Spring is just around the corner and that means some of the region乌鸦传媒檚 sleeping giants are about to break from their wintry slumber.
Okanagan Shuswap conservation officer Micah Kneller said bears should be waking up any day now.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 been cold for awhile, but as soon as we get that warm snap, we will start getting bear calls,乌鸦传媒� said Kneller.
That means it乌鸦传媒檚 time for people to take a good hard look at their properties to make sure all the bear attractants have been dealt with.
乌鸦传媒淢ake sure all the garbage has gone away,乌鸦传媒� said Kneller. 乌鸦传媒淲e have too many bears being (put down) and it乌鸦传媒檚 all too often because people don乌鸦传媒檛 secure their attractants like garbage, fruit trees and chickens.乌鸦传媒�
Kneller pointed out that much of the Okanagan is in an interface area, which explains many of the cougar and bobcat sightings that have come in through recent days.
乌鸦传媒淲e get a few a week (from throughout the Okanagan),乌鸦传媒� he said.
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乌鸦传媒淐ougars are very shy and they are just normally active at night. They follow deer populations, so where there is a high concentration of deer you can be sure to see cougar.乌鸦传媒�
Kneller pointed out that the rise in sightings over winter months is also to do with the fact that it乌鸦传媒檚 easier to see a cougar when it乌鸦传媒檚 highlighted against a bright white, backdrop.
In winter you can see their tracks, where you otherwise would not.
Staying safe from these creatures isn乌鸦传媒檛 difficult, he said.
乌鸦传媒淚f people have pets they should be kept inside at night,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 when cougars are active. And if you have a hobby farms, keep them secured.乌鸦传媒�
Also, if you have a sighting don乌鸦传媒檛 just post it to your favourite Facebook chat site.
乌鸦传媒淧eople post their sightings of their problems with these animals on social media, but they neglect to tell us,乌鸦传媒� said Kneller. 乌鸦传媒淎 lot of things aren乌鸦传媒檛 being reported to us and it乌鸦传媒檚 important they are.乌鸦传媒�
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