spread the word ~ get involved
You can help save our bears by volunteering with us to; distribute educational brochures, post neighbourhood signs, fundraise and more.
Did you know?
Since Sept. 2019 our bear alliance has:
- distributed 500 educational signs throughout our lower coast,
- distributed 200 educational door knockers,
- distributed 2500 educational brochures,
- distributed 200 large neighbourhood bear awareness signs,
- responded to 150 residential communications about attractants,
-distributed 100 bear repellent/deterrent information cards
-helped rescue five orphan bear cubs
current volunteer opportunities
Please send us an email at SCBEARALLIANCE@GMAIL.COM if you are interested in volunteering.
Local Market Days -
status: ongoing
Appearances at local farmers markets along our coast are another way we ‘spread the word’ about living respectfully and safely with our bears. Contact us if you would like to join in this activity.
Brochure Distribution/Canvassing
status: ongoing
First and foremost our bears need our voices. Educating our residents and responding to calls for assistance with bear situations is our main activity. We will introduce you to our educational door to door program. With your help we can continue to have a strong presence in our community and together we CAN make a difference for our bears.
signs distribution and installation -
status: ongoing
We need help installing signs with various messages across the coast. From educating neighborhoods on food attractants, mindful driving with wildlife around to alerting and asking residents for help to search for orphan cubs.
media and fundraising
status: ongoing
Do you have skills, experience or interest in organizing fundraising events? Or maybe you know how to connect with various media outlets and help our alliance to spread the education, information, alerts or calls to help with search efforts? If, yes, we want to hear from you!
Garbage Bin Survey
status: ended
Commercial dumpsters at retail and restaurant locations, garbage cans in local parks, and the like can become a source of food for our bears if not properly secured. We are aiming to compile a list of dumpster locations and their conditions so that any suspect locations can be spot checked in the future and any infractions reported to local bylaw officers. Volunteers will be provided with a simple checklist to complete. This is an easy, ‘non-contact’ task you can do at your own convenience.
featured volunteers
BRANDON THOMAS
Late December of 2021 SCBA received information from one of the residents in the Sakinaw Lake area (around Sakinaw Woods Dr.) about the sighting of a tiny cub. That was the beginning of a month long search effort by volunteers and residents.
Brandon Thomas went above and beyond spending days out in challenging winter conditions tracking signs of the small, vulnerable cub who was at risk of not surviving on his own. It was discovered that the tiny cub had travelled from Sakinaw Lake to the Garden Bay area of the Sunshine Coast.
On January 29th, the cub was finally sighted and treed. Local Conservation Officers were notified and a box trap was set to capture the cub. After spending the night in the tree the tiny cub came down and was captured and transported to the rehabilitation centre at Critter Care Wildlife Society.
Brandon’s efforts were integral to bringing about the wee cubs rescue. The resilient little cub was given the name Sakinaw.
We would also like to express our utmost gratitude to all those involved with the search and rescue of the tiny cub.
To Tammy Trefry and Jeffrey Alain Martel from Coastal Wildlife Rescue for their tireless commitment in searching for the cub.
To Sue Coules for posting all the signage and for informing the local community about the little one - day after day.
To Conservation Officer Leyland Klassen for being part of the collaborative effort to rescue the cub.
To Gibsons Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre for looking after Sakinaw prior to transport by Anna Miller to Critter Care Wildlife Society.
rescue of sunny
These volunteers were involved in a very long and focused effort to find and rescue Sunny, a tiny orphan cub in Elphinstone area just before Christmas 2021.
Read more about orphan cubs and their rescue efforts HERE