Garbage and apple trees will attract bears into town once the berries run out
Carelessly stored garbage and apple trees are the root causes of bear human conflict in Fernie. What is the problem with bear’s eating apples? Apples are a fine food source for bears. They are very similar to many natural foods that bears normally eat. The problem is that most apple trees are located in people’s yards. Bears are natural scavengers, have great memories, a keen sense of smell and will remember an easy food source. Carelessly stored garbage, birdfeeders, dirty BBQ’s and fruit trees are open invitations to bears.
Fernie apples will start to ripen soon and once the berries run out bears will start passing through town in search for easy food sources. . Owning a fruit tree in bear country is a big responsibility. Pick fruit daily as it ripens or pick it before it ripens if you don’t intend on using it and don’t allow fruit to accumulate on the ground. Pruning your fruit trees will result in a better and more manageable quality of fruit. Consult your local arborist.
Do you have excess Fernie apples and want to put them to good use?
The Bear Aware/Community Ecogarden Apple Exchange connects people who want or have apples. Did you know that more than 300 properties in Fernie have apple trees! Check out the apple exchange board at the Cottonwood Tree or online at www.ecogarden.ca to list your tree or find trees that need to be picked. Let’s work together to feed families, not bears. .
I f you or someone you know have trees loaded with apples and need something to do with them, join us at our apple press days at the Fernie Community Ecogarden on Sept ember 21st,28th and October 5th between 3 and 7pm. Bring your local apples and use the fruit press to turn them into apple juice. Fruit must be picked from the tree as windfall fruit may contain bacteria.
Make sure you bring Fernie apples and containers to put the juice into. This event is by advance registration only. The cost is $10 for a 40 minute time slot. Come by the Wildsight Office, 891 2nd Avenue to register. For more information feel free to contact bearawarefernie@gmail.com.
Unsecured garbage and apple trees are the root causes of bear human conflict in Fernie. When attractants are removed, bears will move on resulting in a safer community and preventing the needless destruction of bears.