The bears are back in town, and they’re hungry to restock after hibernating across the South Okanagan and Similkameen.
The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen is warning residents to take care and avoid attracting the wild animals into residential areas.
Black bears have emerged from a relatively mild winter after recent warm weather helped begin their search for food to replace the reserves lost during their hibernation.
Mother bears are also out with their new cubs, and pose an additional risk to residents in the community.
In recent weeks residents have spotted the bears out and about, including an incident in Summerland where the bear picked up and carried away a garbage can from outside a home.
READ MORE: Bear seen picking up, carrying garbage bin outside Summerland home
Convenient, unnatural food sources draw wildlife into communities, creating safety concerns for wildlife and residents. Bears can smell five times better than dogs. Rats and raccoons are also well-adapted to smell out possible food sources.
The RDOS released tips that will help people avoid attracting bears and other wildlife in their neighbourhood:
• Store all garbage in a secure area, preferably a lockable garage or shed
• Wash all food and recyclable containers thoroughly before placing in bins or setting aside for depot drop-off
• Freeze potentially smelly leftovers or scraps, especially meat and fish, and waiting until just before pick-up to place them in the garbage container outside
• Remove bird feeders, as birdseed is a very high-calorie snack for a hungry bear
• Wait until the morning of pick-up to put the garbage on the curb for collection
B.C. has the largest population of black bears in North America, and interactions within the RDOS reached new highs in 2023.
People can report wildlife conflicts or sightings in urban areas to the Conservation Officer Service anytime at
For further information, people can contact Shelley Fiorito, RDOS WildSafeBC Community Coordinator, or visit wildsafebc.com.