Inspector Barbara Leslie – top Conservation Officer in the region came to the RDOS today to talk Bear Aware but got into the thick of it on a number of fronts:

1. Princeton is without a conservation officers upsetting locals
2. Rural Penticton is having a problem with feral horses and the conservation branch is not allowed to deal with that problem
3. Rural Naramata was having a problem with sick muskrats near children and the lake and the conservation branch balked at helping with the local director trapping and disposing of such carcasses.
4. Osoyoos police reporting wandering cougars
5. Bears ( seen above ) attracted by garbage
6. City of Penticton – major problem with aggressive deer and slow response by CO.

Inspector Leslie says her resources are limited. 5 Officers and a Sgt. in the North Okanagan and the same in the south. Priority being threats to life.

Bear Aware programme designed to communicate with public about feeding bear inadvertently. All garbage in rural areas should be put out in the morning and not the night before. If there are no food sources in habituated areas – bears will retreat back to nature. Some recommendations on wildlife: remove food sources in your backyards or lots. Fruit trees not needed for commercial sale should be removed.