WildSafeBC Golden is now up and running for the 2024 season.
WildSafeBC is the provincial leader in preventing conflict with wildlife through collaboration, education and community solutions. It is a program managed and delivered by the BC Conservation Foundation in communities across BC. Jenni Barrera, as the WildSafeBC Coordinator for Golden, will be working in the community and surrounding CSRD-A areas to reduce human – wildlife conflict for the upcoming season. WildSafeBC respectfully acknowledges the land these programs operate on as the unceded traditional territories of the Ktunaxa Nation, Secwépemc Nation, and is the chosen home of the Métis Nation.
From May to November, Jenni will be involved in a number of initiatives including education programs, training sessions and outreach at various events. You will see her at events around town as she spreads the word about how to safely keep wildlife wild and communities safe.
Jenni can be found in our community:
· Conducting door-to-door outreach
· Conducting bin tagging (see wildsafebc.com for more information regarding this activity)
· Offering WildSafe Ranger Programs to schools and camps
· Offering various presentations and workshops
· Providing consistent educational posts on our local social media page
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After emerging from their winter dens in April, bears will seek out protein-rich food sources in the valley bottoms where many communities are situated. There have already been several reports of black bears in the area and some of these bears have been observed accessing unnatural sources of food. When bears have access to garbage and other unnatural food sources, conflict situations can develop. Bears may become food conditioned, and/or habituated to people. Habituated bears tolerate humans in much closer proximity than what is safe for both bears and humans. Food-conditioned bears may become very motivated to access unnatural food sources, which can lead to property damage or increased concerns regarding public safety. It is particularly unfortunate to see sow bears teaching cubs to forage for unnatural food among people – potentially leading to future conflicts and shorter lives.
The most effective action we can take to keep bears wild and our communities safe is to keep all attractants secure, including:
· Do not store garbage or other organic waste outdoors. If you have curbside collection, only put the containers out on the morning of collection day – never the night before. Make sure recyclables have been cleaned.
· Protect fruit trees with electric fencing or pick fruit early and do not let windfall accumulate. Ensure your compost is well-managed and does not smell.
· Avoid feeding birds when bears are most active (April to November) and ensure bird feeders are always inaccessible to non-target species such as bears, deer, squirrels and raccoon’s. Do not let seed accumulate that may attract rats and other rodents.
· Feed pets indoors and keep pets inside at night.
· Keep your barbecue clean by burning off uncooked food and emptying the grease container.
For further information on reducing human-wildlife conflict visit our website wildsafebc.com, follow WildSafeBC Golden on Facebook, or contact your local Community Coordinator, Jenni Barrera, at golden@wildsafebc.com.
Please report sightings of bears, wolves or cougars in urban/residential areas, or wildlife in conflict, to the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.
WildSafeBC Golden is grateful for the generous support the program receives from its funders including the Town of Golden, Columbia Basin Trust, the British Columbia Conservation Foundation and the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
About British Columbia Conservation Foundation:
The British Columbia Conservation Foundation (BCCF) is a not-for-profit organization. BCCF’s mission is to promote and assist in the conservation of the fish and wildlife resources of the Province of British Columbia through the protection, acquisition or enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat.
