Four bears killed in Coquitlam so far this year

There have been seven bears killed in the Tri-Cities so far this year, including one that was euthanized in Anmore.

Bears are generally euthanized after a serious injury, such as being hit by a car.

Four bears killed in Coquitlam for public safety reasons, as well as one in Port Moody and another in Port Coquitlam.

With the exception of one bear killed by police in Coquitlam, all black bears were destroyed by B.C. Conservation Officer Service.

Bears have damaged 71 organic carts and 20 waste carts so far this year in Coquitlam, according to the city’s manager of environmental sustainability Jenalee Kluttz.

Green Cart clips aren’t bear proof, Kluttz noted.

“Unsecured garbage continues to be the most common bear attractant in Coquitlam and poses a serious risk to bears,” Kluttz wrote in a message to the Dispatch. “With a powerful sense of smell, it only takes one household’s garbage to attract a bear into a neighbourhood – and once a bear finds an easy food source, it will return.”

Kluttz reiterate the importance of freezing food scraps, storing garbage bins and green carts in a fully-enclosed structure, as well as keeping barbecues clean and pet food inside.

So far this year, Coquitlam has gotten 200 calls about bears. That figure includes bear issues on trash day, sightings, as well as bylaw officers investigating attractants, according to Kluttz.

Approximately 144 carts in Port Coquitlam have been damaged by bears so far this year.

Port Coquitlam has received about 243 calls for service this year, both for complaints and proactive enforcement, according to the city’s bylaw and public works departments.

Port Moody has recorded 147 calls for service in June and July for carts damaged by bears, with most calls coming from the north side of the city, according to the city’s general manager of engineering and operations Jeff Moi.

Moi emphasized that preventing conflicts with bears is a community-wide responsibility.

“All waste must be properly sorted, and waste carts must be rinsed frequently and secured within a garage, accessory building, or wildlife resistant enclosure where possible,” Moi wrote in a message to the Dispatch.

Moi noted that leaving carts unlocked on non-collection days and putting carts out too early are both bylaw violations.

“If residents don’t manage garbage and other wildlife attractants properly, they could be fined up to $1,000 by the city,” Moi stated.

Metro Vancouver recorded one incident with a bear at White Pine Beach so far this summer.

Generally, bear activity at the beach has been quieter than last year, when Metro Vancouver temporarily shut down the beach due to a food-conditioned bear repeatedly venturing into the picnic area.