Many of us live in rural communities close to nature in British Columbia. Despite our best efforts, there is always a possibility we have to face in the risk of human-wildlife conflict. This article will focus on the human-wild conflict in British Columbia and dives into the issues aiming to understand why these conflicts happen.
What’s happening?
”The average number of black bears killed annually by the BC conservation officer service is around 500,” Executive Director of The Fur-bearers, Lesley Fox said.
Black Bear statistics are shown for each month, starting with January. Last updated on March 12, 2024.
| Year | Calls received | Calls attended | Bears destroyed by COS | Bears destroyed by others |
| 2023 | 5,963 | 520 | 151 | 31 |
| 2022 | 3,147 | 279 | 50 | 17 |
| 2021 | 3,524 | 335 | 74 | 15 |
| 2020 | 2,915 | 414 | 82 | 20 |
| 2019 | 2,474 | 291 | 67 | 15 |
| 2018 | 1,556 | 138 | 13 | 8 |
| 2017 | 2,503 | 225 | 43 | 17 |
 The CBC also reported that Many communities in British Columbia have wilderness areas nearby, and this combination can lead to problems, according to Adam Ford, a biology professor at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. He said, “We don’t expect to see a lot of bear conflicts in downtown Vancouver, because that’s a lot of ground for a bear to cover, but it’s on the outskirts that we see these problems.” Ford added that people often want to have close encounters with wildlife, which can be dangerous for both humans and animals. One area where the problem has escalated is the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Ford mentioned that conflicts arise when people try to have a magical experience with a wolf on Long Beach, doing things they’re not supposed to do, such as offering food to the wolf. This causes the wolves to become conditioned to human interaction and handouts, leading to negative outcomes.
What Can We Do to Help Prevent Human-Wildlife Conflicts
What causes the conflicts?
Each year, too may beasts and other wildlife are killed because of human decision and behaviour. When we leave garbage out, it attracts a bear from tens of kilometers away. However, there are a variety of simple things that each of us can do that make a big difference to prevent human-wildlife conflicts.
Report to the BC conversation officer service if there’s any incident such as
- Accessing garbage or other human supplied food sources
- Instances when wildlife cannot be scared off
- dangerous wildlife is in public
- when a cougar or wolf is seen in an urban area
Let’s learn more about different species in BC and stay safe around wildlife.