Bear warning issued in North Vancouver after police get four calls in one night

Police are warning the public in North Vancouver to be careful with garbage, compost and other bear attractants after bears were seen ripping into food sources near homes in four separate incidents Tuesday night.

The bear sightings happened in several residential areas – including two sightings in the neighbourhood of Westview Drive and Mosquito Creek, one in central Lonsdale and one in Lynn Valley – after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23.

In the first instance, a bear in the 10,000 block of 22nd Street West was seen going through several yards, breaking several fences and getting into compost.

In two other cases Tuesday night, bears were reported eating garbage outside of townhouse complexes in both the 300 block of 17th Street East and the 1700 block of Fell Avenue.

A bear also got within five feet of a man who was walking on a school field at the Cousteau French International School near Fromme Road in Lynn Valley.

“It’s fair to say it’s several bears. It’s not one bear,” said Const. Mansoor Sahak of the North Vancouver RCMP.

He added in one case Tuesday night, the bears appeared to be a mother and cub.

Sahak said the latest problems appear to have been caused by people putting out garbage or compost bins for pick-up the night before rather than waiting until morning.

Leaving containers with food sources out is “inviting bears to come on to your property,” he said. “It’s really up to residents to do their part to protect bears and also protect themselves.”

Sahak added it’s also a bylaw offence to put out compost or garbage cans the night before and could result in fines.

The latest bear reports come just a week after B.C. Conservation Officer Service members shot and killed a black bear in North Vancouver’s Deep Cove area after the animal bit a woman while she was gardening.

That bear had previously been spotted around the Deep Cove neighbourhood and had not caused any problems until the day before, when the same bear approached another resident in an unusual manner, but did not make physical contact, according to Christine Miller of the North Shore Black Bear Society.

Miller said bear activity in North Vancouver has remained high over the past week.

Police said improperly stored garbage remains the number one cause of bears being in contact with people and urged residents to keep garbage inside until collection day, use a bear-resistant container, store pet food indoors and keep your barbecue clean.

If you see a bear, remain calm. Often the bear is just passing through, said Sahak, and if it finds no food source, it will simply move on. Keep well away from the bear and give the bear escape options.

If you encounter a bear and it appears to be threatening, call the B.C. Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277 or the RCMP at 9-1-1.