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Bear reports down from last year

Bear resistant garbage bins are also coming next month
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Dave White (left) and Chris Gainham show off one of the new bear resistant garbage bins during a city council meeting Monday night. Photo: Tyler Harper

There’s fewer Yogis stealing picnic baskets in Nelson this year.

Reports of black bears are down significantly from 2016, according to data presented at city council Monday evening by Wildsafe B.C. co-ordinator Dave White.

There were about 200 calls a year ago compared to less than 100 this year between April 1 to Monday. The numbers for 2017 are still higher than that of 2013-15.

White attributed the drop in bear activity to an abundance of huckleberries.

“People are reporting back that berry crops are quite good in the high country so bears are probably utilizing that resource instead of trying to access garbage and fruit trees and other human attractants,” he said.

Meanwhile, the city is expecting a shipment of bear resistant garbage bins to be ready for sale by mid-October.

Chris Gainham, the city’s manager of municipal services, said there will be 100 bins available for $205 apiece on a first come, first serve basis. No date has been set yet for the sale.



Tyler Harper

About the Author: Tyler Harper

I’m editor-reporter at the Nelson Star, where I’ve worked since 2015.
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