Christina Lake residents warned to clean up fruit and garbage
By Erin Perkins
Unpicked fruit trees and unsecured garbage has attracted two mother black bears and their cubs onto Christina Lake’s residential streets.
One bear and her small cub have been regularly spotted at the nature park located beside the Welcome Centre while a second bear with two small cubs has been eating the fallen fruit and getting into garbage in the Alpine Road area, said Brenda LaCroix, Christina Lake Stewardship Society coordinator and project manager.
A warning went out to parents at Christina Lake Elementary School late last week to be watchful when sending their kids to school after the black bear with the twin cubs was spotted meandering through residential properties in the area behind Kool Treats.
While it isn’t uncommon to have bears come down into town to forge for food in the fall, property owners can do something to deter them, said LaCroix.
“We really stress picking the fruit off of your fruit trees even if you’re not going to use the fruit,” said LaCroix.
If a bear is seen, LaCroix advises residents to report the sighting to the Bear Aware number — 1-877-952-7277.
“The bear likely won’t be destroyed unless they are a public safety issue,” said LaCroix of what happens when a bear sighting is reported. “The conservation officer doesn’t always come out, they often just ask for you to get rid of any attractants. Cleaning up fruit trees right now is really important.”
“If you are not using (the fruit), don’t be silly and enjoy seeing the bears out there eating them. You can still be fined for inadvertantly feeding them.”
Bears are in a feeding frenzy from now until November or December in preparation for their hibernation.
“They will feed as long as they can before they go into their winter sleep,” said LaCroix.
For more information about bears and how to prevent an encounter please visit the Bear Aware program website at www.bearaware.bc.ca or visit The Christina Lake Stewardship Society, now located in the Welcome Centre at Christina Lake.
