Inspired by the death of a bear last year, residents across the south Island could see more messaging about how to keep wildlife safe coming out of the Capital Regional District.
In May 2024 the CRD developed consistent policies and bylaws to limit wildlife attractants specifically to prevent bear-human interactions.
The motion was moved forward by CRD director Sid Tobais, the mayor of View Royal which was funding its own pilot project, giving residents bear-proof garbage bins and providing bear awareness education. The $5,000 pilot targeted the Riverside neighbourhood where in June 2023, a bear with three cubs was euthanized after reports of it climbing onto residential porches to access food.
While the committee was still winding its way through the process in 2024, that November a mother bear was hit and killed by a car in Sooke, leaving three orphaned cubs.
The incident spurred a response from the community tired of bears being euthanized by provincial conservation officers after becoming habituated by attractants – losing fear of human interaction by feasting on things such as garbage or organics left out by residents.
While many people blame the conservation office response, the responsibility lies with those providing attractants, Mollie Cameron told the CRD Environmental Committee during its March 19 meeting.
Bears “simply see available nutrition,” the president of outdoor education group Wild Wise said ahead of the meeting where the committee received the latest update on the establishment of a regional wildlife attractants working group. “Implementation of bylaws would hold everyone accountable,” Cameron said.
The working group would provide opportunities for local governments to collaborate, share knowledge and develop policies for limiting wildlife attractants due to improperly managed waste. Goals include identifying current issues, outlining potential steps to resolve issues, identifying and promoting policy development and exploring bylaw options in relation to waste management practices causing human-wildlife conflicts.
While still in the early phases, the proposed working group has already been a regular topic at the Local Government Waste Reduction Working Group, which includes representatives from 12 municipalities. Discussions focus on challenges faced by different municipalities, sharing of resources and updates on initiatives, according to the CRD update.
Saanich and View Royal have already expressed interest in participating.
CRD staff are still reaching out to member communities to gauge interest in and create a participant list for the establishment of a wildlife attractants working group, according to the latest update.
That timeline wouldn’t help bears emerging from winter in search of grub and having spring babies. Director Colin Plant (Saanich councillor) suggested that, staff time permitting, the CRD could engage in a public education campaign with the ready-made information at hand from organizations such as Wild Wise and Bear Smart.
It could be a stopgap measure in the interim before official recommendations come from the new committee, which is not expected to form until later this year.
“There is a timeliness to this,” Plant said. “We have mechanisms such as our Facebook, such as our social media, such as our website where we could start sharing information. If we could save wildlife this summer that would be welcome.”
A later motion to have staff look at the option saw unanimous support around the table.
“Maybe at the April board meeting we can advance this work and have something for this year,” Plant said.
Information from the committee will go to the April CRD board meeting, where Tobias asked it be highlighted as an item for information, rather than passed with a raft of other motions on the consent agenda.
The CRD board next meets April 9. Find the agenda and ways to participate online at crd.ca.
