WildSafe BC is calling on Quesnel residents to stop conflicts with bears.
Conservation Officer Chris Ford said Quesnel is experiencing higher than normal reports of bears accessing garbage this summer.
Ford asked for residents to responsibly manage any fruit trees on their property.
“Once a bear gets a reward from a fruit tree, they will return to the tree again and again,” he said. “Although fruit might seem like a natural food source for these bears, fruit in our backyards leads to food conditioning — something that is dangerous and cannot be undone.”
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WildSafe BC suggests picking fruit and letting it ripen indoors, or pick daily, clean up any fruit that has fallen and donate any excess fruit.
Pruning a tree alone will not stop fruit from attracting bears.
“Some trees produce more fruit when they are properly pruned,” Ford said. “However, pruning a tree helps makes the harvest more manageable by keeping the limbs within reach of a ladder.”
More drastic measures include electric fences. Guidelines are available at wildsafebc.com/electric-fencing.
WildSafe BC asked residents to report wildlife conflicts to the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277. Wildlife conflicts other than bear, cougar, coyote or wolf can be reported online at WildSafeBC’s Wildlife Alert Reporting Program (WARP), available at www.wildsafebc.com/warp.
READ MORE: COS: Keep human attractants secured and out of sight as bears come out of hibernation
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com
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cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com
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