Lions Bay Bear Smart

Welcome to Lions Bay Bear Smart Community 

The Village of Lions Bay is proud to hold Bear Smart designation; a recognition of our community’s commitment to reducing human–bear conflicts and supporting the safe coexistence of people and wildlife. Maintaining this designation requires continued effort, awareness, and collaboration, and the Village remains dedicated to upholding these obligations.

A key partner in this work is the Lions Bay Bear Smart Team, a non-municipal group of committed community volunteers who provide valuable insight, monitoring, and feedback on bear activity and related issues throughout the community. Their efforts help ensure that municipal practices and public education remain aligned with Bear Smart standards.

The Village also participates in regular joint collaborative meetings with representatives from the Bear Smart Team and the BC Conservation Officer Service. These sessions allow for coordinated information-sharing, discussion of emerging concerns, and ongoing refinement of local conflict-prevention strategies.

Through these partnerships and our continued commitment to best practices, Lions Bay honours its Bear Smart responsibilities and supports a safer, more wildlife-aware community for all.

Bear Smart Designation Crest

If You See A Bear

  • Do not Run: bears can easily outrun you. By running you may trigger an attack. Pick up small children and when possible stay in a group. Back away slowly and talk softly.
  • Give the Bear Space: back away slowly and talk in a soft voice. Do not approach a bear or make direct eye contact.
  • Leave the Area or Make a Wide Detour: if you cannot leave, wait until the bear moves out of the way and ensure that the bear has an escape route.
  • If the Bear Rears Up: it is curious and trying to see you or catch your scent better. It is not a sign of aggression. Back away slowly and talk softly.
  • Watch for Aggressive Behaviors: a bear may display aggression by swinging its head from side to side, making vocalizations such as huffs, snorts, whoops, or moans, displaying teeth or claws; jaw popping; swatting at the ground; staring with eye contact; panting; or laying its ears back. These behaviors usually indicate that the bear is stressed, acting defensively and asking for more space. Attacks rarely follow but this is a warning to leave the area!

Bear Proof Your Home

Garbage:

  • Never store your garbage outside, unless it is in an approved bear-proof container or bear-proof enclosure. Be sure to follow the Lions Bay Garbage Pick Up Schedule.
  • Recycling : wash and store recycling indoors or in a bear-proof enclosure.
  • Do not put garbage curb-side until morning of pick-up.
  • It may only take one time to condition a bear to human garbage.
  • Do not store food in outdoor fridges or freezers.
  • Coolers : store all coolers indoors, even clean empty ones.

Bird Feeders

  • Do not use bird feeders in bear country.
  • Use bird baths or plant red or pink native flowers that are known to appeal to hummingbirds.

Bar-B-Ques

  • Burn barbecue and clean immediately after use.
  • Store them indoors, if possible leave the propane tank outside.
  • Always remove the grease can and store it indoors.
  • Do not leave any food unattended outside, the smell from barbecuing travels a long distance.

Pet Food

  • Feed your pets inside and store their food inside. If you must feed pets outside, remove all food and food bowls after feeding.
  • Do not leave dog bones lying around in your yard.

Fruit Trees

  • Harvest fruits as soon as they ripen.
  • Remove fallen fruit from the ground.
  • Electric fence orchards & bee hives in areas where bears are a problem.
  • Plant non-fruit bearing trees/shrubs when landscaping.

Report Human to Bear Contact

To report a bear encounter where public safety is at risk call the 

Conservation Officer Service at: 1. 877. 952. RAPP (7277).

When you report bear activity to the Conservation Officer Service, it provides the opportunity to work proactively together to fix the problem before it gets out of control. Reports of dangerous wildlife (bears) in the community may NOT result in the removal of the animal, in fact, if reported soon enough, Conservation Officers, municipal workers and community volunteers can often change human behavior before it results in the removal of the animal.

Support your local government with their endeavor to become an official Bear Smart Community. Remember, it takes the entire community to make change!