Bear Aware reminds everyone to call the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277 when they see a bear in their neighbourhood.

Both Invermere, and Radium have had bears walking the streets getting into garbage, fruit trees, and bird feeders. Bear Aware and the conservation officers heard about this through word of mouth as no reports were made.

Calling to report a bear documents the occurrence and helps conservation officers understand what bears are doing in our community.

In turn, the conservation officers can recruit Bear Aware to go into the areas and work with residents to create solutions and avoid human-bear conflict.

Recent bear sightings include:

August 19: A bear was seen getting into a hummingbird feeder around Kirk Street and Revelstoke Crescent Road in Radium Hot Springs.

August 29: A bear made its way into the neighbourhood of Westside Park in Invermere, getting into at least six garbage bins.

If we keep feeding bears, the bears will keep coming back. Bear Aware is strongly encouraging everyone to store their garbage in a secured area. Bears can get into any garbage bin that is not designated as bear resistant.

The Bear Aware community coordinator will be giving a presentation at the College of the Rockies on Wednesday, September 14 at 7:30 p.m.

This free interpretive presentation will go over bear biology and behaviour, our community, human-bear conflicts and managing attractants.

Bear fact of the week: Over a 10 year span two black bears and their offspring can produce 15 bears.

Two white-tailed deer and their offspring can produce over 1,400 deer.

Find out how this happens September 14.

BCCF’s Bear Aware gratefully acknowledges funding by the Columbia Basin Trust, the MOE and the Communities of Invermere and Radium. For more information on Bear Aware contact Crystal Leonard, Bear Aware community co-ordinator  at 250-688-1511, invermere@bearaware.bc.ca or radium@bearaware.bc.ca

For more solutions check out the Bear Aware website at bearaware.bc.ca