A growing unease about the increase in bears being killed and injured on the Sea to Sky Highway, as well as traffic safety concerns relating to copious "bear jams," has prompted further investigation by the Get Bear Smart Society, along with the many members of the Whistler Black Bear Working Group.
While both organizations have been integral to reducing human-bear conflict in and around Whistler for many years, the main focus of the group has been public education with respect to securing attractants and bear proofing the waste management system. This new phenomena is cause for significant concern among the stakeholders.
In 2010, at least 10 bears were killed by vehicles in the Whistler area and another three were injured. This high human-caused mortality, in addition to conflict kills, exceeds the Ministry of Environment's maximum.
Historically, from 2000 to 2009 in the same area, an average of 1.1 bears were killed per year as a result of MVAs. Actual numbers, however, are likely much higher. Collection of road kill data has some inherent flaws including: lack of amalgamation of stakeholder reporting of bear deaths on the highway, failure of the public to report carcasses or vehicular strikes; carcasses being removed from the highway by predators or humans; and bears being injured, leaving the scene and later dying away from the highway.
Sea to Sky residents have also reported a growing number of "bear jams" between Squamish and Whistler. Bears that are attracted to recently hydro-seeded roadside vegetation (clover in particular) cause motorists to stop for viewing opportunities, resulting in unexpected congestion in inappropriate locations.
This creates extremely unsafe road conditions for those who have stopped, as well as other motorists sharing the highway. Drivers that have stopped to view bears will be ticketed by RCMP. Multiple offenses could apply to this situation, for example "obstructing traffic by parking" with a considerable fine of $187.
Bears grazing roadside are also adversely impacted. Bears that are approached (and sometimes intentionally fed) by people can become habituated and, even worse, food conditioned. Habituated and food-conditioned bears are at higher risk of being killed due to human bear conflict.
Get Bear Smart and members of the bear working group have been investigating various options to improve the situation. This month, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) spokesperson and environmental issues analyst Leonard Sielecki was invited to present information to more than 35 stakeholders in the Sea to Sky region, followed by a question and answer period.
Attendees voiced a common concern: "these incidents on the highway are increasing, and something needs to be done." Sielecki urged the group to work together towards identifying problem areas, strengthen communications between stakeholders, record incidents, and move forward with mitigation techniques aimed at reducing safety risks to both people and bears.
Several mitigation techniques, most of which involve working directly with MOTI, have been discussed. They include: increased signage within high wildlife collision zones, roadside vegetation alterations, increased lighting at Function Junction (an area of particularly high conflict within a known wildlife corridor), no-stopping zones within high conflict areas, as well as increased public awareness surrounding the issue.
Messaging on the overhead changeable message signs has been approved, asking motorists to be alert to wildlife and to not stop for wildlife viewing. Additional signage has also been recently posted along Highway 99 including "no stopping" and "wildlife crossing" signs.
In the meantime, the Get Bear Smart Society is asking the public to assist by reporting bears killed or injured on the highway to the society and conservation officers. Other species can be reported to the RoadWatchBC through the Biodiversity Center for Wildlife Studies.
You can help more by slowing down and using your road sense. For further information about avoiding collisions with wildlife, visit our website at www.bearsmart.com/becoming-bear-smart/wildlife-collisions
Dawn Johnson is the special projects coordinator for the Get Bear Smart Society.
