Fruit trees close to homes and schools mean bears, skunks, racoons, and rodents are close to the places we all live. Here in Nelson the cherries are nearly finished, but apples, plums, and pears will soon also ripen.
Making sure fallen fruit is cleaned up will prevent non-climbing creatures like skunks and deer from gaining a reward from your property. Picking fruit as soon as it ripens will force any of the better climbers to also look elsewhere for a meal.
These creatures evolved in an environment sparse in resources, and developed reproductive systems that moderate the number of offspring (this moderating process is called embryonic diapause).
If a skunk, racoon, bear, or rodent is successful in accumulating extra fat reserves through the season, it will implant more embryos and give birth to even more young. A skunk for instance can produce up to 10 kits if it has adequate fat reserves. In a natural environment a skunk may only have one or two kits. All these animals will expand their numbers to match their available resources. Allowing them to feed on fruit, or worse, intentionally feeding wildlife, will result in more animals than we, or the natural system, can manage.
If you can’t pick your fruit, look for people who are willing to pick your fruit in your neighborhood. The Nelson Food Cupboard also has a harvest rescue program that will pick your fruit for the benefit of the local food-bank. Call 250-354-1633 to reach the harvest rescue program.
Controlling a wild animal’s access to your fruit, garbage and compost will reduce our conflict with them and will allow them to maintain healthy population numbers in the wild, where they belong.
If you would like to discuss any of the species in this article or any other wildlife issues please contact me at nelson@wildsafebc.com or phone me at 250-505-6007.
If you are experiencing a conflict with wildlife please call the Conservation Officer Service, RAPP Line at 1 (877) 952-7277.
WildSafeBC is supported by the Ministry of Environment, the Columbia Basin Trust, The City of Nelson, and areas E&F of the Regional District of the Central Kootenay.
Dave White is the coordinator of WildSafeBC for the Nelson area.