North Shore Black Bear Network

Main Accomplishments of the Network

Reduction in the number of black bears killed on the North Shore
Establishment of a network of volunteers who respond to bear issues
Establishment of the bear telephone line, 604-990-BEAR, and a bear activity database
Development of a protocol for safely managing treed urban bears
Educational literature on bears for schools
Media coverage of North Shore bear issues

The North Shore Black Bear Network was formed in 2000 in response to a sharp increase in bear deaths on the North Shore.

Before 2000, black bears were being destroyed on the North Shore at an alarming rate causing many residents to become concerned. In 1999, the BC Conservation Officer Service discontinued their practice of trapping black bears and relocating them for the majority of cases. Released bears were quickly returning to where they had been captured - locations where human food was easily obtainable. Unless bear attractants in residential areas could be contained, the cycle of bears being relocated and then returning to urban areas would never end. The easiest solution appeared to be to kill the bears.

Chart created by Jocelyn Akins

A coalition of concerned residents, combined their varied expertise and with the support of the District of North Vancouver, managed to change wildlife management policy in North Vancouver, following the successful model of the Resort Municipality of Whistler. As a result, the District of North Vancouver purchased bear proof containers for public areas and attempts were made to encourage the residents to manage their garbage. By 2001, the coalition had evolved into the North Shore Black Bear Network.

In its early days, the Network launched the Bearline 604-990-BEAR, a bear sighting and reporting telephone line used to monitor bear activity and provide a bear education service to the public. Bear sightings reported on the Bearline are used to learn more about the North Shore black bear population and bear behaviour in general.