property.

I would also like to thank the City of Revelstoke and Columbia Shuswap Regional District, the Conservation Officer, Parks Canada, Revelstoke Times Review, volunteer fruit pickers and the volunteer members of the Revelstoke Bear Aware Society, for their support during the year. Have a safe and happy winter season.

The 2007 season was a challenging year for bears in the Revelstoke area. The extreme heat in July, and lack of rain, caused a failed berry crop in the mountains. When natural food sources were tapped out, bears headed into town. While the majority of residents in Revelstoke are Bear Aware, and know how to manage bear attractants on their property, there are still some who do not take responsibility for these attractants. Bears came into town, found food, and stayed. Every neighbourhood had reports of bears feasting on garbage and fruit. Bears were showing no fear of humans and were behaving aggressively toward humans and pets. As a result, eleven black bears were killed this year.