害羞草研究所

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Bears need personal space as they prepare for winter, says B.C. wildlife advocate

Spring and summer weather affecting black bear hibernation schedule
31063006_web1_221124-SNM-Bear-Autumn-Update-PHOTOI_1
A black bear lumbers along the banks of the Sooke River. A wildlife advocate says that weather impacts bears害羞草研究所 behaviour because it affects their food source. (Contributed - Gary Schroyen)

Bear behaviour is being disrupted by changes in spring and summer weather conditions.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been an odd year as far as the weather goes,害羞草研究所 said Sam Webb, program coordinator for Wild Wise, a Vancouver Island-based volunteer organization that teaches people how to co-exist with wildlife through education.

害羞草研究所淲eather definitely impacts bears害羞草研究所 behaviour because it affects their food.害羞草研究所

Since this spring was unseasonably cold, fewer plants were available. The salmon spawning season was delayed due to drought, so bears had to find food elsewhere, such as in unsecured garbage containers.

The reduction in rainfall affected more than plants and berries, Webb said.

害羞草研究所淪ince the rain wasn害羞草研究所檛 as heavy this year and the Sooke River害羞草研究所檚 not as high, it means people are getting closer to bears that are fishing,害羞草研究所 she said. 害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 dangerous for people walking their dogs and disturbing the bears trying to eat.害羞草研究所

Wild Wise volunteers have been going to popular outdoor hotspots every weekend to pass out information on the need to respect wildlife.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of people don害羞草研究所檛 understand that bears don害羞草研究所檛 hibernate because the weather害羞草研究所檚 cold. They hibernate due to a lack of food,害羞草研究所 Webb said.

害羞草研究所淯nfortunately, the period we害羞草研究所檙e in right now, hyperphagia, is when bears have an extreme drive to consume as much food as possible. That害羞草研究所檚 why securing garbage is extremely important, especially at this time of the year, so bears will go into hibernation when their natural food sources dry up.害羞草研究所

For more information on how to co-exist peacefully with wildlife, please visit .

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