In a continued effort to keep people and bears safe and reduce bear attractants, residents in Fernie can access up to $2,000 to help make their properties safer and less appealing to bears.
“Our goal is to create a landscape that works for both people and wildlife in the Elk Valley,” said Clayton Lamb, a local wildlife biologist. “Conflicts between people and bears are a common occurrence here, but there are proven solutions, and we want to make it easier for residents to take actions to discourage bears from coming onto properties.”
Residents of the Elk Valley, including the communities of Jaffray, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford, and Hosmer, as well as local ranches and farms, are eligible for financial assistance for electric fencing around livestock, gardens, or fruit trees, and to remove or replace unwanted fruit trees. This initiative aims to promote coexistence between people and wildlife by mitigating common sources of human-bear conflicts.
The program is supported by a collaboration between the Province of British Columbia, Biodiversity Pathways, Margo Supplies and Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. Financial support is provided by Elk Valley Resources and The Gencon Foundation.
Program Details:
• Electric Fence Installation: Residents can receive a 50% cost share on materials up to $2,000 for electric fence installation. Free expert advice on design and installation is also available. Our expert team has installed over 500 electric fences across the Kootenays, successfully deterring bears from even the most attractive sources—reducing conflicts with bears, preventing property damage, and helping landowners sleep better at night.
• Unwanted Fruit Tree Removal/Replacement: Residents can receive up to $400 to remove or replace a fruit tree. There are many options for beautiful trees that flower but do not produce fall fruit that draws in bears.
• Funds are limited and provided on a first-come-first-served basis. Residents can learn more and apply by contacting kootenaycostshares@gov.bc.ca and visit Operationalizing Wildlife Coexistence in the Elk Valley: Wildlife Science Centre.
About Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative:
Formed in 1993, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative is a collaborative effort with both U.S. and Canadian not-for-profit organizations that collectively connect and protect habitat from Yellowstone to the Yukon so people and nature can thrive. The organization is based in Canmore, Alberta, Canada. Staff and program work is distributed across five American states (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming), two Canadian provinces (British Columbia and Alberta), two Canadian territories (Yukon and Northwest Territories) and at least 75 Indigenous territories.
