Oct. 18, 2006 - Grizzly Bear visits my neighbourhood
Not long ago a Grizzly Bear (aka Brown Bear) made repeated visits to our neighbourhood. The reason? He (or she) was bulking up for winter and, unfortunately, found lots to eat due to human negligence.
What kinds of things will draw a bear to human habitations? Unmowed lawns with dandelions. Unharvested garden produce. Unpicked fruit on berry bushes and fruit trees. Birdfeeders full of seed. Pet food dishes, empty or full. Unsecured garbage cans. Discarded trash such as empty pizza boxes or fast food containers. Uncleaned barbeques.
We went on a "nature-detective hunt" to find signs of the Grizzly Bear. We didn't see the bear, so no photographs. However, this is what we did find:
~ Trampled grass in wide drainage ditch beside the road.
~ Many crabapple trees full of ripe fruit.
~ Broken branches on crabapple trees and fallen fruit.
~ Birdfeeders half-emptied of seed.
~ Over-full, non-secured garbage containers.
~ Pizza boxes and other odiferous discarded garbage.
~ Barbeques sitting out in people's yards.
~ On the pavement, Bear scat with crabapple seeds in it.
We saw plenty of things that would attract Grizzly and Black Bears. They have an incredible sense of smell and can smell a tuna fish tin or empty pizza box from remarkable distances.
Do you know what the first thing is on a bear's mind when he/she comes out of hibernation? Food. And where will he/she go? To the last place food was found. If it is a sow, she will bring her cubs with her. Sadly, many bears are destroyed each year because of having become habituated to unnatural (human) food sources.
What can we do to help the bears? We can:
~ Keep our lawn mowed and yard weeded.
~ Harvest our garden, berry bushes and fruit trees.
~ Feed our pets only inside our home.
~ Store livestock feed in secure containers in a shed.
~ Bring in the birdfeeders until the cold weather arrives.
~ Recycle tin cans, juice & milk containers (wash & keep indoors; take to recycling depot).
~ Practice proper composting (no meats or fats; cover new items with dirt).
~ Pick up roadside garbage in our neighbourhood.
~ Do not overfill our garbage can and keep the lid closed.
~ Store garbage can in a secure shed until pick-up day.
~ Make sure our barbeque is cleaned and stored in shed.
~ Share with neighbours what they can do to prevent bear visits.
We may make colourful posters to put up on bulletin boards at the local library, gas stations, etc. This will be a fun project and a relevant, helpful one, too.
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