Wildlife Conflict

Ministry of Environment The Province recognizes municipalities desire to increase the level of funding to the Conservation Officer Service COS. Government must also take into consideration the overall needs of the entire province. Factors such as service request volume, population growth, increased development on the land base and the overall numbers of Conservation Officers COs in the geographic area are all considered when staff deployments are assessed. The COS will continue to maintain its current level of service delivery through officers working in the larger geographic area, as well as collaborative initiatives with other law enforcement agencies. In 2003, the Ministry of Environment released the WildlifeHuman Conflict Prevention Strategy http:www.env.gov.bc.cacosinfowildlifehumaninteractionstrategy.pdf focused on managing human-wildlife conflicts where they occur in communities and regions. The strategy requires roles for local governments, non-governmental organizations NGOs, First Nations, businesses and individuals, along with the provincial government. All these partners must be responsible and accountable for their prevention actions. In 201112 the COS received approximately 30,750 calls regarding human-wildlife conflicts. Of those calls, approximately 23,870 involved human-bear conflicts. These numbers are very similar to conflict levels from the previous year. The COS is accountable and responsible for investigating all incidents involving wildlife attacks on humans led by a Predator Attack Incident Management Team using the Incident Command System. The system is designed to achieve the coordination necessary for an effective, efficient and provincially consistent response to predator attacks on humans. In the 2011 calendar year, 13 injuries were reported, 1 death and 1 incident post-mortem. The COS also receives and investigates reports of livestock-predator interaction. If the loss is verified, a CO may also remove the predators involved. Other people such as producers, trappers and hunters may also be authorized to remove predators through a license or permit if qualified. COs assess each call based upon its own individual merits, giving consideration to the seriousness of the incident, time delay in calling, likelihood that the offending wildlife is still in the area, risk to people or property, or the availability of an officer in relation to distance required to attend. A CO will usually attend a human-wildlife conflict call if: o Dangerous wildlife appears to be sick, injured or is acting in an unusual manner. o Dangerous wildlife is causing or has caused serious and ongoing property damage, and the landowner has taken reasonable steps to avoid conflict. o Public safety is at risk due to a bear, or other large predator, becoming accustomed to human food or garbage and associates people with food i.e., food conditioned.