The B.C. conservation officer service is urging the public to secure bear attractants after a grizzly was spotted in a residential area of Whistler on Wednesday, April 29.
鈥淭he important message for us is the same for Whistler鈥檚 black bears,鈥� said Sgt. Simon Gravel with the COS. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want those grizzlies accessing attractants. There鈥檚 about eight or nine black bears active in that same area where that grizzly was seen, and it is as important for us to talk about black bears and attractants as it is for our grizzlies.鈥�
The bear was reportedly seen on Crabapple Drive in Whistler Cay*, a not altogether surprising spot for a grizzly to be seen so early in the season, explained Johnny Mikes, field coordinator for the Coast to Cascades Grizzly Bear Initiative.
鈥淭he [grizzly] bears we have closest to Whistler all live on the west side 鈥� So this bear almost certainly came down from the Rainbow area or the Callaghan looking for food,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen you go down to the foot of Lorimer towards Crabapple, it鈥檚 along that stretch of the River of Golden Dreams and so the valley bottom is fairly lush, early-season habitat. You鈥檝e got skunk cabbage growing, you鈥檝e got vegetation coming out first there in that area, so if a bear comes down from the mountain, it鈥檚 not an illogical place for it to be.鈥�
A photo of the grizzly made the rounds on social media, and the COS has confirmed that the image is real after speaking to the photographer. Gravel claimed the shot was taken on April 29 during a brief window of sunshine on the otherwise grey, rainy day.
While it鈥檚 rare to see grizzlies in inhabited areas, Gravel said the COS has been expecting a rise in sightings as the local population has grown in recent years.
鈥淥bviously, grizzlies are on the move and it was expected that we would start seeing grizzlies more in residential areas in Pemberton, in Whistler and in Squamish. That鈥檚 been a discussion for many years and now we鈥檙e starting to see that,鈥� he said.
Mikes added that the lack of activity due to the COVID-19 crisis could be another factor, emboldening the bear to venture further into the valley that it normally would.
There are an estimated eight adult grizzlies living in the Callaghan area. A 2012 government report estimated there were 59 bears in the larger Squamish-Lillooet grizzly bear population unit, but biologists believe that the population has increased somewhat, with known success of females having cubs, including immediately west of Whistler in places like the Callaghan and Soo Valley.
Earlier this month, Whistler鈥檚 council endorsed the RMOW鈥檚 grizzly conflict mitigation strategy for the community鈥檚 Alpine Trail Network, which opened to much fanfare in 2017. The following summer, parts of the network were closed after two separate groups of hikers had run-ins with grizzly bears.
鈥淭he bears are coming back in numbers and then we鈥檙e building trails into the alpine, so it鈥檚 not surprising that we鈥檙e going to see them and we鈥檙e going to have to work around them,鈥� Mikes said.
While it鈥檚 important to stay vigilant in bear country, Mikes said spotting a grizzly is no cause for panic.
鈥淚t鈥檚 prudent to be a little more aware that we have had a grizzly here and we could have it again, but there鈥檚 no reason to freak out,鈥� he said. 鈥淔undamentally, it is a wonderful sign that we have these wonderful creatures in the wild still living in proximity to us. We just need to keep the town clean, be alert and aware and enjoy the fact that they鈥檙e around.鈥�
The COS is asking the community to manage all attractants around their homes. This includes ensuring that garbage and pet food is properly stored, birdseed is removed from feeders, and outdoor barbecues are properly cleaned鈥攁 persistent issue for the COS recently.
鈥淲e have had a lot of reports of barbecues being attacked, so maybe we can put some more emphasis on that,鈥� Gravel said. 鈥淧eople sometimes are a bit complacent on cleaning their barbecue properly, burning off all the leftovers in it and removing those grease tins under it. That seems to be the main attractant we鈥檙e dealing with this year at this stage so far.鈥�
Cats should be supervised if let outside, and dogs should be kept on leash outdoors at all times.
鈥淒ogs have to be on leash in bear country. There are no exceptions鈥攇rizzly bears or black bears. In the past we lost some black bears because of dogs. The bears are getting harassed by dogs off leash, and then eventually they just learn the behaviour to turn around and 鈥� start attacking dogs,鈥� explained Gravel. 鈥淥bviously, when we have a bear learning that behaviour, like automatically chasing and attacking dogs鈥攅ven dogs on leash鈥攖hen it becomes a huge public safety concern for us, and unfortunately, it鈥檚 hard to reverse this learning behaviour for us.鈥�
Whistler鈥檚 Animal Responsibility Bylaw mandates that dogs be on leash, except when in an off-leash park, and owners can also be fined under the Wildlife Act if their dog is found chasing wildlife.
As always, bear sightings can be reported to the COS RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277. Mikes urged the community to report a grizzly as soon as it鈥檚 spotted to allow for early intervention, if needed.
鈥淭he best thing you can do for the bear is call the Conservation Officer Service, call the RAPP line, and through that the word will get out to the muni, to bylaw staff, to everybody that there鈥檚 a bear there and hopefully word will get out, education can be done and people can keep that bear safe,鈥� he stressed. 鈥淧robably the worst thing you can do for that grizzly bear, or any grizzly bear you see, is not call the Conservation Officer Service.鈥�
For more information on mitigating conflict with grizzlies, visit
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