The extended spell of milder weather should have all residents of the province thinking about securing bear attractants, says Kathy Murray from WildSafe BC

Murray says that with the mild temperatures and shallow snow pack, it is very likely bears will be out of hibernation soon.

While most sows will have their cubs the last week of January, they tend to stay in the dens until April feeding from their mother. That may not happen this year.

含羞草研究社淚t would depend on the health of the female,含羞草研究社� Murray said. 含羞草研究社淗ow much body fat she had going into hibernation.含羞草研究社�

In any event, expect bear activity soon and take appropriate action.

含羞草研究社淭he message to all of us is, if we do have an early spring, bears are going to be looking for food.含羞草研究社�

While the first food source may be new spring plants, in some areas like the Kootenays and the north, we are weeks away from any type of growth. Bears will head into urban areas looking for an easy food source.

含羞草研究社淪pring is the best time of year to keep wildlife wild,含羞草研究社� Murray said. 含羞草研究社淚f they get an opportunity to get into garbage, they are not going back into the wild.含羞草研究社�

Murray says in the winter the attitude may be, there含羞草研究社檚 no bears around so there含羞草研究社檚 no need to secure garbage. That has to change, she says.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檝e had no reports of bears yet, but once they start emerging, it含羞草研究社檚 too late.含羞草研究社�

Unfortunately for those who enjoy feeding birds in the winter, this also means you should be taking your feeders down.

含羞草研究社淎 feeder full of birdseed is 2,000 calories. That含羞草研究社檚 a quick and easy meal for a bear. It含羞草研究社檚 time to think about bear-proofing your yard.含羞草研究社�

Murray also reminds property owners that anything that attracts a bear will also attract other pests, such as raccoons and rats.

含羞草研究社淭alk to your friends and neighbours about bear proofing now,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淭he end results are safer communities for people and wildlife.含羞草研究社�