BC parks get bear-smart!

This black bear came to have lunch at the compost pile. (Photo by Mi Kai Lee)

As part of a new bear-smart recycling bin program, the British Columbia government, in partnership with Encorp Pacific Canada, has installed fifty-nine bear-proof recycle bins in four of BC’s busiest provincial parks to help campers and picnickers put away garbage, used pop bottles and other food containers that attract bears to campsites.

Cultus Lake Provincial Park near Chilliwack, Goldstream Provincial Park near Victoria, Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park near Parksville and Alice Lake Provincial Park near Squamish are the recipients of the new bins.

Environment Minister, Barry Penner, in announcing the new program, said it will “support recycling and the goal of keeping parks green and clean. The most natural and effective way to prevent potentially dangerous conflicts with bears is to put away any food attractants,” he said. “The new program is a good example of a partnership between the BC government and the private sector. It enhances BC Parks, promotes proper waste management and encourages people to be ‘bear smart’ when visiting our parks.”

The program cost the government $8,000 and Encorp contributed $106,000 toward the bins, for a total of $114,000.

“As British Columbians, we’re proud of our provincial parks and conscientious when it comes to recycling,” said Encorp Pacific Canada CEO, Neil Hastie. “Encorp’s bear-smart recycling partnership with the provincial government will not only help keep our parks clean and conserve resources, it will further minimize impact on wildlife.”

For more information about BC’s parks, visit their website at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/index.html