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A business in West Kelowna has been issued a $230 ticket and two wildlife protection orders.
BC Conservation Service issued the ticket and orders after having to kill six bears over the weekend after the bears had become accustomed to feeding from the business’s dumpster and compacter over a long period of time.
Poor attractant management has led to bears being destroyed and charges against a #Kelowna business. Conservation Officers are conducting bear attractant patrols across the province #attractantaudit #doyourpart #keepwildlifewild #BCCOS #RAPP pic.twitter.com/SJY5HFQBmT
— BC CO Service (@_BCCOS) October 16, 2019
“The bears were highly habituated and food-conditioned, which had made them a significant risk to the public,” explained Sergeant Jeff Hanratty.
“We had a witness who had been charged by a bear twice, reports of the bears on balconies, going through recycling and pushing on a window.”
According to Hanratty, BC is currently conducting a province-wide “bear audit” with officers inspecting communities for poorly managed attractants and issues tickets as well as dangerous wildlife orders to both businesses and individuals.
“Individuals who put their garbage on the street the night before, storing garbage in carports or on balconies could receive an order,” said Hanratty.
“The public needs to do a better job managing non-natural food sources, the number of bears we’re having to destroy is not acceptable.”
Any witnesses to dangerous or threatening wildlife are asked to report it to BC Conservation Service at 1-877-952-7277.
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