June 1,2006

Dear Readers, (posted on www.bearmatters.com )

Again I report to you the sad fact that a tagged male bear that turned up in an Upper Lynn Valley (District of North Vancouver) backyard May 30th was tranquilized and then killed by authorities.

It was determined, by the tag number, that this bear could have been an orphan cub(8-10mos) or yearling(20-22mos) that was orginially moved the first time in early Fall ‘04 within 10kms of residents high on a mountain. It quickly returned and was relocated 35kms into the back of the Seymour Lower Conservation Reserve. The cub was in good physical condition on release so it could easily survive it’s first hibernation on it’s own whether it was a cub of the year or a yearling without mother (instincts take over). Male bear cubs usually stay with their mother until 18mos, females may stay longer with their mother, even another year.

Returning bears are a fact that is unavoidable when a number of bears have been relocated but this young bear had been given 2 chances to go a different direction but his instincts, nose or both brought him back to people. I personally think that the only way we will see less bears in backyards in daylight hours is if we have more compliance by residents to manage their attractants like garbage and bird seed. This, I am afraid, will only be truly accomplished thru enforcement of local by-laws.

How many more bears with tags will show up? No one knows but it will be very interesting when this season ends to look at what has happened in the regions where relocated bears are living and how many returned or were killed by hunters or cars? With a bear you can never ‘assume’ anything!

If you live in Bear Country please spread the word to be bear smart and manage attractants! Bears matter!

Barb M

Bear Matters BC