Three bears have lost their lives in the past week after acting aggressively in a Coquitlam neighbourhood.
I’ve heard about bear sightings in the Vancouver area over the last few summers, but nothing quite like this.
This picture was taken by a friend of mine in North Vancouver. A bear got into their garbage before the garbage truck came by.
Seemingly a harmless episode. But this year has been a different story.
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August 7, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Mike Goad
Unfortunately, bears looking for scarce food are coming into contact with humans and learning behaviors that may turn that contact into conflict. From what I understand, once the bears learn they can get food, it can be difficult to dissuade them from returning.
Years ago, in Yellowstone National Park, drastic actions were taken to change to accepted practices of feeding the bears — and it was primarily done to protect the bears. To prevent tragic results like you’ve described, perhaps communities with bear problems need to adopt ordinances that require bear proofing the things that bears are attracted to.
August 8, 2008 at 4:34 am
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome
Wow, that’s pretty crazy. I feel really badly for the bears – it’s a tough call, especially if a 400lb bear is coming at you and the tranquilizer hasn’t taken effect!
August 8, 2008 at 5:24 am
Bamboo Forest
Interesting accounts. I would say that the bears have to be dealt with swiftly.
Animals are beautiful, there is no doubt. But humans take precedence. So much so that if there is any doubt – force must be used.
I’m also aware that humans take habitat that once belonged to animals. True. But it doesn’t matter, ultimately.
Humans have to be protected at all costs.
August 8, 2008 at 5:33 am
Leanne Magraith
Gee that’s a tough question especially for a Aussie whose only experience with bears has been at our local zoo. It sounds like a complex issue.
Ideally I like the idea of tranquilizer first and then only shoot if a person’s life is still at risk. The practicalities of this though…..Police carrying tranquilizer guns???
Have conservationists/scientists thought outside the square to help solve this problem? Like working on the food supply issue. Is there anything they can do to increase natural food supplies for bears in their own habitat?
August 8, 2008 at 5:47 am
Evelyn Lim
I agree with Alex. I feel bad for the bear too! Can more be done? Anyway of preventing the bears from breaking in or having enough food in the wild?
August 8, 2008 at 6:27 am
davinahaisell
Hi Mike, Alex, Bamboo Forest, Leanne and Evelyn. Thanks for all your comments.
This has created quite a stir in the media. I think it has scared a lot of people now and that is unfortunate. Parents are keeping their children indoors and the playgrounds are empty… and school hasn’t started yet!
This is an exceptional year regarding the food supply. Due the extremely wet spring and late summer, the berry crops are weak.
I do know that in this neighbourhood they have bear prevention programs in effect and the residents appear to be following them. The problem is that the authorities only respond to a call when a bear is acting aggressively. One of these 3 bears had been hanging around for the past year.
It is a hard call as Alex says, when a 400 lb bear is charging at you. I’d prefer the use of the tranquilizer first but if a human’s life is in danger I guess there is no other option.
That’s an interesting idea that you have Leanne about increasing their food supply. Although again, this year the problem was with the weather.
August 8, 2008 at 6:57 am
Bamboo Forest
I’d also add, when you really think about it, it’s sorta amazing bears consume berries!
Wow, I could really go for a bowl of black berries right about now. So good.
August 8, 2008 at 8:55 am
Robin
Hi Davina – we have a similar issue here in Australia with crocodiles (sort of). People go and swim in the crocodile’s natural territory, then the crocodile gets shot for eating them. This is different in that the bear’s natural food source is in short supply, so they are moving in where people are – but similar in that the animal is in trouble for doing what comes naturally. A tough one!
We have kangaroos moving into suburbs during drought, but they don’t usually hurt people – there has been a furore in our area because 2 dogs killed one of these kangaroos, and then one of them got put down.
August 8, 2008 at 3:46 pm
davinahaisell
Hi Bamboo. I’m eating some fresh blueberries right now. Na na!
Hi Robin. Well I know I wouldn’t be swimming with the crocodiles, that’s for sure! I saw a mother kangaroo and her little one on the Ellen Show the other day. We watched the baby climb into her pouch. So cute! That’s a shame one of those dogs had to be put down.
Not that I’m for capital punishment or anything, but isn’t it interesting that animals are killed for being natural while most humans that kill are kept alive?
August 8, 2008 at 6:49 pm
veredd
I think it’s sad. But as much as I care for animals, I do believe that humans must come first.
August 8, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Natural
I feel this way when it comes to cops and humans…tranqualize, do not kill. I feel bad for the bears, they are hungry and have no where to go…they should not be shot.
Of course, like Vered said, humans come first. If one is attacking a human and the quickest way to get it to stop is to shoot it, then shoot it in the foot, but try not to kill it.
August 8, 2008 at 9:15 pm
SpaceAgeSage
During dry years in the mountains of Colorado, the bears come down to human populations for food. The best you can do is bear-proof the trash and educate the kids about them.
@Natural,
Shooting a bear in the foot is like slapping them in the face — it will only really, really irritate them. Their heavy skin and muscle structure make them pretty hard to kill.
August 8, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Urban Panther
My nephew, or rather ex-nephew, works for the Ministry of Natural Resources on Bear Patrol. Part of his job is to educate the public on bear safety; the other part is to go to bear ‘incidents’. I believe they always tranquilize the bear and cart it away from civilization. If I have occasion to see him again, I will ask under what circumstances they fatally shoot a bear.
August 8, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Marelisa
It most be horrible to be calmly standing in your driveway and all of a sudden there’s a bear coming at you. Humans do come first, but I think a way should be found to help feed the bears (away from populated areas) so that their only resort isn’t to go into people’s homes and get shot.
August 9, 2008 at 2:18 am
Linda Abbit
Tranquilizers first, shoot (but try not to kill) second. Ideally, tranquilize and take them back to an environment with adequate natural food supply, but that isn’t possible this summer.
Humans over bears if a choice has to be made.
Sad story. Bears are fascinating animals to watch (in the zoo).
Blueberries are my absolute favorite summer food!! Munch, munch!
August 9, 2008 at 4:42 am
Lance
This is both scary and difficult at the same time.
Protection of human life is important.
On the other hand, the bears are likely just seeking to stay alive (survival mode). Even if they are relocated, will they come back? And will people feel safe?
This is a tough issue to deal with.
August 9, 2008 at 6:54 am
davinahaisell
Hi everybody. Thanks again for your comments. Apologies for the delay in my response. I’m once again at a 3-day weekend workshop. I’ve included a short note below from some research I did this evening. My replies to you all follow this note.
NOTE: James Gary Shelton is a BC hunter, author and teacher of bear safety and awareness. Since the early 90’s he has been explaining that the “over-protection” of bears is resulting in an increase in the bear population and accordingly human-bear conflict is on the rise.
Hi Vered. It is sad that the bears had to be shot, but I do agree with you that humans must come first.
Hi Natural. It is a hard decision isn’t it? I would prefer that they were tranquilized and relocated too. However, I wonder if that is part of the problem as per the above statement from James Shelton. Perhaps the bear population has increased to such an extent that there are not enough resources for them all.
Hi SpaceAgeSage. This situation has certainly caused the authorities to rethink the bear-proofing issue. It doesn’t help that garbage has to be put out in the early am by people leaving for work and may not be picked up before attracting a bear. I hope they can put these people’s minds at ease soon.
Hi Urban Panther. I would be curious to hear what your ex-nephew has to say. Thanks!
Hi Marelisa. I can’t imagine what that poor woman went through! I’m going camping in a few weeks and feel more apprehensive now, that’s for sure. We’re sleeping in a tent and I wonder how much sleep I’ll get now???
Hi Linda. It is a sad story, but again, I agree. Humans must be taken care of first. I have a bear phobia, but I think they are beautiful creatures… from a distance!
Hi Lance. Definitely a tough issue and scary too. It is a really hard call. I have heard stories of bears being relocated and finding their way back, so I don’t know if that is the perfect solution. Perhaps, as per Shelton’s note, by trying to protect them we are infact leading to their population increase.
August 9, 2008 at 9:15 am
Barbara Swafford
Hi Davina,
It’s too bad the bears are moving into residential areas for find food. The safety of humans is the first priority, but I do hate seeing animals get killed.
August 9, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Al at 7P
Hi Davina – that is a sad story for the bears, since they are merely victims of a low berry season. The line has to be drawn though when real people are exposed to danger.
August 9, 2008 at 4:01 pm
davinahaisell
Hi Barbara. It really is an unfortunate situation. I hate to see anything killed (I can’t even kill a spider even though I’m not keen on them).
Hi Al. Yes, we do have to take care of ourselves. Guess that’s what the bears are trying to do too. Too bad we can’t talk to the animals…
August 10, 2008 at 2:49 am
Chase March
It really is a shame that this kind of thing happens. It seems to be more common these days too. It’s also happening in Northern Ontario (on the other side of the country) But what can we do about it?
We share this Earth with many other creatures. We need to do a better job of giving them their space so we can keep our’s safe. We need to think of ourselves as being part of the problem to come to a real solution. But will that happen? Probably not.
August 10, 2008 at 4:10 am
davinahaisell
Hi Chase. I hadn’t heard that this was also happening in northern Ontario. I don’t think a solution will happen overnight, but I believe that something will eventually be figured out.
August 12, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Harmony
Davina,
Wow, what a stir you got on this topic! I wish we could remember that before we moved in, the bear was here (DAVINA and I live in the same city). But why would we wonder at the reactions – KILL what we don’t understand or know how to communicate effectively with…we do it all the time in war, it’s happening as I write these words in 41 wars around the world. Just for thought…
Thanks for being wonderful you.
Harmony
August 12, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Cath Lawson
Hi Davina – This is scary stuff. As you know, Vancouver is one of the places I’m thinking of moving too and I was worried about getting bears in the garden.
I like Mike Goad’s idea of communities bear proofing things.
August 13, 2008 at 3:45 am
davinahaisell
Hi Harmony. We’re at war with ourselves, our environment and the animals. It gets harder and harder to trust that there is a purpose for everything doesn’t it?
Hi Cath. I thought of you when I wrote this post actually. I’m a little nervous about the camping trip I’ve got planned in September because of this.
August 17, 2008 at 12:07 am
Friar
I love bears…they’re my favorite wild animal.
But when they start behaving dangerously, and pose a threat…well, humans come first, I think.
I trust the govt. or authorities will take the proper steps (and not just destroy the animals willy-nilly)
We have an on-going bear problem at work. Some people from the ministry of the environment came over to deal with them and talk to us.
I was actually quite impressed. These weren’t clued out bureaucrats or gun-toting rednecks. These were professionals, who deal with this kind of thing all the time. I could tell they had a genuine concern for the animals. They’re trying all kinds of solutions, and shooting the bears would be the absolute last resort.
August 17, 2008 at 7:08 pm
davinahaisell
Hi Friar. I agree. I hate to see animals destroyed, but if a human is in danger and that is the only option then that’s how it has to be, unfortunately. I’m glad to hear that some compassionate professionals are on the case. Thanks!
August 19, 2008 at 6:36 pm
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