Lillooet RCMP September 27 Bear awareness

Bear awareness and garbage disposal

Lillooet RCMP have received numerous calls for bears roaming in town this year. The BC Conservation Service is the lead agency for dealing with wildlife calls, reports can be made to 1-877-952-7277 for wildlife related concerns. Lillooet RCMP can be contacted if there are any immediate public safety concerns regarding wildlife. It is important to be bear aware and practice good garbage disposal practices to limit the potential for bear and human interactions.

Message from the District of Lillooet: If a bear has found an easy food source, such as garbage, and becomes habituated, it is a hard cycle to break and in most cases the animal must be put down. We urge the public to be responsible and respectful when disposing of their garbage and compost. If the wildlife cannot find a food source, they will naturally move on.

The BC Conservation Officer Service stated the following:

• Bears across the province, including Lillooet, are moving into their fall feeding patterns, a type of hyperphagia (extreme feeding, to gain enough calories and fat reserves to last the winter.)
• Bears will seek out the easiest food sources, which can lead them to unsecured human foods/wastes (garbage, fruit trees, bird feeders, BBQs.)
• The public needs to do their part to secure non-natural food sources/attractants so that the bears do not become food conditioned and habituated to human presence/activity.
• It is an offence under the Wildlife Act of B.C. to attract dangerous wildlife including bears to your premises (with unsecure attractants such as garbage, fruit trees, bird feeders, BBQ etc). This is a ticket-able offence with a fine of $230.
• Conservation Officers are encouraging the public to secure attractants so that the bears do not become a public safety concern.

Picture of Grizzly bear walking by Lillooet RCMP police vehicle on Texas Creek road.