B.C.'s cold, wet spring has bears venturing into neighborhoods for food
By mid-June, black bears that live around Metro Vancouver would typically be in the woods feasting on ripe salmonberries. But this year, those berries are scarce.
“The salmonberries have not been pollinated as early as normal because of the cold, dark days. And typically when that happens, the crop is less abundant,” said Christine Miller from the North Shore Black Bear Society.
The lack of that relied-upon natural food source has more black bears venturing into neighborhoods looking for nourishment. On Wednesday, residents watched as a black bear spent hours knocking over and rummaging through garbage bins that had been left at the curb for pick up on a North Vancouver street.
“I’m not surprised to see bears at any time, but especially this year taking advantage of accessible human food,” said Miller.
And she says North Vancouver isn’t the community seeing bears on their street this June.
“In Lions Bay, they have had more bear sightings and more different bears than they have ever had before, I’m told, and Tri-Cities is having a lot of bear sightings too,” said Miller.
To prevent the animals from becoming garbage bears, she’s urging residents to keep all food scraps out of their residential garbage and instead put them in organics bins, which are typically picked up from the curb first thing in the morning.
If organics bins are only on the street for a short time and garbage bins don’t contain any food, bears are less likely to smell food and venture into neighborhoods on pick-up day.
“If we could reduce the amount of unnatural food sources for them, they would be inclined to return and eat grasses and hopefully find berries soon,” said Miller, who adds keeping bears away from garbage keeps them alive.
“If a bear finds a lot of food available in the community, they will spend more and more time in residential areas,” said Miller. “And that usually has a very bad outcome for the bear.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.