Managing Attractants

The key to creating a Bear Smart community is not to attract bears in the first place.

Securing attractants is the single best way to keep people safe, prevent property damage, and avoid the unnecessary killing of bears. In communities, this requires a two-prong approach:

1. Municipal, regional and provincial/state governments must provide easy access to a large-scale bear-resistant waste management system and manage attractants in public spaces.

2. Individual residents, visitors, and recreationists must secure all attractants from bears at home, at work, and when out in the community.

That is not to say that a bear will never pass through an attractant-free area as they may come into peopled areas for other reasons, like a young bear or a mother with small cubs may seek refuge in peopled areas where they can hide from more dominant bears. The only thing that will ultimately keep a bear out of any area is a well-maintained electric fence.

Follow the guidelines listed below and you will greatly reduce the chance of attracting bears and encouraging conflicts.