WATCH (above): Black bears have begun to emerge from their winter dens. Linda Aylesworth has more on how to protect yourself – and your property.
Coquitlam RCMP are warning the public to be bear aware after the most recent encounter on Wednesday.
A bear roamed around a house on Hickey Drive and ate from a bird feeder.
The residents called the police, but the bear left the area on its own before the RCMP and conservation officers showed up.
“The bears are waking up because the weather is getting warmer, so we do expect more of this type of calls,” says Cpl. Jamie Chung with Coquitlam RCMP.
He says the RCMP usually get involved if a bear is creating a public safety issue.
“If the bear is not creating a public safety issue, and is not being a risk to anyone in the area, then it is going to be a conservation led situation,” says Chung.
He says they don’t have solid stats on how many bear encounters happen yearly in Coquitlam, because sometimes people call conservation directly.
“Usually people would call us first if the bear is really close to a house or close to a school on a school day.”
Meanwhile, police are reminding residents to not leave out bear attractants and clean bird feeders, fruit trees and compost containers.
For more tips on how to deal with a wildlife related public safety issue, go here.
BearAware has more tips on what to do if you encounter a bear here.
North Shore Black Bear Society has information on reducing human-bear encounters through education, cooperation, and community support.
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