WHEREAS the provincial government is responsible for managing wildlife through its Conservation Service, and the British Columbia Conservation Service has not been able to adequately address wildlife-human conflict in the town of Princeton due to lack of facility; AND WHEREAS the Town of Princeton is unable to appropriately respond to wildlife-human conflict, as their role is to educate residents on how to deter wildlife and limit wildlife attractants: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government be requested to provide adequate funding and staffing in order for the BC Conservation Service to be more active and proactive in effectively managing wildlife-human conflicts.
Ministry of Environment The Conservation Officer Service sub-divides British Columbia into eight regions. Conservation Officers work out in 46 locations within these regions. Conservation Officers go wherever they are needed, using zone coverage practices for each of the eight regions. This means that Conservation Officers within a given region will be available to visit areas where complaints and concerns occur. This is a common approach used by first responders that serve small communities and remote areas. Each year the Conservation Officer Service completes in-depth business planning which assists in priority setting and work planning in each region and zone. Conservation Officers are the first responder to human-wildlife conflicts where public safety may be at risk. Ensuring public safety by preventing these conflicts and reducing their impact is one of the central objectives for the Service. To ensure ongoing effective management of these conflicts the Conservation Officer Service: 1. periodically reviews its risk assessment models for response and makes appropriate amendments; 2. promotes the Bear Smart and WildSafeBC programs in communities across the province; 3. delivers awareness training to RCMP and municipal police forces; 4. participates in community-led initiatives to manage human-wildlife conflicts, such as both the bear and urban deer conflict working groups; and 5. reviews the call centres response criteria, and makes appropriate changes. Human-wildlife conflicts will continue to occur as communities expand and wildlife adapt to the urban landscapes throughout our province. Reducing conflicts, co-existing and ensuring communities are safe and wildlife remains wild will require ongoing public education and partnerships with local communities, which are important parts of the work the Conservation Officer Service performs.