The Undercurrent has received reports of bear sightings, and a photo from Len Gilday of what appears to be bear scat.
BIM manager of parks and environment, Bonny Brokenshire, said that bears do come to the island frequently, and residents should always be “bear aware.”
“They come and go,” she said.
Wildlife is provincial jurisdiction, so conservation officers on the mainland receive bear sighting reports. Usually they don’t do anything about a bear on Bowen, except monitor the situation, said Brokenshire.
“The conservation office has been alerted that there’ve been bear sightings on the island,” she said.
If people have concerns or sightings they can call the provincial conservation office at 1-877-952-7277.
The BIM website has tips for living with wildlife. They include: being careful with your garbage and storing it in secure bins and buildings, picking fruit and berries as early as possible, cleaning the barbeque frequently, and keeping animal feed inside whenever possible. More information is available at: http://www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/bowen-wildlife
