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BearSmart communities

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

Table of contents

How it works

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 staff to:

  • complete a bear hazard assessment
  • 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

Become a BearSmart community

Fish and Wildlife staff can help complete a hazard assessment of your community and advise on how to implement the recommendations of the hazard assessment.

  • Contact your nearest Fish and Wildlife office by calling 310-0000

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.

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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