It’s spring and that means a lot of animals, including bears, amid homes in the Cowichan Valley.

Although black bears are looking for food at this time of year, a B.C. conservation officer, Mark Kissinger, explained that if we are careful about our garbage and leave the bears alone, they should pose little or no threat.

“If you respect the bears, and you give them an easy way out and you give them some space, there is very little threat. For most cases, a healthy bear, if it is given a way to exit or stay away from people, it will take that choice.”

However, Kissinger did say one area where they're getting into trouble, is around sheep.

“We are finding that a lot of farmers are not using appropriate fencing, such as electric fencing. So we are starting to have a lot of conflict between bears and sheep. So we ask people if they do raise sheep and goats that they do put up appropriate fencing such as electric fencing, or get a guardian dog.”

He speculates that there are more hobby farmers in the Cowichan Valley raising just a few sheep and putting up average fencing, which bears can get over.

If you notice a bear frequenting a certain area and becoming accustomed to people, he urges you to call the conservation office right away so they can relocate the bear away from homes.

Conservation Office 1-877-952-7277

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