Problem bears still being put down in Revelstoke

REVELSTOKE – The killing continues but it’s not as bad as a month ago when nine nuisance bears were shot in Revelstoke in just three days.

“People still have garbage out, people aren’t picking their fruit, even off the ground,” says conservation officer Dan Bartol. “So bears are continuing to be euthanized. The message isn’t clear enough.”

Bartol says the message is simple.

“Secure the fruit, use electric fencing if you have to, pick it early. Remove (the trees). It’s not ideal to have fruit trees in a city like Revelstoke that’s surrounded by bears. And more than anything, secure your garbage.”

Revelstoke mayor, Mark McKee, says the city is being more diligent in enforcing garbage management bylaws.

“We’ve been handing out a lot of warning tickets. We’ve also been handing out a lot of fines.”

So far this season, nineteen bears have been shot and killed by the Conservation Officer Service after they came into the city searching for food.

“Once they’re into garbage, it’s usually too late,” says Bartol.