The report of a grizzly bear near a Whistler dog park was unfounded, Conservation Officer Service has confirmed.
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In a brief statement to Whistler Daily Post, the Conservation Officer Service said it attended to a report of a grizzly bear sighting in the Cheakamus area of Whistler on Tuesday, May 7. COS met with the person reporting the sighting on site and identified the bear as a brown-fazed black bear. Due to its proximity to a dog park, the bear was ‘moved off’ into a nearby wooded area.
The black bear and grizzly bear are found in Whistler, though it can be difficult to tell them apart. According to Bear Smart, Black bears can range in colour from black, blue-black, dark brown, brown and cinnamon to even white. Grizzlies, likewise, can range in colour from black to blonde. Grizzly bears are usually significantly larger than black bears, but size is not the best way of differentiating the species. Grizzlies tend to have short-round ears, noticeable shoulder hump, a ‘dish’ shaped face, and long, light-coloured claws.
Bear sightings in residential areas can be reported to the COS at 1-877-952-7277 or 604-905-BEAR. Whistler Conservation Officers are notified daily of sightings and immediately in emergencies. This January, Pemberton residents wrote to Conservation Officer Service to hire a grizzly bear specialist for the Sea to Sky Corridor.
Local MLA Jordan Sturdy also says he has been asking the Province to increase support for communities dealing with significant grizzly bear issues. “Today, electric fencing can be an effective and non-lethal method of bear management in places like the Pemberton Valley. I have been asking the Province to increase support to communities dealing with significant grizzly bear issues,” he said.
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John Wood says
WBAC had all winter to form an effective plan to manage grizzly bears. There “new developments” are only now being taken to Victoria for discussion. The habituated bears are or will soon be wandering the valley. These plans still secrets from the public. There has not been accessible minutes to a WBAC meeting since July 2023. Why this is acceptable to RMOW council is beyond me.