Kimberley/Cranbrook WildSafeBC Community Coordinator
 Danica Roussy wants to remind everyone
to keep wildlife wild and communities safe
over the long weekend.

Camping is a great
way to enjoy nature but just a reminder of
the few simple reminders you should follow to keep yourself, and the wildlife around you, safe from conflict.

If you are going out into backcountry this weekend on a camping trip, please remember to always inspect your choice of camping area closely and make sure it is not in an area likely to be used by bears. It is best to camp away from waterways/travel routes for wildlife.

It is also important to remember the following camping tips.

1. Inspect the area around your campsite – any signs of wildlife.
2. Never take food into your tent.
3. Cook in clothes other than your Pjs.
4. Use the bear resistant storage options if any are provided by the campsite.
5. Do not feed any wildlife – the feed will attract all types of animals from squirrels to bears. It may also be a place bears will remember to come back to in search of feed, which may lead to a future human-wildlife conflict.
6. Have Bear Spray on you when wandering off your campsite.

If you find yourself enjoying the outdoors within city limits over the long weekend – please remember that bears have an incredibly acute sense of smell and can smell the smallest item of food at great distances.

Some of the things bears are attracted to:

1. Anything that we have cooked or are about to eat.
2. Dirty barbecues or camp stoves.
3. Any item associated with food prep or clean up (dish rages, pots, pans, grey water).
4. Garbage, wrappers, empty bottles/cans, condiments, or anything that has been in contact with food.
5. Containers for gas, oil, or other petroleum products.
6. Pet food/bowls, bird seed, compost etc.

For more information visit our website and check out our extensive bear safety pages.

You should also check out WildSafeBC’s video vault for a bear spray demonstration from the WildSafeBC Provincial Coordinator, Frank Ritcey.

As always, don’t forget to report any encounter with aggressive wildlife by calling the Conservation Officer Services at 1-877-952-7277. Thanks for helping to keep our community safe by keeping wildlife wild!

– Danica Roussy Kimberley/Cranbrook WildSafeBC

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