A number of people turned out to voice their disgust at the amount of recent killings of black bears in Revelstoke.
A group of protesters gathered on the steps of Revelstoke City Hall, holding pickards and signs and chanting a variety of slogans including ‘save the bears!’
They then marched to Grizzly Plaza where they stood amongst the grizzly bear statues that welcome visitors to the entrance of Mackenzie Avenue, chanting while passing cars honked their horns in support.
Vocal protester Anita Coueffin-Cairns led the charge, saying she had protested an excessive number of bear deaths in Revelstoke back in the ’80s and ’90s.
“I really thought after all the effort we put in that we had licked the problem and the city was on board with us, but now after all these years later, the problem has resurrected itself,” she said.
Coueffin-Cairns said city garbage laws are not being enforced and criticized the number of overflowing dumpsters in town, calling for fines to be handed out.
“They’re promoting themselves as a bear friendly city … yet every bear that steps foot into the city is dying,” she said.
“I think we need to get proper bear resistant containers for the businesses and I think people people need to make sure their garbage is contained.”
Since the nine bears were destroyed in just over two days last week, the discussion about bears in Revelstoke has gained attention in the local community as well as media coverage further afield.
A petition calling for a conservation officer to be located in Revelstoke has reached over 400 signatures. Revelstoke City is also supporting the call with councillors to meet with the Ministry of Environment at the upcoming UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities).
“Revelstoke is an isolated community and a conservation officer is required for many reasons,” director of corporate administration Dawn Low said. “There are several other wildlife that inhabit our community. There are hunting and fishing regulations that require enforcing. There are several wildlife areas that are being encroached and destroyed by off-road vehicles and there is no enforcement of provincial regulation.”
“The city’s main concern is for the protection of the residents and ensuring that are residents can feel safe in their community.”
Since last week, when at least two local businesses were issued with violations for attracting dangerous wildlife, the city has reached out to the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce and are collaborating to assist business with information on how to properly store garbage and protect wildlife.
The city also intends to remove fruit trees on city land which may be attracting bears, targeting areas that are near parks.
At the start of August, the city increased patrols of the commissionaires/bylaw enforcement officers and fine $100 per occurrence for not doing the following:
- A garbage container must, at all times, be maintained in a clean, dry, odour free and sanitary condition and receptacle must be covered securely with a lid;
- A garbage container shall be kept on the owner’s premises at all times and stored in a location not accessible by wildlife, except when placed on such curb or lane for the purpose of collection under this bylaw;
- A garbage container shall be set out no earlier than 6 a.m. on the day of collection.
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