The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) advises caution after several reports of a black bear entering vehicles and homes in the Reid Road neighbourhood of Pemberton.
SLRD said the behaviour is identical to incidents in the area last year, which destroyed bears due to continued access to attractants. The Conservation Officer Service is monitoring the situation closely. If the bear continues to access homes and vehicles, SLRD said a trap will be set in the area.
To help keep wildlife wild and communities safe, residents are reminded to:
Keep vehicle doors locked at all times. Bears can easily open car doors, especially if food or garbage is inside.
Keep home doors and windows closed and locked when you are not at home.
Store all garbage and wildlife attractants in wildlife-proof containers.
Clean BBQs thoroughly after each use and store them securely.
Use electric fencing around vegetable gardens and chicken coops.
Do not leave attractants like garbage, pet food, bird seed, or food scraps outside or on porches.
Harvest fruit from trees and bushes as soon as it is ripe.
The SLRD continues to work closely with the Conservation Officer Service and other partners to support wildlife safety across the region. Community members are encouraged to report sightings of bears accessing attractants to the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP line).