Mostly black bears, plus the occasional grizzly, in natural regional parks
The Regional District is warning parkgoers to watch out for bears that may be visiting some of the Okanagan's many natural regional parks.
With Kokanee salmon spawning and orchards ripening, it's basically an all-you-can-eat buffet for bears that come down from the higher elevations to prepare for their wintertime hibernation.
The good news is that no bear attacks have been recorded in the Okanagan in recent memory, says RDCO spokesperson Bruce Smith;
"We've been really lucky, because our parks staff are very dilligent in keeping an eye out and taking reports from visitors about bear sightings," says Smith. "If a bear does take up residence in an area, we'll put up signs to let people know that a bear has been spotted in the area."
Smith says it's mostly black bears that visit regional parks, but it's not uncommon to see a grizzly bear once and a while.
Some parks with past bear sightings include:
- Mission Creek
- The Greenway
- Scenic Canyon
- Bertram Creek
- Johns Family Nature Conservancy
- Kalamoir
- Glen Canyon
- Rose Valley
Parkgoers are encouraged to travel in groups, keep their dogs on a leash, and give any bear they come across plenty of space, especially if they're eating of have their cubs with them.
If you see an aggressive bear in a natural regional park, you're urged to report it to the Provincial Conservation Service at 1-877-952-7277.
