Be Bear Aware in
Regional Parks
They’re coming back!
Regional District Parks
Services staff in
Mission Creek Regional
Park has received
several reports of bear
sightings in the park,
along the Mission Creek
Greenway and in
Woodhaven Nature
Conservancy Regional
Park. Evidence of
bear activity has also
been found in Bertram
Creek, Kalamoir, Glen
Canyon and Rose Valley
Regional Parks.
Communications
Coordinator Bruce Smith
says, “As the higher
elevation food sources
start to decline and
fruit crops ripen in the
valley below, this is
the time of year that we
start to receive more
reports of bears in some
of our Regional Parks.
When we start getting
sightings and staff sees
evidence of bears in our
parks and along trails,
we post signs advising
all park users of recent
bear activity.”
“To reduce your chance
of meeting a bear while
hiking, it’s recommended
that you travel in a
group, make noise or
carry something that
makes noise, such as a
bell.” Smith says,
“We’ve already noticed
some Kokanee starting to
return to Mission
Creek. As we get closer
to the fall fish
spawning season, it’s
not unusual for park
visitors to encounter
bears along local creeks
and rivers, as the fish
are a plentiful source
of food. Be aware that
bears fishing for food
may not hear you over
the noise of the creek
water. If you see a
bear, give it plenty of
space and stay well away
from it.”
People should respect
all bears and anticipate
and avoid encounters
with them whenever
possible. Bears can be
aggressive, especially
when defending their
food or their cubs.
Bears also have
excellent senses of
smell and hearing, and
better sight than you
might believe. For
their safety, dog owners
are reminded when in
Regional Parks that
their pets must be
leashed and kept on
trails at all times.
Provincial Conservation
Officers are advised of
the bear sightings and
along with Regional
Parks staff, monitor the
situation in local
parks.
As well, residents are
reminded to keep any
garbage securely stored
on their property and
please don’t put out
your garbage cart until
the morning of your
regular curbside
collection. That way
you’re not tempting
bears or other wildlife.
Bear Information Links
British Columbia Conservation Foundation Bear Aware program www.bearaware.bc.ca/index.htm
Ministry of Environment
Bear Smart program
www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/bearsmart/bearsmintro.html