The bears are awake and leaving their dens hungry, so it's time to be bear aware again.
Area resident Quille Farnham is the new Bear Aware community co-ordinator in 100 Mile House for the season, which runs May to November.
Farnham says she will be going door-to-door educating people on the most effective and natural way to prevent conflicts with bears in and around the town, mainly by eliminating attractants.
"It's a perfect job because I've worked with animals and in the outdoors all my life.
"I'm looking forward to meeting people in the community and discussing how they can manage attractants to avoid potential conflict with bears."
She is also available for consultation at the South Cariboo Farmers' Market every Friday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., located across from Tim Hortons.
British Columbia Conservation Foundation (BCCF) regional manager Barb Waters says Farnham understands the importance of the Bear Aware educational program, which is owned and managed by BCCF.
Waters explains the funding runs out after this year, so BCCF and those involved with Bear Aware in 100 Mile House are really hoping to find ways to continue the program.
A two-year provincial program beginning last year includes combined funding of $357,000 from the Ministry of Environment, applied to the training of Bear Aware co-ordinators, and 24 individual communities that provided cash for operating expenses and in-kind support.
The community portion of the funding in 100 Mile House comes from Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd. under an agreement it made through restorative justice, after an incident of staff miscommunication at its local mill resulted in the illegal burning of plastic trash in January 2010.
"We appreciate the [$20,000] funding support that has been provided by Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd., and it definitely helps the conservation officers."
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett says she hasn't heard if the provincial funding might continue for Bear Aware next year, but adds it will likely be determined when the budget is set, and she will look into the matter.
Meanwhile, bear-human conflicts increased in the province last year, despite the downward trend over the last 15 years because of poor availability of natural foods.
This caused bears to go searching for other, non-natural food sources, such as garbage, and resulted in signs posted at some South Cariboo provincial parks warning people to watch for bears on the prowl.
Potential food sources, such as garbage, bird seed, compost and fruit, top the list of common attractants, but managing them properly results in a decline in related bear-human conflict.
Farnham adds the Bear Aware program in Kamloops has been very successful, with a dramatic reduction in the number of problem bears that ended up shot and killed during the past 13 years.
To report bear sightings, property damage or related safety issues, call the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-72277 (the RAPP line).
For further information on managing bear attractants, contact Farnham at 250-706-0944, e-mail her at 100mile@bearaware.bc.ca or visit the website at www.bearaware.bc.ca.
