The Northern Bear Awareness Society is asking for bear-resistant garbage bins for Prince George.
The Society presented to Prince George City Council at tonight’s (Monday) meeting.
2023 was a devastating year for bears in Prince George, according to the Society, 81 bears were killed in Prince George last year.
“The problem is not bears in the City, the problem is human-bear conflict,” Northern Bear Awareness Society Treasurer Lisa Cran told City Council.
In their presentation, the Society discussed the 2019 pilot project done with 300 carts, which the city said was a failure.
“That was based solely on operational issues that we’re encountered,” said President Nicole Botten.
“22 carts had to have their latches replaced over the three years, and that was I think primarily due to freezing issues.”
Botten cited survey results from a supervised independent student study done by Rachelle Foubert, a UNBC student, which showed many of the residents were in favour of the carts.
She also noted the models of bins used during the pilot project has been discontinued, and the company has released a newer model.
In addition, the Society’s presentation noted to replace the City’s (approximately) 25,000 automated garbage bins, it would cost at least $7 million.
“It’s human caused and it’s also our geography as well,” said Councillor Brian Skakun.
“If you look at the map, the Hart Highway, Cranbrook Hill, there’s so many neighbourhoods in this town that are on the edge of big green spaces, so I think part of it is that reason. That $7 million number I think was a report from 2019 or something, so it could be significantly more.”
Later in the meeting, Council unanimously approved the terms of reference for an Advisory Committee on Bear Awareness.
Other items discussed tonight included partnering with Simon Fraser University on a Wildfire Study, and amendments to the City’s Fees and Charges bylaw.
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