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[CULTURE] · Canada · 3 sources

Part of situation: Human-bear conflict prevention in Greater Victoria (2 clusters)

South Island residents urged to remove bird feeders to protect black bears

black bears South Island WildSafe BC Pacific Rim human-wildlife conflict Greater Victoria

Residents in rural Greater Victoria and across South Island are advised to remove bird feeders and secure other food sources to prevent dangerous human-bear conflicts. As black bears prepare for winter hibernation, they seek calorie-dense foods, with a single bird feeder potentially providing up to 18,000 calories.

WildSafe BC Pacific Rim reports that garbage was responsible for 53 per cent of human-bear conflicts in the province over a four-year period. Other significant attractants include barbecues, compost, fruit trees, bee hives, chicken coops, pet food, and pumpkins. The BC SPCA recommends bringing pumpkins indoors immediately after Halloween to mitigate risks.

Failure to manage these attractants can cause bears to lose their natural fear of humans. Such behavioral changes often lead to conservation officers having to euthanize “problem” bears. In 2025, two black bears were destroyed by conservation officers on the South Island, a decrease from 15 in 2024.

Entities

BC Conservation Officer Service · BC SPCA · Greater Victoria · South Island · WildSafe BC Pacific Rim

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

Bring in the bird feeders to keep South Island black bears safe [oakbaynews.com]
Bring in the bird feeders to keep South Island black bears safe [peninsulanewsreview.com]
Bring in the bird feeders to keep South Island black bears safe [saanichnews.com]