Squamish is both a seaside and mountain community situated at the head of the Howe Sound and at the mouth of the Squamish River. Squamish is surrounded by the Coast Range Mountains, has an extensive estuary and lies within the floodplains of five major river systems. Clear cuts along with forest openings, fields, wetlands, river estuaries, marine beach habitat and salmon bearing streams all provide ample seasonal food for black bears. Simply put, “The Outdoor Recreational Capital of Canada” is situated in prime bear country. Squamish is a dynamic, vibrant community of approximately 16,000 residents; development and construction are expanding our community’s boundaries. Known as the “Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada”, Squamish is committed to reducing human-bear conflicts as we live, work and play in bear country.

In 2004, due to a natural food shortage and a subsequent increase in human-bear conflicts, 27 bears were destroyed. The high number of conflict issues and resultant destructions was impetus for the District of Squamish to initiate the Bear Aware/Bear Smart Program. The District of Squamish has made substantial progress towards becoming a Bear Smart certified community with the adoption of a Wildlife Attractant Bylaw, adoption of amendments to existing bylaws to better align these documents with Bear Smart standards, inclusion of Bear Smart criteria within decision-making documents, completion of a bear hazard assessment and conflict prevention plan, continued support of the Bear Aware educational program, completion of a district wide bear proof plan for all residential garbage totes, an intensive bear proofing plan for all municipal refuse containers,  a commitment to a comprehensive bear proofing plan for the future site of the Squamish landfill, and continued support and partnerships between District departments, Bear Aware and the Conservation Officer Service.

To date, the District of Squamish has successfully completed numerous recommendations from the 2006 Bear-People Conflict Prevention Plan and efforts to implement and follow through with further initiatives are on going. In five short years, Squamish has made tremendous progress towards mitigating human-bear conflicts. This progress is reflected not only within the statistical data but also within the general philosophy of the community. Through responsible waste management, our community has already experienced a decrease in the needless destruction of our wildlife and an increase in the overall safety and cleanliness of our community. Squamish is setting the standard for other communities with regards to recognizing how our actions impact our local ecology and how making the necessary changes in our daily lives can and will enhance and conserve our environment. We are fostering a wildlife stewardship ethic, a core value for many residents and visitors of our community.

The mandate of the Bear Aware Program is to reduce human/bear conflict issues through education, innovation and co-operation. The goal is to reduce the rate and intensity of human/bear conflicts while increasing public safety and to reduce the number of bears needlessly destroyed each year.

To report a bear sighting or encounter, call the Conservation Officer Service: Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) 1-877-952 7277 (RAPP)