Anmore Bear Aware Training

3 Orphaned Anmore Bear Cubs at CritterCare

We had our first Anmore Bear Aware meeting in the Village yesterday.  This project has been something I have been working on for several years and it's great to finally be at the point of program delivery!

Squamish Bear Aware trainer, Meg Toom was in Anmore on Thursday morning (September 22nd) speaking to a group of volunteers, public works staff and a representative from our waste management company about how to successfully implement a Bear Aware program in the Village of Anmore.



The session was packed with information and interesting facts, but the main points our group was able to take away from the Bear Aware representative were:

1) the goal of the program is to educate residents on how to remove human food attractants such as garbage, compost and other human food sources that attract bears.
2) in fall bears enter into a hyper feeding state where they need to consume up to 20,000 calories per day. This means they are actively looking for any food source they can find and residents need to be dilligent about securing food attractants.
3) long term solutions need to be addressed via bylaw improvements to our waste management bylaw and the creation of a wildlife attractants management bylaw.
4) community based programs work.  Education through neighbourhood walks, event displays and school presentations is an efficient and effective way to get the word out about being bear smart and bear aware.

Thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers and the Village of Anmore for supporting this program.  You can contact Anmore Bear Aware at anmorebearaware@gmail.com for more information or visit www.bearaware.bc.ca.

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