HOMEOWNERS who leave out garbage and other bear attractants could soon face fines from conservation officers thanks to a new amendment to the B.C. Wildlife Act.
The amendment, passed Nov. 24, makes it illegal for a person to have anything that could attract dangerous wildlife to their property, mostly garbage, fruit or similar material.
Mike Badry, a biologist with the Ministry of Environment, said the new rules will be used mostly on repeat offenders after there's been a problem with an animal.
"It's been a chronic problem throughout B.C. for many, many years," said Badry. "The provincial legislation never allowed conservation officers to really target those people that were being careless with their attractants, despite whether or not they were educated or given warnings in the past."
The fine for the offence hasn't been finalized, though Badry said it will likely total $230. Conservation officers won't begin enforcing the new rules until after the ministry confirms the fine amount and develops an enforcement plan, he said.
The provision will be reserved for repeat offenders only, not first-time incidents, and be directed to where problem bears have been attracted by garbage, said Badry.
"It will be in response to incidents when the person has been informed and there is a public safety concern because of incidents of dangerous wildlife being attracted," said Badry.
Previously bear attractants were only governed by a patchwork of municipal bylaws across the province, and bylaw officers on the North Shore couldn't deal with attractants on people's property, but only garbage left at the curb too early.
Tony Webb with the North Shore Black Bear Society, who worked with MLAs for several years to see the law altered, praised the change.
"It goes right across the province so it's quite a big move," he said, adding that will give the legislation more weight than municipal bylaws. Webb and other advocates have been working with MLAs for six years to get the changes to the wildlife act passed.
Christine Miller, a longtime bear awareness educator on the North Shore, also supported the change, but added the move isn't a silver bullet and that residents have to be proactive.
"The challenge is going to be having enough conservation officers to enforce it, but at least they have a tool in their toolbox that is easy to use, that's the key," she said.
tholloway@nsnews.com
