WildSafeBC Workshops Begin

By Barbra Fairclough

Bear spotted in Blind Bay garden

(photo credit Jerre Paquette)

WildsafeBC program is back in the Columbia Shuswap for its fourth year. Olivia Lemke, program coordinator for the Columbia Shuswap is looking forward to another busy summer. This is her third year with the program and this year she has a goal to reducing human caused attractants that can be the center of human wildlife conflicts.

Reporting to the RAPP line sightings of bears and wildlife assist Olivia in identifying causes and she can respond with education and information to residents who are experiencing conflict. Current information from WildsafeBC confirms that top attractants are solid waste which includes garbage and compost, followed by bird feeders, followed by fruit trees.

The objective of the program is to educate and inform so that bears remain wild and safety for humans and wildlife does not become a concern.

With Olivia’s sharing of knowledge and information directly to residents through the many workshops she conducts, residents can gain a fuller understanding about what attractants they can reduce or eliminate to stop the conflict from occurring. When human attractants are well managed and not accessible to bear conflicts are reduced significantly.

Here are some of the events Olivia will be attending in the upcoming weeks.

Emergency Planning and Preparedness Day on June 8. Oliva will be hosting a Bear Spray Workshop and a Wildlife Awareness and Safety workshop at Sorrento Community Hall. She will also be attending the Seniors Picnic at the Sorrento Centre, on June 11.

You will find her at the Sorrento Farmers Market on July 6 and 20 and Sicamous Farmers Market on July 12.

Olivia is in the planning stages now for attending Music by the Bay with tentative dates for July 11 and 18 and August 8. You can also find her at the Swansea point Community BBQ July 21.

In Malakwa on June 12 there will be a grizzly bear safety workshop with Grizzly Bear Solutions.

Olivia notes that rats and bears have been particularly active lately. Garbage and bird feeders are of particular note as attractants. She reminds everyone to put garbage out the day of garbage pick up rather than the day before.

Human garbage is the number one bear attractant. The 2023 WildsafeBC Report indicates “solid waste including organics and garbage is the most commonly reported bear attractant in this region and in the Province.” The report goes on to say historically the highest number of human-bear conflicts in BC occur during the fall months when a bear goes through hyperphagia (extreme eating prior to winter). Last year the black bear reports were highest in May, June, July.

Olivia confirms that incidents are very under reported with many posting on social media rather than through the RAPP line. She notes that the secret weapon in reducing conflict is to report early and often. This helps to make the conflict visible so she can dispatch to the area with information directly to residents, so they know how to eliminate the attractant, and so escalation of the conflict is avoided. Without early reporting things can escalate quickly and become dangerous to people and wildlife. WildsafeBC through education can significantly reduce the need for the conservation service to be deployed.

Watch the WildsafeBC Columbia Shuswap Facebook Page for updates on events and happenings.

The Sunnybrae Canoe Point Stewards are community hosts to this program which is currently supported in Area G, Area E and the City of Salmon Arm.