Fall fruit — dessert time for bears

This is the season when the fruit trees in our yards here in the Shuswap are laden with luscious apples, pears and plums. They are ripe and are falling to the ground. Ahh, we can almost smell a hot apple pie coming out of the oven!

Unfortunately, we are not the only ones who are smacking our lips in anticipation. The slightest breeze in the air is carrying the scent of the fruit right to the nostrils of the local bear population and they are hungrily stocking up for their winter hibernation at the moment. What do they do next? Why, they pay us a visit, of course.

Both bears and humans would be better off if the bears stayed out of our communities. They are pests at the least and dangerous if we should happen to encounter one. They don’t come here with the intent to attack us but they do come when they know there is food. And since we people never seem to learn to pick up the fruit that is lying on the ground, place our garbage in containers the bears can’t get into and clean the remains of last night’s dinner off the barbecue, they know our yards are the best restaurants in town. They can smell a good dinner a mile away!

In the past ten years or so, literally thousands of black bears and hundreds of grizzlies have been killed because we have been carelessly attracting them into our towns and cities with all the goodies we leave lying around for them.

Many bears are just passing through town in search of food and will not return if there is none. Because they are creatures of habit, they will remember that the larder was bare in that place. If they find food, you can be sure they will return –- again -– and again –- and again. It’s too late by then and that‘s when bears get killed.

If you see a bear in your neighbourhood, keep in mind that your personal safety is much more important than chasing the bear away. Don’t stop to yell or wave your hands about. Just calmly go indoors, warn your neighbours and call a conservation officer. The number is 1-877-952-7277.

You can find out more about bear-proofing your yard and your community at http://www.bearaware.bc.ca/