North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Program Year End Report for 2009 

 

Program Coordinator Gillian Sanders

PO Box 447 Kaslo BC V0G 1M0

Program Start Date: April 15, 2009

Program End Date: December 31, 2009

2009 was the program’s fifth year serving Kaslo and fourth year in the North Kootenay Lake

Area; total population 1,500.

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North Kootenay Lake

Bear Smart Program 2009

The Village of Kaslo

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents 3 1.0 Introduction 4 2.1 Community Profile: Historical Situation 4 2.2 Statistical Information 5 2.3 Common Bear Attractants in the NKL area 6 2.4 Fruit Trees 6 3.1 Program Delivery: Mitigating and Reducing Human-Bear Conflict 7 3.1.1 Fruit Tree Management 7 3.1.2 Fruit Tree Removal 8 3.1.3 Garbage 8 3.1.4 Small Livestock and Electric Fencing 8 3.1.5 Birdfeeders 9 3.1.6 Compost 9 3.1.7 Outdoor Freezers and Fridges 9 3.1.8 Barbeques 10 3.1.9 Pet Food 10 3.2 Program Delivery: Program Education Outreach 10 3.2.1 Public Displays 10 3.2.2 Neighbourhood Signs 10 3.2.3 Village of Kaslo Support 11 3.2.4 Cooperation with the following organizations and community members 11 3.2.5 Working with conservation Officers 12 3.2.6 Media 12 3.2.7 Fruit Processing Workshop 12 3.2.8 Public Presentation 13 4.0 Volunteers 13 5.0 Bear Smart Initiatives Undertaken 14 6.0 Barriers to Program Delivery 15 7.0 Recommendations 15 7.1 Electric Fencing for small livestock owners and orchards 15 7.2 Installing and Maintaining an effective electric fence 16 7.3 Removal of Unmanaged Fruit Trees 16 7.4 Non-lethal bear management 16 8.0 The future of the North Kootenay Lake Bear Aware / Bear Smart Program 16 9.0 Acknowledgements 17

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1. Introduction Kootenay Lake lies between the Purcell and Selkirk Mountain Ranges of British Columbia, home to both Grizzly and Black bears. This report discusses the primary sources of human-bear conflict in the Village of Kaslo and the North Kootenay Lake area [Regional District Area “D”], including the unincorporated communities of Meadow Creek, Cooper Creek, Lardeau, Howser, Argenta, and Johnson’s Landing. The program was sponsored by the Village of Kaslo, The Regional District of Central Kootenay, The Columbia Basin Trust, The Land Conservancy, and The Pennywise newspaper. The North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Program was delivered to communities in the area using the Bear Aware educational tools. This program was coordinated in conjunction with the North Kootenay Lake Fruit Tree Project, designed to utilize excess fruit in the area. This report covers the program’s main activities in 2009 and also identifies some recommended solutions to continue to reduce human-bear conflict in future years. 2.0 Community Profile 2.1 Historical Situation The Village of Kaslo has a population of 1,037 (2006 census) and was incorporated in 1893 by European settlers. Many of the first Europeans in the North Kootenay Lake area were transient miners, but some stayed to build homesteads and orchards, making this area a major fruit producing region at the beginning of the last century. Bears (including grizzly bears) have been regularly destroyed in the North Kootenay Lake area for decades due to human-bear conflict. Kokanee salmon, also known as Redfish, spawn in most of the rivers and creeks feeding into Kootenay Lake. Today the numbers of fish are significantly fewer than they were prior to the

NKL Bear Smart Program: Feeding Families, Not Bears

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building of Duncan Dam in 1967. While Redfish do not make up a significant portion of the bears’ diet near Kaslo, it is reasonable to believe that in past decades the location of the Kaslo village site at the mouth Kaslo River could have been a source of conflict between bears and humans. The Lardeau River and the Kokanee spawning channel in Meadow Creek at the north estuary of Kootenay Lake support healthy salmon runs, providing both black and grizzly bears with a reliable natural food source from mid-Sept through Oct each year. There have been significant conflicts between residents and bears in this prime low elevation habitat since the first pioneers ‘settled’ the land. Bear Aware has had a presence in Kaslo since 2002, with Joanne Siderius of Nelson as the outreach person. From 2002-2004 there were posters, pamphlets, and some school education in the Village of Kaslo. Joanne also promoted the use of locked dumpsters for food waste from businesses on Front St. Kaslo has an annual Jazz Etc. music Festival in Kaslo Bay. At the 2004 festival a black bear was destroyed at the festival site, in front of 1,500 spectators. Those attending the festival and other people were shocked and upset at the death of this bear. This high-profile incident motivated community members to become more educated about the regular destruction of bears in our community and to create the political will to responsibly manage our local bear attractants. The Kaslo Bear Smart Program was started in 2005 by Gillian Sanders and in 2006 expanded outreach to the Regional District, becoming the North Kootenay Lake (NKL) Bear Smart Program. 2.2 Statistical Information The provincial RAPP line receives calls about dangerous wildlife and provides advice to the community member and connection to the appropriate Conservation Officer (CO) if needed.

Graph 1: Number of calls to RAPP, and Black (BB) and Grizzly (GB) mortality each year for the program’s area.

Graph 2: Attractants recorded by the RAPP line for calls in 2008 (Total 47 calls). In 2009, all 8 calls were sightings only.

Fruit Trees

Garbage

Birdfeeder

Livestock

Compost

Barbeque

Aggressive

Nuisance

Break in

01020304050607080

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

calls to RAPPBB mortalityGB mortality

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2.3 Common Bear Attractants in the NKL area

• Unmanaged fruit • Garbage • Birdfeeders • Small Livestock and livestock feed • Compost • Outdoor freezers, fridges • Barbeques • Pet Food

2.4 Fruit Trees

A main source of human-bear conflict is unmanaged fruit trees in and on the edges of our neighbourhoods. There are settlements within five kilometres of the Village of Kaslo that were major fruit producing areas: Shutty Bench to the north and Mirror Lake to the south. Zwicky Road leads west of Kaslo on the north side of Kaslo River. In these outlying areas were hundreds of abandoned fruit trees, left to the bears for decades. In recent years most of the orchards have been removed, but remaining trees continue to produce fruit. The fruit from some of these trees is utilized by landowners, but much remains unused. Old fruit trees are located on paths near cover (trees, shrubs) that are easily accessible to bears and have become reliable food sources. These trees are located away from houses and one can see the old claw marks and broken branches from bears using these trees in past years. Although these trees are not adjacent to homes, they still attract bears close enough to homes that bears can become habituated to the sounds and smells of human activity. When bears have eaten the choice fruit off the trees away from houses they are drawn closer by smells of more fruit, garbage, compost, pet food, barbeques, bird feeders and small livestock and become human food-conditioned. They may now be comfortable enough with human sounds and smells to approach houses in their search of food, usually under the cover of darkness. Dogs may help to keep bears away from these food sources, but are less effective if the bear has already determined that there is an excess of fruit in the area. Many bears that are feeding in a fruit tree simply ignore barking dogs below. When bears become habituated to human activity they may become bold in their search for food, ranging further into settlements and foraging in daylight hours. In Meadow Creek unmanaged fruit trees encourage grizzlies that are feeding on spawning redfish to enter people’s yards and use the main roads to get there. These bears are not well-accepted in the community. Bears will forage for the most calories by the easiest method, and humans consistently have encouraged bears to enter our communities by providing bears with a profitable food source of fruit. Habituated bears (to varying degrees) are comfortable around humans, dogs, cars, and noise and though they may act tame, they are wild animals that should not be approached 3.1 Program Delivery: Mitigating and Reducing Human- Bear Conflict 3.1.1 Fruit Tree Management Responsible management of fruit trees is of primary importance in Kaslo and the North Kootenay Lake area. In 2005, Bear Aware identified the excess of unmanaged fruit trees as the prime source of human-bear conflict in the region and so I started managing the Bear Smart Program in conjunction with the North Kootenay Lake (NKL) Fruit Tree Project. The NKL Fruit Tree Project is designed to link those with excess fruit (or those unable to harvest their fruit) with

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volunteers who harvest the fruit for themselves. This project ties in feeding local families with the education of bear smart practices. In 2009 there was an abundance of fruit in the area. The windfall was distributed to livestock owners in the area. This project plays a critical role in cleaning up excess fruit that would otherwise be available for bears. Part of the success of this project is attributed to local awareness of utilizing a food source that otherwise often goes to waste. Some residents enjoy feeding and watching wildlife, especially bears, in their backyards. There is an identified need for ongoing education of how the practice of “leaving the fruit to the bears” does not help bears but in fact often leads to their destruction. Managing fruit in the “Little Valley” near JV Humphries School continues to be an important part of mitigating human-bear conflict. This is an extremely productive fruit producing area, attracting bears from surrounding neighbourhoods. It is recognized that fruit in the “Little Valley” must be managed each year to discourage bears from remaining in the brushy areas around the schoolyard. The Fruit Tree Project has successfully managed the excess fruit in this area in 2005-09, with support from local residents. In 2009 the program was able to harvest all the trees in the “Little Valley” and the area of Lower Kaslo. Harvesting fruit as soon as it is ripe will not always keep it safe from bears. Well installed, well maintained electric fencing will allow fruit to ripen on the tree and prevent bears from breaking tree branches. The Kaslo Food Security Project, sponsored by North Kootenay Lake Community Services, and the Fruit Tree Project worked together to increase local food security in the area while reducing human/wildlife conflict. In Meadow Creek apples that had previously never been managed were harvested and fed to livestock. These trees were directly across from the school and had consistently fed bears for years. Some fruit trees in the area were harvested through the Fruit Tree Project was used for the canning workshops at the Hall. 3.1.2 Fruit Tree Removal There are many ‘rogue’ fruit trees in the area that have not been managed for decades that produce only small, scabby fruit. No people are interested in using this fruit and it continues to draw bears into our community annually. Trees were mapped by the program delivery specialist. The main area of fruit tree removal in 2008 was in the Kaslo Bay, on both private and Village property. These rogue cherry trees have attracted bears to this brushy area for years and this is the sight for the Kaslo Jazz Festival. This area has been recommended for cleanup of unused rogue fruit trees since 2005 by the program coordinator and now this situation is greatly improved. In 2009 trees were mapped with the Village of Kaslo for removal. The program is also promoting the removal of unused fruit trees by residents. Cherry and plum trees in particular spread through their root suckers, forming areas that only serve to attract bears and other wildlife to our neighbourhoods. There are more than 12 fruit trees in the Meadow Creek area that are recommended for removal. 3.1.3 Garbage Residents of Kaslo and area generally have developed better management of garbage since 2005. In past years I identified various brushy bear ‘staging areas’ in Kaslo where there were piles of garbage and fresh bear sign, and now while there is still bear sign, there is little garbage. In 2009 most residents do not leave garbage outside and neighbours called Bear Aware directly to ask for our help in educating their neighbours about garbage storage and bears. The new

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garbage by-law passed by the Village of Kaslo will greatly improve the situation for neighbourhoods where there are still one or two residents who leave garbage out. Continuing education is needed to increase understanding of how storing garbage in sheds that are not bear-proof is an unsafe practice that can simply teach bears to break open sheds and other structures to find food within. Garbage should be kept inside the house and meat or fish waste frozen in order to reduce smells. I would like to see a garbage by-law passed by the Regional District to ensure that garbage is managed without attracting bears throughout the North Kootenay Lake area. 3.1.4 Small Livestock and Electric Fencing The use of well-installed and well maintained electric fencing is effective in keeping small livestock safe from bears. Bears that kill livestock are usually destroyed immediately. In 2009 the program installed 13 electric fences with residents to prevent conflict with bears. In all 13 cases, the fencing proved effective. The fences electric fences installed near Meadow Creek include the following locations: Telsa Spring Farm, Tracy Remple, Ellen’s Farm, Boards by George, Three Meadow Farm, and 2 in Howser.

This fence, installed by Gillian, successfully protected both chickens and a mother grizzly and her 3 cubs. I helped the resident install fencing in 2007-09 and was able to provide a subsidy to extend his fencing around his property to keep all his livestock and fruit trees safe. 3.1.5 Birdfeeders Bird feeders continue to provide food for bears. Birdfeeders attract bears that are foraging in neighbourhoods to approach houses and to climb onto decks and porches to be rewarded with a fine protein source. Attract birds with birdbaths in bear season, not bird seed.

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3.1.6 Compost Many residents in the NKL area have well managed gardens and compost. However, the usual compost methods may not always be enough to deter bears. In some locations, I recommend simply not composting outdoors until the bears are denning. In any year:

• covering compost additions with soil or leaves, • never add meat or dairy • turn the compost regularly and • sprinkle dolomite lime to reduce smells is recommended.

3.1.7 Outdoor Freezers and Fridges Freezers or fridges stored outdoors continue to attract bears, though residents seem to now recognize this and I had only one report of a bear getting into a freezer in 2009 in the Meadow Creek area. It is recognized that storing one’s freezer outdoors can be energy efficient; however this can make the food (often frozen meat) in the freezer a temptation for bears. Keep the freezer inside or fix strong metal straps around the freezer with an appropriate locking mechanism. Freezers should also be kept clean of any meat or fish smells on the outside of the freezer. 3.1.8 Barbeques Barbeques are easily managed to avoid attracting bears. Cleaning the barbeque after each use will reduce smells, and keeping the barbeque indoors will keep it safe from bears. Barbeques are not a main attractant, though the smell does encourage bears to approach homes. In 2009, this happened with a sub-adult grizzly off Meadow Creek. 3.1.9 Pet Food Pet food bowls and pet food must be kept indoors. There were no known incidences of bears getting into pet food in 2009. 3.2 Program Delivery: Educational Outreach 3.2.1 Public Displays The NKL Bear Smart Program promoted Bear Aware practises with the educational display board at the following events: Kaslo Saturday Market, every Saturday in Kaslo Meadow Creek Spawning Channel Open House, September 12th Argenta Fall Faire, Argenta Community Hall, September 19th Meadow Creek Fall Faire, Lardeau Valley Community Hall, September 26th

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3.2.2 Neighbourhood Signs

“Bear in Area” signs were hung in identified neighbourhoods of Kaslo and a “Grizzly in Area” sign was hung at the Gerrard campground. Village Council and many residents commented on how effective they thought the signs were at raising awareness. 3.2.3 Village of Kaslo Support The NKL Bear Smart Program and Fruit Tree Project receive both financial and political support from The Village of Kaslo. In 2007 the Village of Kaslo agreed to support working towards becoming a certified Bear Smart Community. 3.2.4 Cooperation with the following Organizations and Community Members: • The Kaslo Fruit Tree Project (with 70 community members) • The Food Security Task Force, sponsored by North Kootenay Lake Community Services. • The Pennywise, our local newspaper • JV Humphries and Jewett Schools • Girl Guides • Kaslo Trailblazers Society

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• BC Conservation Corps • BC Conservation Foundation • Bear Aware • BC Ministry of Environment Bear Smart Program • Columbia Basin Trust • The Land Conservancy of BC • Village of Kaslo • Regional District of Central Kootenay • Conservation Officers • Kaslo RCMP Detachment • Margo Wildlife Supply 3.2.5 Work with Conservation Officers In 2009 I met with all the conservation officers in my area about working towards non-lethal management of grizzlies in the Meadow Creek area. I was in contact with Senior Officer Arnold DeBoon from Creston in regards to bear problems in my area, and responded to calls from the RAPP line upon his request. At the time of writing I am working with local officer Micah Kneller on a trap set for non-lethal management in Meadow Creek. 3.2.6 Media The Pennywise, our local newspaper, sponsored weekly display ads in their paper. These ads keep residents informed of local bear activity and sightings and reminders on common bear attractants. The program also kept classified ads and additional display ads throughout the season advertising for workshops, fruit harvesting, bear information, and upcoming events. Posters for upcoming events were on all display boards in the area. 3.2.7 Fruit Processing Workshops Fruit processing workshops were held in conjunction with the Kaslo Food Security Project in Kaslo and also at the Lardeau Valley Community Hall in Meadow Creek. We made apple sauce, apple butter, plum leather, and made gallons of apple juice. We also processed fruit for freezing at home for later use. These workshops help to encourage utilization of local fruit while increasing local food security.

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Regular canning workshops were held at the Lardeau Valley Community Kitchen in Meadow Creek throughout the fruit season. Present in photo: Gillian, Betty, Eliscia, Tracy, Carrie, Sherri, and Jen. Photo by Lily. 3.2.8 Public Presentations On November 4th, Charlie Russell presented his film “The Bear Man of Kamchatka” and a slide show at the Langham Theatre. The theatre was packed to standing room only and the evening was a great success. Charlie was great in his message about how people create nuisance bears and how not to do this. Generally, people who came to this event already like bears and want to coexist, but I wanted to be sure that everyone understood that food conditioned bears can be dangerous. We can love bears too much. 4.0 Volunteers Volunteers are a critical part of the ongoing success of the North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Program. There were a total of 220 volunteer hours in 2009, and these were all associated with fruit harvesting. The harvesting of excess fruit in the community provides families with fresh nutritious food while keeping the bears out of trouble. All volunteer harvesters signed a waiver before working on the program. Many of these volunteers have harvested fruit through the program in past years as well as in 2009.

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The following table shows the names and hours of volunteers in 2009: Volunteer Activity Date Hours Value

$16.00/hr Tara Grey Fruit harvest Sept 10 5 $80 Barb Cyr Fruit harvest Sept 28 8 $128 Ellie Anderwort Fruit harvest Sept 8 10 $160 Philip Pedini Fruit harvest Sept 8 6 $96 Sean Kubara Fruit harvest Sept 8 6 $96 Anne Heard Fruit harvest Sept 9 7 $112 Sarah Dufort Fruit harvest Sept 12,14 12 $192 AJ Dufort Fruit harvest Sept 12,14 12 $192 Jenenne Fruit harvest Sept 20,21 10 $160 Debra Barrett Fruit harvest Sept 20,21 10 $160 Andy Shadrack Fruit harvest Sept 23,25 15 $240 Sarah Maeser Fruit harvest Sept 16 8 $128 Kendrick Maeser Fruit harvest Sept 16 8 $128 Lindsay Fruit harvest Sept 20 $320 Kim Walker Fruit harvest Sept 29,30 10 $160 Angela Burton Fruit harvest Oct 2,5,6 15 $240 Manon Gagnon Fruit harvest Sept 20 7 $112 Herb Thompson Fruit harvest Sept 25 8 $128 Sarah Heard Fruit harvest Sept 25,26 8 $128 Aimee Watson Fruit harvest Sept 29 6 $96 Andrea Fruit harvest Sept 25 8 $128 Christa Dietz Fruit harvest Sept 15 6 $96 Tracy Burell Fruit harvest Sept 15 $240 TOTAL

VOLUNTEER HOURS 220 220 X $16 =

$3,520 5.0 Bear Smart Initiatives Undertaken The criteria for Bear Smart Communities are:

1. Prepare a bear hazard assessment of the community and surrounding area. 2. Prepare a bear/human conflict management plan that is designed to address the

bear hazards and land-use conflicts identified in the previous step.

3. Revise planning and decision-making documents to be consistent with the bear/human conflict management plan.

4. Implement a continuing education program, directed at all sectors of the

community.

5. Develop and maintain a bear-proof municipal solid waste management system.

6. Implement "Bear Smart" bylaws prohibiting the provision of food to bears as a result of intent, neglect or irresponsible management of attractants.

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In 2005 I produced an initial Bear Hazard Assessment and Bear-Human Conflict Management Plan for Kaslo. In 2006 I drafted both Bear Hazard Assessments and Conflict Management Plans for the communities of Meadow Creek and Mirror Lake. Ongoing updates of these documents continue annually and are available at the Kaslo Village Office. The NKL Bear Smart Program has contributed to the Official Community Plan to recommend consideration of non-fruit bearing plants/trees in new development landscaping. Recommended also is the responsibility of landowners (especially those absentee) to manage their fruit trees by local fruit harvest or tree removal. Bear Aware provides a locally adapted community educational program with the mission statement “to reduce the incidents of bear-human conflict through education, innovation and cooperation”. The Village of Kaslo purchased additional bear proof bins for Front St. in 2008. This was a recommendation from the Kaslo Bear-Human Conflict Management Plan in 2005. With the purchase of these additional bins, Kaslo is well on its way to a Bear-Proof Waste Management System. Almost all residents of Kaslo manage their garbage to avoid attracting bears. Support from both the local RCMP and the Village of Kaslo has helped to encourage those who were leaving garbage accessible to bears to change their behaviour. Eight more (five in 2008) bear proof bins for residential use were purchased and lent to residents in 2009. The Village of Kaslo adopted a new wildlife attractant bylaw and also a new garbage bylaw in 2008. These bylaws are an excellent tool in ensuring bear attractants are managed in Kaslo and are the product of three years of work in this direction from the program. See Appendices for details. 6.0 Barriers to Program Delivery The NKL Bear Smart Program and Fruit Tree Project are reliant on outside funding necessary to continue implement the programs each year. A stable funding source would ensure continuity of reduction of bear-human conflict into the future as human development increases. The attitudes of some residents towards bears in the Meadow Creek area are slow to accept change in terms of living in coexistence with bears, as opposed to just shooting them on sight. 7.0 Recommendations 7.1 Electric Fencing for Small Livestock Owners and Orchards The use of well-installed and maintained electric fencing is probably the most effective method to keep bear attractants such as small livestock and fruit trees safe from bears. In 2007 two grizzlies that were killing pigs were shot in the spring, and three black bears were shot for killing poultry. In 2008 and 2009 such bear mortalities were mitigated through the use of electric fencing installed through the program. I suggest that the combination of well-trained guard dogs within the electrically fenced area may be the most effective known deterrent for bears. Project coordinator’s time and funds for fencing subsidies for small holders with livestock are recommended to ensure that electric fencing will be properly installed. 7.2 Installing and Maintaining an Effective Electric Fence When installing an electric fence as a bear deterrent a good ground rod connection and 4-6 steel wires (not the nylon/plastic variety used for grazing animals) spaced 8-10” is

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recommended. Baiting the wire at a bear’s nose height (~18”) with a half cooked piece of greasy meat such as bacon or sausage will encourage a bear to touch the wire with its nose or mouth. This method is far more effective than giving a bear the shock through its thick fur. Replace the bait every 2 weeks to condition new bears that may come into the area. This is also a good time to walk your fence line to look for any shorts in electricity (usually caused by vegetation touching the fence wires and identified by a spark or a “clicking” sound). Twelve volt electric fencers for predator fencing are available from Margo Wildlife Supplies for $225. 7.3 Removal of Unmanaged Fruit Trees There are many unmanaged fruit trees in the North Kootenay Lake area, some of which are mapped in the Bear Hazard Assessments. Utilizing fruit through the Kaslo Fruit Tree Project is the best option for many of the productive fruit trees in the Kaslo area. Fruit is needed to feed many low income families. Ongoing education (and electric fences), will make it possible to manage fruit trees and to avoid having bears become food-conditioned. Kaslo area has many old, beautiful, productive fruit trees from heritage stock. These heritage trees in particular should not be replaced as long as the fruit is managed. I have noted several “rogue” trees that have not been managed in years and produce small, scabby fruit. These trees are usually growing in isolated pockets of cover (forest or tall brush) along our transportation routes, some of which were probably seeded by past generations of bears themselves. This food source attracts wild bears to human settlement. As the bears become more comfortable with the sounds and smells of humans, they are tempted to come closer to another food source; garbage. In 2008 we removed unmanaged cherry trees out of Kaslo Bay. I recommend ongoing careful removal of unmanaged trees identified in the Bear Hazard Assessment maps. This will have to be a cooperative effort of the Village of Kaslo, the Regional District, and individual landowners and coordinated by the Bear Smart Program. 7.4 Non-lethal bear management The use of aversive conditioning and hazing techniques may be applicable to the areas of Lower Kaslo and neighbourhoods along the Meadow Creek Spawning Channel. Bear dogs, rubber bullets and noisemakers can be applied through the CO Service to let bears know that they are not welcome in human neighbourhoods. These techniques can only be useful if attractants are secure through ongoing management. 8.0 The Future of the North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Program Community knowledge of bear behaviour and attractant management is growing, and now only a few identified residents continue to leave garbage accessible to bears. Most people now realize that the bears are coming into town to forage because we provide easy meals for them. The program will need to continue into the future because there will be even more human developments built in bear country. A remote sensor camera would be an excellent educational tool, especially for pictures of bears and the effectiveness of electric fencing. The North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Program is reliant on consistent funding that will provide the continuity necessary to continue Bear Aware education principles to the communities of the area. This funding will help to implement the recommendations of the author to mitigate bear-human conflict and reduce unnecessary bear deaths. The NKL Bear Smart Program and Fruit Tree Project have been well received and supported by community members, local politicians, schools, local RCMP, health professionals, local biologists, businesses, and the CO Service. There is widespread support for the continuation of these programs in the North Kootenay Lake Area.

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9.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The North Kootenay Lake Bear Smart Program and Fruit Tree Project wishes to thank the following organizations for their financial support, without which delivery of the program would have been impossible:

• Bear Aware; educational materials and support • British Columbia Conservation Corps; administration • British Columbia Conservation Foundation; administration • Columbia Basin Trust; $9,500 for electric fencing, workshops, wages, and mileage • The Land Conservancy of BC; for administration of CBT funds • BC Hydro Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program; $7,500 for mitigating grizzly conflicts

in Meadow Creek • The Village of Kaslo; $2,500 for office costs and advertising • The Regional District of Central Kootenay; $3,000 for wages • The Pennywise newspaper; $1,600 for advertising

Thanks also go to the following supporters:

• Kaslo Food Security Project • North Kootenay Lake Community Services • Kaslo Saturday Market • Kaslo RCMP Detachment • Lardeau Valley Community Center • Nelson District Conservation Officers • Dr. Joanne Siderius • Dr. Michael Proctor

All the fruit tree and livestock owners and FRUIT TREE HARVESTERS!! And most of all,

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.

To the bears, Just for being themselves.