Local Attitudes towards Bear Management after Illegal Feeding and Problem Bear Activity

Area of Science:

• Wildlife Management
• Human-Wildlife Conflict
• Conservation Psychology

Background:

• Intentional feeding of over 20 black bears in Christina Lake, BC, gained international attention in 2010.
• The feeding occurred during an investigation into a marijuana-growing operation, leading to significant human-bear interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess local perspectives on bear policy and management.
• To understand community attitudes before and after a period of problem bear activity and government interventions.

Main Methods:

• A two-phase random digit dialing survey was conducted in February 2011.
• 159 households were surveyed to gather data on public opinion regarding bear management.

Main Results:

• Most surveyed households held neutral to positive attitudes towards bears.
• Participants supported feeding food-conditioned bears until hibernation and favored relocation or allowing bears to remain over killing them.
• Locals often failed to report feeding, viewing it as non-harmful, despite numerous bear deaths.

Conclusions:

• Public opinion on bear management, particularly regarding feeding and relocation, diverges from expert consensus.
• Preventive measures against wildlife feeding are crucial.
• Bridging the gap between public perception and expert knowledge on relocation versus lethal control is essential for effective wildlife management.