In Saturday’s half hour Cortes Currents magazine, which will repeat at 9 AM on Wednesday, we described a human/bear situation developing in Squirrel Cove, on Cortes Island. There has been a bear in the Squirrel Cove vicinity for a year or more. At this point, there are believed to be two bears. Earlier this month, one of them started breaking into fenced yards to the steal fruit. Manuel Perdisa wrote the song “Bear in my Bubble” about one of these incidents.
Story behind ‘Bear in my Bubble’
Returning from Campbell River, around lunchtime on Monday Nov 16th, Manuel’s mother, Leslie Perdisa, found the door to her cellar burst open. The ‘Squirrel Cove Bear’ had eaten most of the apples stored inside.
The following morning, the bear attempted to claw through the siding on her parent’s home to get to the apples stored within. It is still afraid of humans and was driven off. However it had snowed overnight and bear tracks were found circling the house.
Conservation Office observing events
The Conservation Office Service has been monitoring events at Squirrel Cove. Some of the activities being reported, for example missing pets, are typically associated with other predators – not bears. However, raids on fruit trees and garbage are very typical bear behaviour. They advise Squirrel Cove residents to put up electric fences and not leave any fruit or garbage where the bear can access it. They have not yet decided whether the Squirrel Cove Bear needs to be removed.
Anyone with information is advised to contact the The Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at Call 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP) or #7277 on the TELUS Mobility Network. If the situation is not an emergency, report the incident online or contact the nearest Conservation Officer Service district office.
Links of Interest
- (Cortes Currents) articles about Cortes Island Bears
- (FOCI) Co-existing with Bears and Wolves
- (FOCI) Cortes Bear Primer
- (BC Government) Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP)
Top photo credit: Bear tracks the snow – courtesy Leslie Perdisa
This program was funded by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the Government of Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative.
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