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Part of Alberta BearSmart

BearSmart communities

Alberta communities are committing to strategies to reduce conflicts between bears and people.

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BearSmart communities

Introduction

A BearSmart community is one that has committed to a plan to reduce the potential for bear-human conflict. BearSmart communities work with Alberta Fish and Wildlife to:

  • establish a community-led BearSmart committee
  • develop and deliver an education plan
  • create bylaws to manage the garbage and other food sources that may attract bears into the community

Be a BearSmart community

  • Residents

    Residents living in bear country can take steps to keep their children and pets safe from bears, and ensure their yards do not contain items that attract bears. See: Bears and Residents.

  • Municipalities

    Garbage management

    • Restrict curb-side placement of garbage to the morning of pick-up.
    • Encourage residents and businesses to use bear-resistant waste containers.
    • Install electric or chain link fencing around recycling depots.

    Landfills

    • Install permanent electric fencing.
    • Construct a bear-resistant transfer station that ships garbage outside of the area or to a bear-resistant landfill or incinerator.
    • Modify operating hours to make it easier for residents to dispose of their garbage on a regular basis.
    • Place bear-resistant dumpsters at landfill sites for the public to use after hours. Empty them regularly.

    Green spaces

    • Clear berry and fruit-bearing trees and shrubs away from school yards, playgrounds, parks and green spaces.
    • Locate green spaces and trails so they do not provide a continuous corridor for wildlife to follow from forested land to residential areas.
    • Ensure that sufficient wildlife corridors run around and outside the community.

BearSmart communities

Southwest Alberta Agricultural Initiative
The Southwest Alberta Agricultural Initiative was formed by agricultural producers concerned about increased bear activity near ranches and farms.
Mountain View BearSmart Society
Mountain View residents concerned about grizzly bear activity in the area adopted a BearSmart program to help reduce human-bear encounters.
Grande Prairie BearSmart
The Grande Prairie BearSmart Program was established to educate community residents about strategies to reduce human-bear conflict.
Bow Valley WildSmart
This program educates Bow Valley residents and visitors about managing and reducing human-wildlife conflict.
Crowsnest Pass Conservation BearSmart Committee
The Crowsnest Pass Conservation BearSmart Committee was formed to educate residents about how to reduce human-bear encounters.

Resources

For information on the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) certified bear-resistant products, visit IGBC online: Bear Resistant Products.

Contact

Fish and Wildlife Area Office Contacts

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