Sightings of a black bear this week in Coquitlam are a reminder of the ongoing need to secure waste and other attractants - even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COQUITLAM, B.C., Mar. 28, 2020 – Sightings of a black bear this week in Coquitlam are a reminder of the ongoing need to secure waste and other attractants – even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After learning of bear sightings near Trillium Place, Lansdowne Drive and the Coquitlam Crunch, the City has posted warning signs, informed the public on social media, and begun to patrol the areas for unsecured waste and other bear attractants.
Keep Bears Away
While residents are preoccupied with the pandemic, bears are waking up from hibernation and looking for easy food sources.
To ensure the community’s safety, Coquitlam is continuing to enforce its solid waste management, and wildlife and vector control bylaws, which call for a $500 fine for setting out carts at the curb prior to 5:30 a.m. on collection day, or for not securing bear and wildlife attractants such as food scraps, ripe fruit, pet food and bird seed.
Residents are asked to report unsecured garbage or other attractants to urbanwildlife@coquitlam.ca or 604-927-3500 and to take the following measures on their property:
- Keep garbage and green carts securely stored at all times, except on collection day;
- Separate waste and putting food scraps in the green cart, which is collected weekly, and not the garbage cart;
- Make sure attractants including pet food, bird feeders and ripe fruit are not accessible to wildlife; and
- Only put out garbage and green carts after 5:30 a.m. on collection day – not the night before.
More tips, videos and other resources are posted at www.coquitlam.ca/bearsmart.
Coquitlam residents are asked to report all bear incidents to the Conservation Service Office at 1-877-952-RAPP (7277).