Bear hazard map

Bear hazard assessment and bear/human conflict management plan for the City of Revelstoke

Download the Bear Hazard Assessment and Management Plan here (1.6 MB PDF file, May, 2009)

Download the 2005-2008 Bear Hazard Map here (1.7 MB JPG file, June 2009)

Download the 2009-2010 Bear Hazard Map here (4.6 MB JPG file, July 2011)

Download the 2005-2010 Garbage Bear Map here (4.6 MB JPG file, July 2011)

As one of the steps toward becoming a Bear Smart community, a Bear hazard map for the City of Revelstoke was created. Both the 2005-2008 Bear Hazard Map and the 2009-2010 Bear Hazard Map were created using information collected from the Provincial Problem Wildlife phone line, information from our local Conservation Officer, Adam Christie, and valuable and much appreciated support of Parks Canada GIS specialist Ron Larsen.

Locations where action taken was to destroy the bear are marked using a red bear. Sightings where an attractant was present are presented using different colored bears, the number of incidents involving each attractant is noted on the map’s legend as well as the number of incidents that resulted in a bear being destroyed.

In cases where there have been more than one incident reported at the same location only one bear symbol will show on the map, according to the order identified on the legend. For example if there was a bear feeding on garbage and birdfeeders at the same location, the green garbage bear symbol would appear on the map.

A density analysis was done for garbage and fruit sighting. The relative bear observation density is shown in green for garbage and purple for fruit. This analysis identifies areas where there have been multiple observations of bears feeding on fruit or garbage in the same or approximate location. The areas of highest density are displayed as darker colours.

From the map we see that bears are sighted throughout the community. Areas of highest concern are those which are adjacent to active wildlife interfaces and near commonly used bear travel corridors. Active wildlife interfaces occur in the neighbourhoods adjacent to Mount Revelstoke National Park, the Colombia River, the Illecillewaet River and Mount Mackenzie.

Mapping the location where bears feed on garbage and fruit allows for a better understanding of the problem areas in the community, and highlights where to make changes and target education from the Bear Aware program.

The Bear Hazard Map will be updated each year, allowing for a visual image of changes in availability of different attractants to bears over time.