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MINE RESCUE
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Serving the South Country, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford since 1898
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Early start to bear season 20 sightings of bears in yards and garbage By Rebecca Edwards Free Press Staff
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et and cold weather in May has driven bears into town in search of food supplies much earlier than usual. In the past two weeks there have been 20 reports of bears in yards throughout the Elk Valley, several months before they normally descend from the mountains. Fernie Bear Aware coordinator Kathy Murray said the bears have not been aggressive but warned it is important to keep garbage locked up and take bird feeders in to stop them getting accustomed to human food. Hikers and bikers should carry bear spray and make plenty of noise on trails. Murray added: “I think the reason is that we had a low snow pack and
an early start to spring so many bears emerged from the dens early. “Since then the wet and cold weather has stopped the vegetation at altitude from greening up so they are moving closer to us. “I have been doing Bear Aware since May 2005 and I have never seen this many reports. “Normally at this time of year we would only have a few calls of bears passing through - never anything like this.” Murray said a lot of bears have been attracted to bird feeders and to food left out for deer – as well as deer themselves. She added: “These are the kind of things people would normally be thinking about in August and September, but they need to start doing it now. • Call in bear sightings to 1-877-952-7277 to help Bear Aware monitor the situation.
Bears in garbage
Muddy bikers at Whistler - Page 20
Fernie • Ridgemont Crescent • Coal Creek trail near Cokato Road • West Fernie: sow and cub spotted on trail between the river and Burma Road • Downtown Fernie: Park Crescent, Park Avenue, Fernie Mobile Home Park • Alpine Trails: sow and two cubs seen near homes. • Fernie Alpine Resort: base area, Timberline Crescent, Highline Crescent • Mount Fernie Provincial Park bike trails Elkford • Grizzly bear sightings by old boneyard • Black bears throughout the community
West Fernie resident Ian Bolzenius walked out of his front door and discovered this black bear eyeing up a pack of muffins in the back of his housemate Jeremy Wishart’s car two weeks ago. Photo by Ian Bolzenius