Karelian Bear Sheperding Institute of Canada

Bear Bin Loaner Program

Karelian Bear Shepherding Institute of Canada

Bear Bin Loaner Program

Through a generous donation from the Alberta Conservation Association, KBSIC purchased 12 bear resistant bins from UnBearAble Bins Inc in 2006. These bins are made available to residents of the Bragg Creek area in an attempt to reduce the number of bear human conflict incidents related to bears obtaining unnatural foods. This Program is being coordinated by KBSIC in conjunction with Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. A Summary Report is available that outlines the results of the program to date.

Project Objectives:

The purpose of this project is to provide Bragg Creek and area residents with the tools to reduce or eliminate bear attractants and reduce the potential for bear-human conflicts.

The objectives of the project are:

to purchase and disseminate bear-resistant containers to Bragg Creek and area residents experiencing bear problems resulting from on-site artificial attractants;

to work with ASRD in monitoring the outcome of container use in terms of eliminating bear attractants and reducing problem bear activity;

to educate residents regarding the effective management of bear attractants; and

to encourage residents to take proactive measures to eliminate bear attractants and reduce the potential for bear-human conflicts in the long-term.

The container program represents an innovative approach that pro-actively engages community members in bear management, encouraging residents of rural communities to be good stewards of wildlife. Working with and empowering residents of rural communities to take the initiative in managing attractants is a fundamental element of the bear-resistant container program.

See the attached .pdf file to download a copy of the KBSIC Bear Bin Loaner Program results.