Fernie Bears Are Hungry, and fall is when it matters most that they do not find food in town.

Garbage, apples, birdseed, pet food and other attractants can quickly teach bears where to come back for an easy meal. Once that happens, the bear is the one that pays the price.

Most people in Fernie know what to do. The point is to actually do it.

Pick the fruit. Clean up windfall. Secure garbage and organics. Take bird feeders down. Don’t leave pet food outside. Don’t leave garbage beside a full bin.

There is also a gap in Fernie’s garbage system.

The City has acknowledged that its bear-resistant community bins regularly overflow. When they are full, people are directed to another bin or the Transfer Station. But the Transfer Station closes at 5 p.m. on weekdays and 4 p.m. on weekends.

That leaves times when there is no available after-hours disposal option.

The City surveyed residents about the community-bin problem in June. That survey closed June 22, and no results or changes have been published.

Fall bear activity is now underway. This would be a good time to improve the system with more capacity, more frequent collection or another secure after-hours option.

That does not excuse bad behaviour. If a bin is full, take the garbage away and keep it secure.

Residents, second-home owners, businesses and visitors all have the same responsibility:

Don’t feed the bears. And if there is a gap in the system that makes that harder, fix it. Don’t be lazy.

Keeping bears wild is how we keep them alive.

editor