By Dave White
This year’s salmon run at Kokanee Creek has again seen a number of bears feeding on the fish. Four adult bears and three cubs have been seen frequenting the stream. In particular, a sow with two cubs have been regular visitors to the stream at mid-day.
Many visitors to the park have been graced with the sight of the young sow learning to fish and teaching her cubs to do the same. As she began to learn the skills of capturing a live salmon, the fish would dart around to avoid her splashing and pouncing. Initially, her attempts were rarely rewarded with success and she would settle for one of the many dead salmon lying about. But as time progressed she learned valuable techniques, such as using the screen across the main channel to capture the fish against.
Her daily forays into the stream seem to be timed to avoid the boars, or male bears, that frequent the stream at night. Additionally, she seems to have determined that people are less of a risk to her and her cubs than these boars. Male bears can be a great danger to cubs, and will often kill them.
This spectacle has been possible due to the willingness of park visitors to strictly manage their garbage and comply with trail closures and dog-free zones. It is also due to all the hard work of the park operators, staff, rangers and conservation officers in educating the public on how to be bear-smart. The park has made a huge effort in managing attractants close to campers by removing most of the surrounding fruit trees, and patrolling the grounds regularly to ensure the campers don’t leave food and garbage unsupervised.
If everybody continues to make an effort to prevent these bears from becoming habituated to human foods and garbage, they will continue to be wild and healthy bears and park visitors can continue to witness this natural event for many seasons going forward.
If you would like to discuss wildlife issues please contact David White, the Nelson WildSafeBC co-ordinator, at nelson@wildsafebc.com or phone at 250-505-6007.
If you are experiencing a conflict with wildlife please call the Conservation Officer Service, RAPP Line at 1 (877) 952-7277.
