Whitehorse Daily Star

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BEARS, BEARS EVERYWHERE – At an unofficial bear crossing on the Alaska Highway near Teslin, a black bear stops to listen to an approaching semi-trailer – but ignores the stopped vehicles. A closer look shows that this bear’s teeth are worth considering their potential. Photo by ADAM SKRUTKOWSKI

Bear incidents reported around territory

Conservation officers are reminding Yukoners to minimize attractants on their properties

By Stephanie Waddell on June 16, 2017

Conservation officers are reminding Yukoners to minimize attractants on their properties after a number of human-bear conflicts in many parts of the territory.

One incident saw a bear destroyed.

“Between June 10 and 13, there were a number of human-bear conflict incidents,” Environment Yukon officials said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

“Conservation officers are asking the public to be aware and to keep their properties free of attractants.”

It was in Teslin that a bear was destroyed after it went into a home through an open door and got into the fridge and garbage. No one was there at the time.

A conservation officer later destroyed the animal believed to have been involved.

Meanwhile, another home in Echo Valley had a brief visit from a young black bear that managed to push a door open.

“The bear was startled by the pet cat and ran off,” officials said.

The importance of bear spray was also emphasized when a grizzly bear tried to grab a pannier bag attached to a bike being ridden along the Dempster Highway by a visitor from New Zealand.

“The cyclist deployed bear spray and successfully deterred the bear,” Environment Yukon said.

In Haines Junction, residents are being reminded that there are at least two female grizzly bears with cubs that have been seen around the community.

“Owners of country residential properties are reminded to make their properties bear safe,” officials stated.

“Make sure that exterior doors and windows open out, not in, since bears often push their way into a residence.

“Avoid lever-style doors if possible. Minimize wildlife attractants on property, including garbage, free-ranging poultry like chicken, and pet and bird feed.

“Please ensure that you regularly clean barbecues, composts and food smokers.”

Under the territory’s Wildlife Act, “it is an offence to encourage wildlife to become a nuisance.

“Wildlife Act violations can be reported confidentially at any time to the TIPP line. If you see a bear in a residential area or have a negative encounter with a bear, please call the toll-free TIPP line 24/7 at 1-800-661-0525.”

Comments (7)

Up 28 Down 4

Alan Trail on Jun 18, 2017 at 5:07 pm

I am a Conservation Officer defender. They do care and the blame usually rests elsewhere.
They have to manage people as well as wildlife. If someone on the Annie Lake road shoots a bear to defend their livestock they are usually politely told about bear fencing and attractants. They are not lectured or fined which would be the appropriate thing to do.

These new or old age pseudo bush people more often than not have chickens and goats and sheep and lots of manure, the odd garbage bag here and there being exposed to very warm temperatures, a trash burning barrel and dog food stored in a open shed.
And they are somewhat afraid of bears and do not buy electric fencing but they sure have lots of guns and ammunition and a good dose of bruin fear.

So please, do not call the COs trigger happy. Josey Wales has called it correctly, where is justice for these bears, where are their lawyers, why do people so easily buy into the bearocide that fearful people embrace so eagerly.

Up 20 Down 11

Just Say'in on Jun 17, 2017 at 6:58 pm

These Conservation Officers. The guys you call to KILL them. Are constantly talking about us causing the problem through our so called attractants.

Lets look at the list, Garbage, Compost, Gardens, BBQ's, Gasoline, Oil, Pets and Farm animals, Smokers. How about the Range hoods when we are cooking. These things are not going away anytime soon. Maybe it is time to pack up a pile of the Southerners that we have imported for all these Government jobs. Let us get on with living in the North like we always have. We managed.

Up 12 Down 16

Just Say'in on Jun 17, 2017 at 6:50 pm

I am getting real tired of these comments coming out of the So Called Conservation people "aka" "the guys that shoot them". You cannot get rid of all attractants, they need to get back out in the forest and do what Bears do.

Has anyone noticed that this being overrun with problem Bears coincides with the shutting down of the hunting. I think we are overrun with them right now, I counted over one hundred on my drive up the highway a few weeks ago and twenty five between Teslin and here.

Up 18 Down 2

Josey Wales on Jun 17, 2017 at 12:02 pm

Wow...this is so weird I am overcome with identities given this new permission from our overlords.
Why just a few moments ago I was a person of colour, now for reasons only king dan could liberalsplain....I am identifying as a grizzly bear.
So empowered I am by all the endless possibilities, why stop at mere gender? Wish it and ta da...you are the top apex predator fearing very little.
I should get my cousins together and wind the clock back pre first "migrants" things were way better before bipods invaded and claimed our forests for their own.
We eat garbage as it tastes better than all the intoxicated bipods lazing about, and as a grizzly whom abstains from rivers of booze laced meat....caught prey and garbage is my today thus far choice.

Up 16 Down 10

Jc on Jun 16, 2017 at 7:33 pm

What is the New Age politically correct way to address a bear these days. Is it also included in the new Liberal legislated Bill C-16?

Up 22 Down 7

Jeff Donaldson on Jun 16, 2017 at 6:46 pm

Josey Wales-
Keep telling it like it is. I have lived in bear country in Northern Ontario for 20 years and the only incident I have had was my fault. We do not have the brutes you have in Yukon however we must share the space we carved out of their habitat.
Respect Josey for the words you speak.
To any Josey Wales haters out there!
Read carefully the truths he speaks, for they are the words of experience, knowledge and care of his community. There is always a veiled lesson to learn.
Pay attension!

Up 36 Down 4

Josey Wales on Jun 16, 2017 at 4:03 pm

Good thing those bears cannot communicate with lawyers, they may have a few grievances and things to say of us?

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