By Roy L Hales

In Saturday’s half hour Cortes Currents magazine, we described a human/bear situation developing in Squirrel Cove, on Cortes Island. There has been a bear in the Squirrel Cove vicinity for a year or more. At this point, there are believed to be two bears. Earlier this month, one of them started breaking into fenced yards to the steal fruit. Manuel Perdisa wrote the song “Bear in my Bubble” about one of these incidents.

Returning from Campbell River around lunchtime on Monday, Nov. 16, Manuel’s mother, Leslie Perdisa, found that the door to her cellar had burst open. The ‘Squirrel Cove bear’ had eaten most of the apples stored inside.

The following morning, the bear attempted to claw through the siding on her parent’s home to get to the apples stored within. It is still afraid of humans and was driven off easily. But it had snowed overnight and bear tracks were found circling the house.

Conservation Office observing events

The Conservation Office Service has been monitoring events at Squirrel Cove. Some of the activities being reported, for example missing pets, are typically associated with other predators, not bears. But raids on fruit trees and garbage are very typical bear behaviour. They advise Squirrel Cove residents to put up electric fences and not leave any fruit or garbage where the bear can access it. The office has not yet decided whether the Squirrel Cove Bear needs to be removed.

Anyone with information is advised to contact the The Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP) or #7277 on the TELUS Mobility Network. If the situation is not an emergency, report the incident online or contact the nearest Conservation Officer Service district office.