WildSafeBC reports black bear-human conflicts this year are on track to set a new record high in the Thompson-Okanagan.
Kamloops is the hot spot, and this summer’s wildfires are likely one of the causes.
“It’s quite striking. Kamloops has really had a record year, which is a bit unusual for such a densely urbanized area,” explains Vanessa Isnardy, WildSafeBC provincial coordinator.
There were 148 black bear reports in Kamloops in August and 173 in September. The average (2014 to 2020) for these months is 48 and 81 respectively. The region has already received more reports year to date (393) than any other single year with the next highest the year of 2015 having a total of 379 (January to December).
This summer’s wildfires are likely one of the reasons bears are wandering into populated areas more often. “It has really impacted them because a lot of their natural food sources are in the valley bottoms, and a lot of those fruits and berries that they’re typically foraging for in September, they ripened earlier this year. They’re in the midst of needing 20,000 calories per day to put on the weight for winter hibernation, where they lose around 30% of their body weight,” said Isnardy.
“So, because of all of this need for food right now, and because there’s not as much on the natural landscape, it’s driving them more into communities. You know, they lead by their nose and they’re seeking out food sources.”
About half of the sightings involved animal attractants, and garbage wasn’t the only problem.
“Fruit trees are also strong attractants and don’t get reported very often because people think if a bear is foraging in a fruit tree there’s no harm, but we’re teaching bears that it’s okay to forage for food near people. Eventually when the fruit wanes off the tree and there’s no more left, then it starts shifting over to other sources of food, which can be a little more destructive,” added Isnardy.
In the Kelowna Region (including West Kelowna and West Bank First Nation), there were 168 black bear reports, a new record high. The average is 60. In September, there were 151, compared to an average of 106.
Vernon had 24 black bear reports in August and 57 (record high) in September with the averages being 17 and 24 respectively. Penticton and area had 26 black bear reports in August and 38 in September. These were also above the averages of 11 and 27 but not record setting.
Cougar encounters provincewide are currently on par with most years. Between January and September, there have been 1,900 reported sightings, slightly below the average of 2,000 for the first nine months of the year.
The Kelowna region saw 16 cougar reports through August and September, which is higher than the average of five but one cougar can generate multiple reports, said Isnardy.
“If someone sees a cougar. Because they’re strict carnivores and because they’re less often seen, people almost always report a cougar sighting and it could be the same cougar reported multiple times.”
Isnardy says even though some of these animals might not survive due to the lack of natural food sources, humans should not interfere, because that just artificially boosts the wildlife population and causes more problems down the road.
The province also records the number of black bears, grizzlies and cougars destroyed. Between April and August, 227 black bears were put down by the BC Conservation Officer Service, 37 were killed by other people. Only 8 were relocated.
Over the same time span, there were 387 reported conflicts with grizzlies, and 12 were destroyed. Out of 1,040 cougar calls, 34 of the animals were destroyed and two were relocated.
People can report wildlife sightings to the BC Conservation Officer Service 24/7 call centre at 1-877-952-7277. If the situation is not urgent, reports can also be made using the online form.