| UNBEARABLE
BINS 
The Wildlife Management Program found another way to help
people avoid human/bear conflict on the Reservation. The latest
effort, funded by Defenders of Wildlife, is the purchase of 5
“UnBear Able Bins” to keep bears out of residential garbage.
“Unsecured attractants are the biggest cause of bear and
human conflict,” says Stacy Courville, Wildlife Biologist for
the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
“Every spring, Wildlife Biologists and Tribal Wardens respond
to dozens of phone calls about bears being too close” Courville
says. “The majority of these calls come because people allow
bears to access human food and garbage. Bears quickly learn to
associate it with people and become “problem bears” when they
are food conditioned.”
Both bears and humans like to settle in valley bottoms and
along streams. More development in these areas results in bears
living in closer proximity to people. Bears that live near
humans can become problem bears if they get access to
non-natural foods. The potential for conflict increases as
people continue to encroach on bear habitat.
“In communities like St. Ignatius and Hot Springs, situated
at the base of mountain ranges with streams running through
them, the problems can last all summer” said Dale Becker, Tribal
Wildlife Program Manager.
The UnBearAble Bins are one solution to help stop problem
bears before they get started. They prevent bears from being
attracted to your garbage, livestock and pet food.
For more information about how to co-exist with bears or to
check out an UnBearAble Bin contact Stacy Courville at 883-2888
ext. 7284 or Germaine White at 883-2888 ext 7299.
|
