The City of Mission is advising residents to be bear safe after multiple sightings this week.
A bear was spotted near 7th Avenue between James and Stave Lake Street on the weekend and again at Dunsmuir and 3rd Avenue on Monday (April 29), per a city news release.
According to the City of Mission’s website, one person’s bad habits can create problems for a whole neighbourhood. Mission environmental staff attended the locations where bears were seen and noticed many attractants.
“Residents are reminded to ensure that all solid wastes (including compost and recycling) are secured indoors or in a wildlife-resistant enclosure. Bird feeders are not permitted at this time of year, BBQs should be kept clean and pets should be fed indoors,” the news release reads.
Bears habituated to human smells and garbage are deemed a hazard and often killed, according to the city.
Each year, roughly 20,000 calls to the provincial Conservation Officer Service reporting line are related to bears. From 2020 to 2022, eight bears were killed in Mission. In the previous decade, 39 were killed.
“With a growing bear population and residential developments advancing further into bear habitat, it is everyone’s responsibility to make sure that bears and people stay at a safe distance from each other,” the city says.
Garbage is the primary attractant mentioned in bear reports, according to the city’s website. Relocation proves ineffective, as individual bears often return to their home territory or become problematic in other communities.
The city advises residents to store waste securely and avoid setting trash out early. Other suggestions for reducing bear attraction include collecting ripe fruit, keeping pet food inside and managing food scraps.
Failure to comply with bear safety measures could result in a $250 fine, per the news release.
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