500 black bears killed in B.C. last year: Advocates

An estimated 500 black bears were killed by conservation officers in B.C. last year, according to Canadian wildlife advocates.

The Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals (Fur-Bearers), says this number is down from the more than 580 black bears that were killed in 2021.

Fur-Bearers is calling for “stronger municipal coexistence policies that can prevent tragic outcomes for black bears.”

“Black bears are often killed when they begin accessing garbage and spend time in human-dense areas seeking unnatural food sources from unsecured attractants,” Aaron Hofman, the director of advocacy with Fur-Bearers, said in a news release.

“By identifying communities where bears are killed with greater frequency, questions about systemic issues can be asked, and the killing can end.”

In an email from the BC Conservation Officer Service, it explains the service works hard to prevent putting down bears.

“Conservation Officers across the province take extensive action to reduce human-wildlife conflicts through public outreach, education, enforcement, and responses in the field, but we can’t do it alone – last year, the COS received more than 40,000 human-wildlife conflict calls, nearly 60 per cent of which related to black bears,” an email to CityNews reads.

“While several factors can impact the number of bear conflicts – such as weather and availability of natural food sources like berries – attractants, and specifically garbage, drive a significant number of bear conflicts in B.C.”

It went on to say, “Once bears are conditioned to non-natural foods and show a minimal fear of people, they are no longer candidates for rehabilitation or relocation, as the risk to public safety is simply too great.”

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The society is also releasing the top “deadliest communities” for black bears in the province.

It says in 2022, 32 black bears were killed in Prince George, marking it as the top spot for deaths in the province.

Nelson ranked second on its list with 21 deaths, with Castlegar taking third with 14 deaths.

Okanagan Falls, Revelstoke, and West Kelowna all saw 12 deaths, while Nanaimo and Port Alberni each saw 10.

The Fur-Bearers says these spots make up 25 per cent of all black bear deaths at the hands of conservation officers that year.

“Local governments, businesses, and residents in these communities need to address the significant number of black bears being killed.” 

“Wildlife is typically seen as a provincial responsibility, but provincial officers cannot respond to every potential attractant issue like unsecured garbage, or every incident of wildlife feeding. Municipalities need to take leadership and implement measures to manage attractants including garbage, bird feeders, fruit trees, and wildlife feeding. These efforts will help protect people and wildlife,” said Hofman.