It's not Yogi stealing picnic baskets that Sookies have to worry about this summer, although his local cousins may take them if they can.
Wild Wise Society (WWS) shared a video June 5 of a local black bear – sans hat and tie – stealing a bag of garbage right off the street. The video was sent to them by an anonymous Sooke resident, prompting WWS to remind residents about the importance of securing attractants.
"This video of a bear carrying a full garbage bag toward the woods was sent to us last night — and while we understand that garbage day comes with its own struggles, it’s a powerful reminder of why securing attractants before pickup day is so critical," they said in a post on Facebook.
"Six bears were destroyed in Sooke last year and one in Langford due to human-caused conflicts — and every single one of those deaths was likely preventable had attractants been properly secured."
WWS is reminding residents to secure garbage by keeping bins inside a garage, shed, or bear-resistant containers and to never keep trash out overnight. Taking down bird feeders, managing compost properly by using enclosed bins and avoiding meat and dairy products are also encouraged. Cleaning barbecues and grills thoroughly is essential as well to ensure bears are not drawn to the smell of oily residue. Harvesting ripe fruit and vegetables and clearing fallen produce can also reduce the risk of attracting bears.
"It’s important to remember: the agencies responding to these situations aren’t the ones leaving out garbage, bird seed, or food scraps. They’re stepping in because those attractants were left accessible and bear behaviour escalated to a point where public safety risks were present," said WWS.
"This behaviour happens over time, not immediately – though it can only take one house with unsecured attractants to start this cycle of behavioural changes."
Securing attractants is essential to ensure that bears – who can't tell the difference between human and non-human food sources – stay safe and fed without developing dietary habits harmful to themselves and others.
