Details of presentation: Wildlife Attractant Bylaw Proposal

Details of presentation:

Residents near Thetis Lake are reporting increased bear sightings and conflicts. In the View Royal neighbourhood bordering Highland Road and Craigflower Creek, a mother bear was killed and her three cubs trapped by conservation officers on June 23. Conservation officer Richard DeKelver said in an email that “there is a definite need to address garbage storage” in the neighbourhood. He stated the conflict and tragic outcome could have been avoided with “appropriate attractant management.” Over the years, bears have been regularly spotted, and some neighbours encouraged others to securely store their garbage, but the problem only escalated. This neighbourhood is not alone - bears and other wildlife have appeared elsewhere in View Royal throughout the years.

Today we make two requests. First, we present a request for a new town bylaw that could be modelled after bylaws in Port Alberni, the Village of Radium Hot Springs, Squamish and others. Such a bylaw would act to deter leaving garbage and food waste unsecured and accessible to wildlife. Garbage and food waste would need to be stored in garages, enclosures or bear-proof bins. Bins would need to be placed on the curb no earlier than the morning of pickup. Some bylaws also ask people to pick up fruit that has fallen from their trees as it often attracts bears. At present, the town’s Animal Control Bylaw states, “A person must not intentionally feed or leave food out for the purposes of feeding wild or exotic animals.” This focuses on purposely feeding animals, and does not address leaving garbage bins accessible to wildlife. The Radium Hot Springs bylaw addresses this with a section stating, “No person shall knowingly or willingly leave or store any attractant, refuse, food product, pet food or grain in a manner which would constitute an attractant to wild animals.” The bylaw goes on to say that waste should be stored in wildlife-proof containers, garages, wildlife-proof enclosures or brought to transfer stations or common neighbourhood disposal sites.

In order to achieve our goal, we also propose the introduction of bear-proof garbage and food waste containers. Under the town’s Bylaw 745 for waste disposal, “No occupant of a dwelling unit, as defined in this Bylaw, shall dispose of residential garbage and household food waste except in accordance with the provisions of this bylaw.” The bylaw, in section 7, then goes on to say, “Use the containers supplied by the collection contractor as the receptacles for the waste to be collected.” But the containers mandated for our use are not suitable for keeping out bears, putting us in an untenable and precarious position. Waste Management has told us they can supply bear-proof containers with a more secure latching system. Therefore, we propose bear-proof containers to replace the aging household containers (some 15 years or more old) with lids that can open when tipped over by even smaller animals like raccoons. Furthermore, public garbage cans at two parks and a bus stop at a Thetis Park trail head, in our neighbourhood, have open lids easily accessible to wildlife and sometimes overflowing with trash. These are also in definite need of upgrading. Other options that could be considered include setting up large common bins to be shared by neighbours or providing a transfer station. Providing clamps that fit on garbage bins to bear proof them, such done in Squamish, could be investigated. These changes could be made throughout View Royal, or focus initially on problem areas like our neighbourhood, with other neighbourhoods added as garbage bins are replaced. Priority for bins could be given to residents who lack a secure place to store their waste.

Thank you for your consideration in adding this important item to the Sept. 5 council agenda.