Getting closer to hibernation season, Kitimat has been seeing an increase in bear sightings. 

While bear sightings are continuing to increase, Acting Sergeant Zane Testawich for the Terrace Conservation Officer Service (COS) says that the numbers so far are comparable to last year. 

Reports initially indicated a family of grizzly bears was living in the district, though now reports are more related to black bears getting into attractants, according to Testawich.

Testawich said that doing things like storing away garbage and compost bins, taking down bird feeders and cleaning up ripened or un-picked fruit can help deter bears from coming back, keeping the public safe. 

In 2018, Kitimat had some of the province’s highest bear destruction numbers which, according to the COS, this was a direct result of improperly stored attractants. 

To report a bear sighting, the COS 24 hour Report a Poacher or Polluter number is 1-877-952-7277. 

Listen to the CFNR story with Zane Testawich below: