As a way to help reduce the number of wildlife interactions, a Prince George winery ran a campaign this past fall to offset the issue.
Northern Lights Estate Winery made a call in the late summer asking for 25,000 pounds of leftover apples and local residents delivered on its goal, even surpassing it.
The apples were then turned into a juice to help create a new sweet and sour wine, the product was sold on shelves across B.C. and, in turn, the Northern Bear Awareness Society was given $8,000 from the winery last month to continue its program.
“Every fall, bears are needlessly destroyed due to human negligence,” said Dave Bakker from the Society in a news release Friday (Dec. 6), who noted 14 bears were already destroyed in Prince George at the beginning of the campaign in August.
“In addition to programs like these, our community needs to be mindful of all types of fruit growing in our yards as well as garbage cans and other attractants which can bring unwanted guests to our neighborhoods.”
This was the fifth year Northern Lights Estate Winery has partnered with Bakker and his organization, now reaching the 75,000-pound plateau and climbing after collecting more than 50,000 in the first four years.
“The solution to both problems came together in a very natural way,” says Doug Bell, Northern Lights Estate Winery Operating Partner, in the same statement.
“When we realized there was an opportunity to combine both organizations' visions, we immediately said ‘yes’.”
More information on how you can reduce bear activity in your neighbourhood or property, you can visit the Northern Bear Awareness Society’s website.
