EDITOR,
In the last month a small black bear has been making its rounds through Brackendale. Every afternoon just before dark, I can hear an army of dogs start to bark announcing the whereabouts of the hungry bear. The disturbing part of this is I have witnessed people get into their vehicles and blow the horn and charge the bear! Among the noise of the dogs I hear people screaming at the top of their lungs, harrassing the bear until it leaves.
Tonight while walking down Judd Road, my son an I watched a bear eating garbage out of someone's "bear-proof can." It was the same tagged sow that persistently frequents the area. We watched from the other side of the street while she chewed on old pizza takeout boxes.
Without warning or provocation, the bear turned and charged toward us. We were 80 feet away and on the other side of the street. Once she got within 20 feet, she turned and left.
I grew up in a small town on the North Island. I have been charged by bears a few times in my life from close encounters with bears. They always warn you before they charge! Always. There is no doubt in my mind that the people of Brackendale have driven this bear to end of her tolerance.
Why can't we leave them alone? Why don't we lock our garbage up? Why can't we pick the fruit off of our trees? Why do we chase and harrass the bears until they are so mad they charge at people on the other side of the street?
Squamish has a Bear Aware program that is second to none. If you need advice on how to stop bears from coming on your property, the Bear Aware program can give you some great information on bears, what to do in an encounter, and how to make your property less inviting to them. So why don't you all get Bear Aware before you start chasing the bears in your car?
Eric Houghton
Brackendale
