Co-existing with Bears on Burke Mountain: A Guide to Bear-Aware Living

Living amidst the natural beauty of Burke Mountain comes with the responsibility of co-existing harmoniously with the local wildlife, including bears. As we encroach upon their habitat, it's essential to be bear-aware and adopt practices that discourage bear encounters. 

Be Bear-Aware in Residential Areas: A crucial aspect of co-existing with bears is understanding their behavior and learning to adapt to their presence. Here's how you can be bear-aware in residential areas:

• Secure Attractants: Bears are drawn to food, so ensure bird feeders, pet food, and compost bins are securely stored inside or away from bear access. As much as people think that ‘wildlife resistant enclosures’ are sufficient to keep the bears out, know that it’s the smell that attracts them more than anything, so storing your bins in your garage is the best practice. If you manage your green waste and recycling sufficiently, your garage won’t smell. 

• Keep a Clean Yard: If you have fruit trees, remove fallen fruit and berries, as they can attract bears. Maintain a clean yard, keep your pet food indoors and keep your BBQ clean.

• Respect Wildlife: Observe bears from a distance, and never approach or feed them. Exposure to humans causes bears to lose their natural fear of people, which makes them a potential threat. Keep pets on a leash and bring them indoors at night. 

Proper Garbage Disposal: Garbage is a significant attractant for bears in residential areas. To minimize the risk of bear encounters:

• Use Bear-Resistant Bins: Invest in bear-resistant garbage bins or retrofit your existing bins with bear-proof latches.

• Time Garbage Pickup: Put your garbage out on the morning of collection, not the night before, to reduce the time it's exposed to bears. Remember that on Burke Mountain we live in a “bear aware zone”, and your garbage and green waste should only go outside no earlier than 5:30am on collection day. 

• Double Bag Food Scraps: Wrap food scraps tightly in newspaper or paper bags before placing them in the garbage bin.

• Clean Bins Regularly: Wash your garbage bins with a mixture of vinegar and water to eliminate food odors. Happy Bin Cleaning offers a terrific service if this is not a job you want to do yourself! 

Reporting Bear Sightings: If you spot a bear in your residential area, report the sighting to the City of Coquitlam's Wildlife Coordinator or Conservation Officer Service at 604-927-3660. Accurate reports help authorities monitor bear activity and respond appropriately to protect both residents and the bears. If you encounter wildlife:

• Stop and remain calm. Often the wildlife is just passing through and will simply move on if it finds no food source.

• Do not scream or run.

• Make yourself look big.

• Talk in a low and calm voice while backing away slowly.

• Bring pets and children into the house.

• When safely inside, you may use an air horn or loud noise to scare away the animal and let it know it’s not welcome in your yard.

Living in harmony with bears on Burke Mountain requires mindfulness and responsible practices. By being bear-aware, securing garbage and food scraps, and promptly reporting bear sightings to the appropriate authorities, we can create a safe environment for both humans and wildlife. Let's cherish the beauty of our natural surroundings and respect the incredible creatures that call Burke Mountain home.