Bear conflicts down in PoCo so far this summer

Whether it’s because of good work or good luck, Port Coquitlam seems to be experiencing a slight decline in garbage-seeking bears so far this year.

Bears have broken or battered 119 bins and locks in 2025, based on calls from residents. That figure is down from 130 damaged locks and bins at this point in 2024 and 141 in 2023.

In the first seven months of 2025, Port Coquitlam has received a total of 26 calls about bear issues, including general sightings as well as calls about bears getting into a garbage bin.

That figure is down nearly two-thirds from the same period in 2024, when the city logged 75 bear calls. The city received 67 calls about bears at this point in 2023.

Residents are required to secure garbage and food scraps with a wildlife resistant lock and to put carts on the curb between 5:30 and 7:30 a.m. Failure to comply can result in a $500 fine.

Port Coquitlam also offers free information sessions on how to manage attractants. Residents can order a lock by email the city’s public works department at publicworks@portcoquitlam.ca or by calling 604-927-5496.

Coquitlam

There have been reports of 25 damaged carts in Coquitlam so far this year, which seems “a little less than typical,” according to the city’s manager of environment Caresse Selk.

“We are hoping this is due to higher compliance from residents, but it could also be that they haven’t reported damaged carts to us yet,” Selk explained in an email to the Dispatch.

Reports of bear sightings are generally in line with previous summers, Selk stated.

“In most cases, bears are simply passing through our neighborhoods and if they don’t find an accessible food source, they will move on,” Selk wrote.

As bears have a powerful sense of smell, the city advises freezing food scraps and storing pet food inside. The city also recommends keeping your barbecue clean and harvesting fruit and vegetables grown on your property.

Port Moody

Port Moody doesn’t track reports of bear sightings or encounters.

However, the city has received 56 service request about bins damaged by bears in the last two months.

“Please note this does not indicate a specific level of bear activity for this period, as damage may not have occurred in the same month it was reported,” explained the city’s manager of solid waste Paul Leblanc.

The city will issue a maximum fine of $1,000 to residents who fail to manage garbage and other wildlife attractants properly.

The city recommends residents remove bird feeders until winter, when bears tend to be less active.