“More [bear] sightings reported in this past week than in any weeks prior,” according to SFU spokesperson
Recently, many reports of bear sightings have been made on Burnaby Mountain and near the Simon Fraser University Burnaby campus. While bear sightings are not unusual on Burnaby Mountain, last week SFU representative Don MacLachlan stated that there were “more sightings reported in this past week than in any weeks prior.”
MacLachlan wants to remind students of the presence of black bears near SFU, and hopes students continue to be conscious of garbage they leave around campus. “Our main concern is garbage,” MacLachlan stated. “Don’t strew around edible garbage.” Bear-proof garbage bins are installed around the outskirts of the campus to deter bears from approaching the campus. SFU student residents have to be particularly careful that their garbage is properly disposed of in such bins.
David Cox, an officer of the B.C. Conservation Officer Services, commented on the keen sense of smell that bears have, stating that the biggest prevention students can take in order to ward off bears from entering campus is to not “leave any attractants available.” Cox said that even a backpack left unattended might get a bear’s attention because this may appear to be garbage to them. He stated that the presence of bears on Burnaby Mountain is “not unusual,” students are simply becoming more aware of their presence during this time of year, after hibernating. “They are actively looking to gain back the weight they lost during hibernation,” Cox described, “leaving no down time.” The bears are busy trying to gain back calories, and are eager to find food.
Both MacLachlan and Cox advised students to be aware of the presence of bears on Burnaby Mountain and be aware of attractants we might not think of. For example, it is important to remember not to leave food in your car if you are parked outside. With a bear’s keen sense of smell, and their sharp claws, it has not been unknown for a bear to break into a car in order to find the food their nose led them to.
Black bears do not pose a direct threat to humans, but if one is startled, or is a mother bear protecting her cubs, the bear may become agitated. “First of all, there’s nothing to be feared,” Cox stated when asked about how a student should react if they happen to stumble upon a bear near campus.
“Give them the respect they deserve.” Cox explained that if given this situation, one should simply remain calm, back away slowly, and choose an alternate route. Last Thursday, SFU tweeted that “[i]t took warning shots to drive a mother bear and two cubs back into the forest at #SFU Burnaby today.”
Bears are most active during the dawn and dusk hours, however it is necessary to be conscious of their possible presence at all hours of the day. Avid hikers are encouraged to wear bells on their backpacks, or carry bear bells with them, to ensure they do not startle any bears in the area.
