We are all Whistler (Bears too)!!

Living in such a tight-knit community, we share many of Whistler’s jewels with the melting pot of people. As we saw during the Olympic period, rubbing shoulders with celebrities, athletes, weasel workers and locals. Whether standing in line for Peak Chair to open with Ashley McIvor, sitting in a coffee shop next to the Mayor, sharing a hiking trail with Arthur Dejong, or giving a cheers to Ray from the Husky at ‘A Whole Lotta Led’ show, you are as likely to see and know such people during your lives in Whistler as you are to see a bear in the summer.

Living in Whistler you follow aspects of the lives of these people and the causes they support. And that’s the nature of the town we live in is that it’s success and compassionate vibes comes from the joy of sharing the same things. The love of wilderness and its animals; the fruits of the seasons and community spirit that exists but it is especially prevalent through hard and good times.

The Re-Use-It Centre loves being part of the lives of all our awesome community. After receiving a bear hide through the Re-Use-It Centre last month and feeling uneasy about selling it, I contacted Michael Allen, the corridor’s Bear Researcher, who also happens to be an avid thrifter and Re-Use-It Center donor, to see if this majestic creature could go to some use within his programs.

He jumped upon the idea; the Bear hide would be used within Michael’s ‘Student and Visitor Bear Outreach Program’ where he visits schools and educates on reducing human/bear conflict and the wonders of their existence showing a wide selection of resources, beautiful photography, videos and now a hide.

As we approach spring and as the Bears start to show themselves a little more, here are some tips and useful advice Michael has put together for us.

Tell us a little about yourself, where you live and how long you've been in the area?

This is my 19th year doing research on Whistler black bears. I live with 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 7 chickens in Paradise Valley north of Squamish.

I came to Whistler in 1993 because my sister (Susan), who is a school teacher here, said there were lots of bears. She was right.

How did you find yourself as the number one  'Bear Researcher/Guide' of the Sea to Sky corridor?

I don't know about number one...but I guess I have put in the time. I'm not a biologist (many people think I am) and even though I've spent close to 30 years following black bears around, I don't consider myself an expert...I'm constantly learning...a "student of bears". I began guiding bear viewing in 2000 for Arthur DeJong at Whistler-Blackcomb. Its a great program that allows visitors to see the "real-time" life of bears that have learned to adapt to life in BC's largest recreational environment – vital to understanding the future of black bear conservation.

What is the kids education program that the hide will be a part of all about ?

I started doing talks on bears for kids at Whistler schools in 1997 despite my overwhelming shyness. This will be the 16th year elementary students will listen to my never-ending adventures with the larger, furry locals. Each spring and fall, I give an update on the personal lives of resident bears by showing photos, video, maps, and physical artifacts: skulls, claws, and hides. Hides are important because kids can feel a bears coat and claws. From that feeling, kids understand how a bear is designed and has adapted to living in the forest and more recently, out of the forest. The head-mounted bear hide donated by the Re-Use-It Centre is a useful addition because it represents another age-size of bear and with the head mounted with the hide, gives a more realistic perception of head shape because my other hides don’t have this. 

Can you remember the coolest item that you have found at the Re-Use-It Centre, or best item you've dropped off for donation?

I found a great desk which in the Whistler area is pretty much impossible to find. Mostly, I have dropped off lots of stuff ranging from DVD's to snow boots to computer screens.  

 

What tips can you give the community coming in to bear season?

The best way to help bears is by keeping "your space" in Whistler's environment clean. That's all bears really ask...an environment to share without

temptations of human food...that's what kills bears...sooner or later. We're likely in for a milder spring than last year and because of 2011's poorest berry crop on record, we may have a few early bears in March. When bears emerge and there's just snow, some head directly to backyards and birdfeeders.  So you should have your bird and squirrel feeders down by mid-March and start getting into the habit of keeping anything food or garbage related securely inside. Remember, recycling is bear food. Make sure you clean recycled containers with soap.  

 
How do you envisage the co-habitation between residents and Bears moving forward over the next few years?

This is the best question anyone's ever asked. The last 2 years saw alot of bears die in the Whistler area...over 50...mostly due to being destroyed as conflict bears from garbage-feeding leading to breaking into homes and bears being struck by vehicles on Highway 99. Bears also died from old age, malnutrition, and injuries from other bears. Having 2 bad berry crops back to back (2010-11) didn't help. Its important to understand that the bear population is cyclic. When we experience balanced, seasonal weather, bear survival is higher. When we have unseasonal, extreme weather, bear survival is lower. Extreme scales of snowfall, rain, and/or temperature reduces the availability of huckleberries and blueberries, the bear's most important food. These cycles in the bear population will always occur...so we will have good years and bad years. This year, we will have less bears around because 2010-11 were bad for berries and bear survival was low.  This year, a base population of at least 45 bears (that I know) could grow to 60+ bears depending on how many cubs are produced. In the WB ski area, there are 17 female bears and 16 of them are due to have cubs. They all won't produce cubs but we should have more cubs this year than the 7 cubs in 2011. When the bear population does drop, competition between bears goes down and some bear survival increases because there are less bears looking for food. And please don't hind behind Whistler's BearSmart Status...last summer the berries failed and bears tested the system and accessed garbage everywhere. So bear proof containment continues to be a progressive challenge each year.

Thanks to Michael for giving this Bear a new life and with his commitment to learning and promoting ‘considerate and bear smart’ behavior, so we can live in harmony with Whistler’s bear population.

For more information on how to be bear smart you can participate in Bear viewing and ecology tours through Whistler/Blackcomb by calling 1-800-766-0449 or read more on their site at http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/todo/summer/bears/index.htm?aheading=0, read about more ways to behave responsibly with Whistler’s bears at http://www.bearsmart.com/, or contact your municipality for more information at http://www.whistler.ca/residents/sustainability-environmental-protection/bears , 

Sarah Walters

Assistant Manager The Re-Use-It Centre