Nelson, Area E and F Bear Aware is teaming up with Kootenay Co-op Radio to challenge people to sing a silly song about bears and garbage. Two bear-resistant garbage cans are being offered as top prizes.
The Nelson and District Credit Union has provided funding for one bear-resistant garbage can from Rollins Machinery and Rollins Machinery has provided a second.
One can will be on display at Nelson Farmer’s Supply and the other at various locations in the area.
Oso Negro has provided coffee and children’s t-shirts to round out the terrific prizes available.
“We want people to have fun with this contest,” said Bear Aware community co-ordinator Joanne Siderius. “But we also want to remind people to manage their garbage.”
Garbage is the most common bear attractant in Nelson and in the communities of Areas E and F, followed closely by fruit.
Fifteen black bears were destroyed in Nelson and Areas E and F in 2011. Two of these bears were in the City of Nelson.
Two grizzlies were also destroyed in Nelson in 2011 because they charged a resident as they were feeding on garbage.
You can keep garbage away from bears by: Storing garbage indoors or in a secure building; freezing left over food etc. until the morning of collection or until you take the garbage to the landfill; and by using a bear-resistant garbage can.
The bear-resistant can must still be kept clean to avoid attracting the bear, but the bear is unable to get into the can to eat the garbage.
Chaining the can to a post is advisable because bears have been known to drag bear-resistant cans away to spend more time trying to open the can in a safer place.
How can you participate? All you musicians can compose and record your own songs and other musical enthusiasts can record and adapt an old favourite ditty with new “bear and garbage” lyrics. Send your recordings to bear@kootenaycoopradio.com before September 28.
Our judges, including police chief Wayne Holland, councillor Candace Batycki, Area E director Ramona Faust, and conservation officer Jason Hawkes will chose the lucky winners. You can enter more than once.