Correct Me If I’m Wrong! March 14, 2014
By author Bryce A Baker
The Bear Facts
Most that know me are aware that I’m a country boy. So most of
what is in this ‘Correct Me If I’m Wrong!’ is from first-hand experience.
Let me tell you of one story a Park Ranger told me many years
ago. They got a report of a bear attack and responded. Apparently there was a
black bear by the side of the road and a mother wanted to get some photos. She
put some honey on her son’s cheek so she could get a picture of it licking the
boy’s face. Well, like most woodland creatures after the taunting food source
disappeared, it looked for more on the boy and got frustrated. The boy and mom
escaped unharmed, but she wanted the bear put down for attacking the boy. Need
I say ‘Who needs putting down???’
Bears are extremely unpredictable.
Living and being in rural areas, I have had dozens of
interactions with black bears and two grizzly encounters. In most cases they
can be spooked and sent running, but that isn’t always the case.
The worst draw for a bear attack is a dog barking at them or a
person screaming. The bear’s defense mode kicks in.
I had bears on my acreage out of Peachland nearly every day with
no indication of a threat. Yet when I sold and moved into Peachland core, there
was a large male bear that had his morning buffet route through my yard. He
learned that populated areas provide an easy food source. THIS is when
interaction can turn deadly.
My face to face with this bear showed he had no fear of humans.
Not even when my truck horn howled two feet away from him. He trained his new
female partner about his buffet route.
Early spring, I startled her with her two cubs in my yard and
she attacked me. Fortunately, when I raised my arms and yelled, it scared the
cubs so she went after them instead.
I contacted the Conservation Office and was tortured by a bureaucratic
bunch of BS. There was nothing they could do. The Conservation Officer mentioned
he was going to come to the area and ticket people that don’t wash their
garbage cans. Washed or not, a bear can pick up a scent more than a dog. Then,
are we getting ticketed for bird feeders, dirty barbeques, or pet dishes. There
is much more to this, but there isn’t enough paper in my computer.
I received a report from a friend of mine about a similar
problem and she received a similar response from Conservation. She didn’t leave
garbage out or any temptations. The Conservation Officer refused to trap the
bear because if they did they’d have to tag it before release. His problem with
that is that they are held liable if the bear gets into trouble after release.
No matter what we do, bears are going to eventually interact in
populated areas. Even though urban attacks are rare, the threat persists.
I have been told that we have pushed these animals out of their
habitat and we are responsible. I agree to disagree. Yes we have, but
considering the millions of acres of unpopulated forested areas as well as the
cities and towns that have been established for tens of decades, we need our
space too. Bears need to be educated like the people to understand, what is a safe
environment. Bears can be taught that urban areas and garbage are not conducive
to their safety either. For those that feel we kicked the bears off the block,
don’t yell for help when a bear is sitting down at your dining table uninvited,
or face an attacking mom bear like I did.
I feel that there should be a team of trackers like myself to be
organized to respond to wild animal reports and duly take action appropriate to
the call. If it is a deathly situation and a tranquilizing dart isn’t going to
save a human life then, the worst case scenario would be to put the animal
down. If a bear trap can be used then, the animal is spared and released in a
proper area.
Considering the extreme shortage of Conservation Officers in
this province, contract government appointed trackers could cover areas for
human safety.
Wild bears or any other wildlife is part of my being and to see
an animal destroyed is the last thing I would like to see. But priority is
human life.
In closing; I have always put my money where my mouth is. I
volunteer to be part of a Wildlife Conservancy Unit in B.C. with no excuses.
Post Script;
Grizzlies are a different story. Just pray your
only encounter is seeing the butt end of one walking away.
Please... Correct Me If I’m Wrong!
Bryce A Baker
www.bryceabaker.com
