Bear sightings in the city are down by two-thirds compared to this time last year, according to statistics released by Northern Bear Awareness.
Since April 1 the Conservation Officer Service has received 226 calls regarding bears in the city - and destroyed five bears. Last year the service had received 850 calls by this time and been forced to destroy 30 bears.
"Last year was exceptionally high. [But] this year is probably below average," Bear Aware community co-ordinator Rachel Caira said.
On average over the last decade the Conservation Officer Service receives 800 bear-related complaints and destroys 40 bears per year in the city, Caira said. College Heights and the Hart Highway areas have the highest number of bear sighting - particularly along greenbelts and near rivers, she said.
Cool, wet weather this contributed to good wild berry crops which may have kept bears out of the city. However, Caira said, during the fall months bears can spend up to 20 hours a day foraging and eating which may bring more bears into the city.
"In the fall the two top attractants are fruit trees and garbage," she said.
Bird feeders and improperly-managed compost piles can also be attractants, Caira added.
Harvesting the ripe fruit on apple and crabapple trees can significantly reduce the attraction to bears, she said. Northern Bear Awareness runs an annual fruit exchange to connect people with excess fruit to people needing fruit.
"If you have more fruit than you can handle, they can give me a call and I can connect them," Caira said. "Especially if you have good apples, but crabapples as well."
If you do see a bear which is destroying property or posing a risk to human safety, call the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.
"If there is a bear in your yard and you don't have any attractants out, it probably won't be there long," Caira said. "Stay inside, call in anyone who is outside and call any dogs in."
For more information, go online www.bearaware.bc.ca or www.northernbearawareness.com, or call 250-649-8745.
