The sightings include bears, mountain lions, bobcats and coyotes, but not all have required an immediate response.
More wild animals seem to have been seen in Burnaby, especially in the last couple of weeks.
Since July 19, the BC Conservation Officers Service (BCCOS) says it has received a total of 25 reports of human-wildlife conflicts in the vicinity of the city, including:
- 16 bear conflicts/sightings
- Three cougar sightings
- Three coyote sighting/conflict/hit by vehicle
- A bobcat sighting
- A deer hit by a vehicle
While they receive many reports of sightings, the BCCOS says not all of them need an immediate response, especially if the animal is displaying normal behavior.
Explain that employees will respond if there is a risk to public safety or if an animal is in danger.
Burnaby has had two incidents this summer in which black bears were shot dead by police or the BCCOS.
Over the long weekend of July 1, a black bear was seen chasing what appeared to be a gosling on a busy Burnaby golf course.
In a social media post, the animal was seen charging into the field and chasing a pack of Canada Geese, causing nearby humans to scatter.
The bear continues to chase the chick and eventually catches it.
A second video appears to show the same bear at the same time in Central Park near Patterson Station.
This video was taken on July 2 around 2:30 pm, according to Sebastián Plusa, who posted it online.
In a statement to the NOW, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy spokesman David Karn said the bear was tranquilized and, after an assessment, euthanized because its behavior compromised public safety.
“Killing any bear or cub is an unfortunate outcome that we work very hard to prevent,” the statement said.
“Each wildlife situation is unique and is evaluated individually, taking into account changing circumstances, such as the risk to public safety and the animal’s ability to survive in the wild.
“Bears that are conditioned to humans or conditioned to unnatural food sources are not candidates for relocation or rehabilitation.”
Border bear killed in June
On June 19, police shot and killed a black bear after the bear ventured into a busy residential area near the Burnaby-Vancouver border.
Police began monitoring the bear in hopes it would move to a safer location, according to Vancouver Police Department (VPD) spokesman Sgt. Steve Adams said.
But Addison explains that the officers were forced to shoot the bear after it crossed a short distance into Burnaby.
The bear was “in and out of yards,” getting too close to people and pets, and “walking through traffic,” it adds.
According to social media, the bear is believed to have been shot near the intersection of Hastings Street and Boundary Road.
When the bruin was first detected, VPD notified the BC Conservation Officers Service (BCCOS) and animal control for help.
Animal control personnel were deployed, but did not arrive before police were forced to kill the bear, Addison says.
According to WildSafeBC Wildlife Alert Reporting ProgramBurnaby has had 383 animal sightings, including mountain lions, bears, bobcats and coyotes since January 1, 2022.
The provincial organization encourages residents to consider the following bear tips:
- Keep your trash inside or locked until collection day. Litter is the number one attractant cited in reports to the provincial hotline
- Manage your fruit trees
- Don’t let the windfalls pile up and pick the fruit as it ripens.
- If you don’t want the fruit, consider…
- Access a fruit picking group in your community
- Wash the flowers in the spring so that the fruit does not set
- Replacement of the tree with a variety that does not bear fruit
- Don’t turn off bird feeders when bears are active.
- A kilo of birdseed has approximately 8,000 calories and is a great reward for a hungry bear
- Keep your compost running smoothly with plenty of brown materials and a regular turning schedule
- If you have cattle or chickens in your backyard, use a properly installed and maintained electric fence to keep bears and cattle apart.
– with Kyle Balzer archives, Tri-City News