challenges to our coast bears
Challenges to our coast bears way of life are: habitat loss due to logging practices including glysphosate spraying, increased access to the back country by logging roads, urban development, conflicts with farmers and their livestock, climate change affecting natural food sources, hunting and illegal poaching and vehicle collisions.
Logging Practices
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup™. It is used to kill off broadleaf plant species that might inhibit the growth of seedlings that are replanted after a forest is logged. Glyphosate applications results in a lack of foraging foliage, reduced plant diversity, lack of shade trees, and an increased threat of beetle infestation and wildfire spread.
The Sunshine Coast is home to some of the oldest trees in the province. The logging of these old growth and secondary medium growth forests reduces overall habitat for our bears and particularly the availability of denning sites in the forest. At present there are no regulations in British Columbia governing forest practices near bear denning sites except for Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii.
“B.C. opens Sunshine Coast forest — home to some of Canada’s oldest trees — to logging.”
https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-opens-sunshine-coast-forest-logging/
“Old-growth logging leaves black bears without dens: biologist”
https://thenarwhal.ca/old-growth-logging-leaves-black-bears-without-dens-biologist/
Sign the petition to “Save BC Bear Dens”
urban development
Increased urban development contributes to the loss of suitable habitat for our bears as well as bringing with it the potential for negative human-bear encounters arising from a variety of human activities such as: inadequate garbage and attractant management, increased vehicle traffic contributing to collisions with bears and other wildlife crossing roadways, and an increased numbers of people recreating in bear habitat areas.
FARMERS AND LIVESTOCK CONFLICTS
Our coast is home to many rural properties having a variety of small livestock. In British Columbia, “Bears that are harassing or menacing domestic animals (livestock) or birds can be hunted on a person's property,” under Section 26(2) of the Wildlife Act. Backyard chickens and other livestock must be protected by an electric fence. Bears are very intelligent and they will learn quickly that these farm animals are out of reach.
