Provincial funding for the local Bear Aware program might disappear in 2010, threatening the program's existence in Squamish, said the local co-ordinator, Meg Toom.
Toom said her work hours have already been reduced from 840 hours last year to 420 hours this year.
"This could put the program in jeopardy. I can't do educational booths and fairs. I'm revising [wildlife] bylaws here at the district and none of that work would be done," she said.
Bear Aware is a province wide educational program that teaches and motivates people to prevent conflicts with grizzly and black bears.
Toom talked about the anticipated funding shortage during the second annual Bear Awareness community event at the Squamish Adventure Centre on Saturday (Sept. 19).
There has never been a commitment on provincial funding, but it has decreased in the past few years, said provincial Bear Aware co-ordinator, Jacques Drisdelle.
The funding has reduced from $350,000 last year to only $100,000 this year, but with grants being cut across the board, the program is bracing for the possibility of no funding at all next year, Drisdelle said.
"We haven't received official word, but there has been a lot of money being cut from environmental programs," he said.
The second annual event on Saturday was a persuasive example of the need for an informational program about bears in Squamish.
As parents brought their kids to Toom, she laid before them a variety of claws and explained them the difference between a grizzly bear and black bears.
The kids listened with rapt attention as Toom talked about ursine food and habitat, and the need to avoid the bear-human conflict.
Toom said reported bear sightings in Squamish have reduced this summer because of the abundance of berries. She also said it's worth reiterating that bears are intelligent and opportunistic animals who are always looking for food.
During the event, Squamish animal control officer Loletta Smith reminded locals that municipal fines for wildlife attractants have increased from $150 to $400 for those who put their fridge or freezer outside.
The Squamish Public Library also displayed the books they have on bears while the RCMP and Coast Guard's bears ambled around, hugging kids and getting photographed.
Photographer and bear researcher Michael Allen presented a slide show that illustrated the relationship between weight gain, berries, and cubs amongst the longest studied black bear population at Whistler.
