Bear problem growing in Kelowna

There’s a level of frustration in conservation officer Terry Myroniuk’s voice when speaking about the growing bear problem in Kelowna.

It stems from having to deal with frequent calls from residents living in semi-rural neighbourhoods where bears have moved in.

“We’re getting complaints from people saying a bear has been in my garbage every night, five nights in a row. What are you going to do about it,” said Myroniuk.

He said some of the worst garbage management is happening in Magic Estates, Clifton Road North and part of Wilden.

“It’s brutal,” said Myroriuk.

Myroniuk said residents are quick to pick up the phone to complain but don’t realize they are the root of the problem.

“For example, I got a call from a woman who was reporting that a bear was in her garbage overnight. I showed up the next morning. The garbage was cleaned up but it was still out. It just shows the mentality of what we’re dealing with,” said Myroniuk.

But the bear problem isn’t unique to the Magic Estates and Wilden areas. It’s also an issue at the other end of the city in East Kelowna where Jill Buffie lives. She says some neighbours are leaving their garbage out on the curb for several days in a row: a calling card for hungry bears.

“About four weeks ago on a Sunday morning it was was pouring rain, a miserable day. I look outside and see this white thing in my field and it’s a child’s diaper that a bear has snacked on. And I’m in the pouring rain and I have to pick that up. And it’s from a neighbour who has left his garbage out four days before garbage day,” she said.

Instead of complaining, Buffie is trying to do something about it. She’s organized a community meeting where a conservation officer will be on hand to educate the locals about being bear smart. And the sooner the better because conservation officer Myroniuk believes with this mild weather and an abundance of people food available, the bears might stick around all winter.

“The only reason they need to go into a dormancy period is because in the winter, there’s generally not food but we’ve created an artificial situation for them. When we leave our garbage out year-round we leave out a year-round food source so there’s no need for them to go into a dormant period,” said Myroniuk.